You're Breathing the
Air from Your Crawlspace.

Molds and mildew are microscopic organisms that thrive in damp, dark conditions like those found in your crawlspace. They're everywhere -- a natural part of our environment that breaks down and eats anything that contains organic matter. Mold spores can feed on a wide variety of materials including decaying leaves, dust, dirt, wood products, insulation, drywall and carpet.

In the right conditions, and in only a matter of hours, mold populations can explode -- growing and reproducing on a damp surface until they eventually destroy the entire food source. Mold spreads by producing millions of floating, airborne spores. When these spores mix with the natural bottom-to-top airflow in a house, they create a very unhealthy environment for people.

Typical symptoms resulting from mold exposure include everything from respiratory problems and nasal and sinus congestion, to skin, eye, nose and throat irritation. Some people, including infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are at higher risks for adverse health effects. Others, like those with chronic lung illnesses, may suffer even more serious infections when exposed to mold.

Like it or not, it's hard to avoid breathing your mold-infested crawlspace air!

The natural air flow in your home is from bottom to top. Based on the principle that warm air rises, as the air in your home heats up, it moves up though your house. Once this warm air makes it way to the attic and roof levels, it is normally vented out though the soffits or ridge vents. The question is: Where does this air come from? Much of the air comes from the crawlspace beneath your home. In older, more "leaky" homes, the air-exchange rate can be as high as two complete air changes per hour. Some building professionals say up to half of the air you breathe on the first floor of your home came from the crawlspace. Therefore, whatever is in your crawlspace air is in your house and affecting you. If the humidity level in the crawlspace is high, there will be increased humidity in your living space. If there is mold or mildew in the crawlspace, it is likely there will be mold, mildew and musty odors in the house.

Learn more about mold in crawlspaces from the experts at Advanced Energy on our resources page.