Why Cleaning Your Crawlspace Before Encapsulation Matters More Than You Think

Encapsulating your crawlspace is one of the best things you can do for your home—but before you seal it up, there's one essential step you can't afford to skip: thorough cleaning.

A Dirty Crawlspace Doesn’t Stay Contained

Many homeowners assume that encapsulating a crawlspace will “lock away” any mess underneath the home. In reality, if dirt, debris, mold, or other organic material is left behind, it can continue to impact your indoor air quality long after the crawlspace is sealed.

Your HVAC system, plumbing, and ductwork often run through or near the crawlspace. That means air—and everything in it—can move freely between the crawlspace and your living space. When you skip cleaning, you're essentially allowing spores, odors, and bacteria to circulate throughout your home.

Clean First, Then Seal

Before installing a vapor barrier, insulation, or dehumidifier, your crawlspace should be:

• Cleared of debris and trash

• Free from visible mold or organic growth

• Dry and safe to access

• Swept or vacuumed if necessary to remove dust, dirt, or remnants of old materials

A clean space creates a solid foundation for the encapsulation process. It ensures that your materials will adhere properly and last longer, and it helps your dehumidifier work more efficiently.

Protecting Your Family From Moisture Starts Below the Floorboards

Your crawlspace may be out of sight, but it plays a big role in the health of your home. Around 40–50% of the air you breathe on the first floor comes from your crawlspace. That’s why addressing what’s down there—before sealing it up—is so important.

Encapsulation is about more than moisture control. It’s about creating a healthier, safer living environment. And that starts with a proper cleanout.

Want to improve the air your family breathes? Start from the ground up—literally.

 Clean before you encapsulate.

The Hidden Danger Beneath Your Home: How Crawlspace Moisture Impacts Your Health

When most homeowners think about the health of their home, they imagine clean air filters, regular HVAC maintenance, maybe even switching to low-VOC paint. But there’s one space that often gets overlooked—and it’s right beneath your feet.

The crawlspace.

It’s dark, it’s damp, and it’s usually out of sight. But what happens down there doesn’t stay down there. In fact, up to 50% of the air circulating through your home can originate from your crawlspace. So if your crawlspace is full of moisture and humidity, your home—and everyone living in it—is affected.

Moisture in a crawlspace isn’t always obvious. It can come from poor drainage, unsealed vents, or even just the natural humidity in the ground. Over time, this damp environment becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, dust mites, and even pests like termites and rodents. Once those problems take root, they can make their way into your living space through the air you breathe and the structure that supports your home.

That moldy smell in your laundry room? It might not be your washing machine—it could be your crawlspace. Recurring allergies or respiratory issues, especially in children or those with asthma, can also be signs that the air in your home isn’t as clean as it should be. Moisture in the crawlspace contributes to poor indoor air quality, which can lead to headaches, fatigue, sinus irritation, and more.

And it’s not just your health on the line. Excess moisture can damage insulation, rot floor joists, warp hardwood floors, and weaken the structural integrity of your home. It can also send your energy bills soaring, as your HVAC system works overtime to manage the uncomfortable conditions created by damp air and poor insulation.

The good news? Moisture problems in crawlspaces are preventable—and fixable. Cleaning out debris, sealing the space with proper vapor barriers, installing a drainage system if needed, and using a dehumidifier to control humidity levels can transform your crawlspace from a hidden hazard to a healthy foundation.

Taking care of your crawlspace isn't just a maintenance issue—it's a wellness issue. Because when the air under your home is clean and dry, the air inside your home is better too.

Breathe easier, live healthier, and protect your investment—starting from the ground up. 

Moisture Matters: Choosing the Right Dehumidifier for Your Crawlspace

If you've made the decision to encapsulate your crawlspace or you're dealing with ongoing humidity issues under your home, you're already on the right track to protecting your home—and your health.

But there’s one more piece to the puzzle that often gets overlooked: the dehumidifier.

A properly selected and installed crawlspace dehumidifier keeps moisture levels in check, helping prevent mold, wood rot, poor indoor air quality, and energy loss. But not all dehumidifiers are created equal, and choosing the wrong size or model could mean wasted energy—or worse, a damp crawlspace that’s still a problem.

At Your Crawlspace, we recommend high-performing, contractor-trusted models like Aprilaire and Sierra Global. But before you settle on a specific unit, it’s important to understand what your space really needs.

Let’s break it down.

Why Dehumidifiers Matter in a Crawlspace

Crawlspaces are naturally prone to moisture—from ground vapor, plumbing leaks, or just the humidity in the air. Once that moisture gets trapped beneath your home, it can lead to everything from musty smells and mold growth to sagging floors and pest infestations.

A quality dehumidifier removes this excess moisture before it can do damage. It keeps your crawlspace dry, your insulation intact, and your indoor air safer to breathe. And the drier your crawlspace, the longer your encapsulation system will last.

So... Which Dehumidifier Do You Need?

Instead of throwing numbers at you, let’s make this fun and simple. Think of it as your "Crawlspace Compatibility Quiz."

🧪 Take the Quiz: What's Your Crawlspace Vibe?

1. How big is your crawlspace?
A) Small—under 1,700 sq. ft.
B) Medium—between 1,700–2,500 sq. ft.
C) Large—over 2,500 sq. ft.
D) My crawlspace connects to my whole home HVAC system

2. How damp does it feel?
A) A little musty, but no standing water
B) Pretty humid, and I’ve seen moisture on surfaces
C) It's wet often, and I’ve noticed mold or wood damage
D) I want full-home humidity control, not just crawlspace

3. What’s your crawlspace setup?
A) Open vents and exposed dirt
B) Fully sealed and encapsulated
C) Sealed but prone to high humidity
D) Integrated with ductwork or HVAC

📊 Your Results:

Mostly A’s?
➡️ Aprilaire Model E050
A compact unit that removes up to 50 pints of moisture daily—perfect for smaller spaces with mild to moderate humidity issues.

Mostly B’s?
➡️ Aprilaire Model E070 or E080
These mid-range models remove up to 70–80 pints per day and are great for sealed crawlspaces that need consistent moisture control.

Mostly C’s?
➡️ Aprilaire Model E100
This heavy-duty model removes nearly 12 gallons of water per day and is built to handle big problems in big spaces.

Mostly D’s?
➡️ Aprilaire Model E130
Looking for whole-home or ducted humidity control? The E130 delivers high-capacity performance and integrates with your HVAC system.

Not Sure? Ask a Pro

Every home is different. If your crawlspace has unusual conditions, multiple zones, or a history of moisture damage, it’s always a good idea to talk to a crawlspace specialist. At Your Crawlspace, we don’t just sell products—we help build smarter, drier, healthier homes from the ground up.

Ready to protect your home from the ground up?

Reach out today for personalized recommendations and contractor-trusted installation support.