If you notice cold floors, musty odors, or rising energy bills in your home, the root cause is often lurking beneath your feet. An open, vented crawl space is a significant energy leak and source of moisture that contaminates your air, sucks energy out of your heating and cooling systems, and compromises your home's structure.
As crawl space experts servicing the Eastern Shore, Delaware, and Anne Arundel County, Total Home Performance doesn't just install a plastic barrier in the basement floor; we diagnose your home as an interconnected system and make upgrades accordingly to ensure they have the maximum impact possible.
Since 2009, we've completed over 1,500 crawl space encapsulations, which is the process of permanently sealing your home’s under-structure to control air, temperature, and moisture. Many of the older homes on the Eastern Shore have crawl spaces that are vented, which allows humid outdoor air to enter and condense on cool surfaces, causing mold, rot, and ultimately increasing your energy costs. We solve this by turning your crawl space into a clean, dry, conditioned part of your home’s thermal envelope.
Plus, as a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor, we can connect you with valuable rebates & incentives that maximize your savings.
What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation? Our Building Science-Backed Approach.
This comprehensive approach provides long-term crawl space waterproofing and structural protection.
The 4-Step Total Home Performance Encapsulation Process
- Diagnostic Inspection: We begin with a comprehensive evaluation of how your crawl space affects your home in order to identify standing water, existing mold, poor insulation, or wood rot issues.
- Vapor Barrier Installation: A heavy-duty polyethylene vapor barrier is applied to completely cover the crawl space’s floor and walls. Sealing tape securely holds all sections together, so there are no gaps to let air in or out.
- Air Sealing and Insulation: Using spray foam, we seal vents, holes, and gaps around plumbing and ducts that allow outside air intrusion. Insulation is then also applied to the walls to create an airtight thermal boundary.
- Dehumidifier Installation: A high-capacity dehumidifier is installed to maintain an acceptable, consistent moisture level, preventing condensation and inhibiting mold growth year-round.
The Real Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
Most contractors sell quick fixes. We provide permanent solutions that are grounded in building science. Crawl space encapsulation is the single best way to address some of the most damaging threats to your home's health and value.
- Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Up to 50% of the air you breathe originates in your crawl space. Encapsulation prevents moisture and pollutants like mold, dust, and outdoor allergens, from migrating into your living space.
- Structural Integrity and Moisture Damage Prevention: By sealing the space and controlling humidity, crawl space waterproofing reduces the risk of wood rot and structural damage to your foundation, making it one of the most cost-effective methods of protecting your home long-term.
- Lower Energy Bills and Improved Efficiency: A sealed crawl space does not leak air in and out, reducing energy loss and decreasing the workload on your HVAC system, especially if ducts are located beneath your home.
- Whole-Home Comfort: By stabilizing temperatures and eliminating dampness, encapsulation provides warmer floors in the winter and reduced humidity in the summer.
- Pest and Rodent Control: A clean, dry, sealed environment will help keep out pests, termites, and rodents that are drawn to moist, dark crawl spaces.
With Crawl Space Encapsulation, You Get:
Whole Home Dehumidification
Ventilation
Protect your home with crawl space encapsulation!
Call 410-469-7594 or contact us to get started.
Maximize Your Savings: Crawl Space Encapsulation Rebates & Incentives
Making the choice to invest in your home's health and efficiency is easier than ever with current incentives. Total Home Performance is a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (HPwES) participating contractor. This unique status allows us to help Maryland homeowners qualify for utility rebates from Delmarva Power and BGE, which can cover up to $10,000 of your crawl space services.
We handle all the paperwork to ensure you get the maximum savings available. Call us today to discover how much you can save on your professional crawl space encapsulation project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What if I have standing water or mold in my crawl space now?
Standing water in a home should always be resolved ASAP, but the real issue is determining where the water came from. If it was from a spill or some other singular source inside the home, there may not be any further action needed. But if the air in your crawl space contains too much moisture, or the water is getting in from the outside, your crawl space is likely a good candidate for crawl space encapsulation.
Q: Do I need a maintenance plan after encapsulation?
A: While crawl space encapsulation is a permanent solution, a maintenance plan can ensure your system, especially your dehumidifier and vapor barrier, continues to perform optimally for years.
Q: Does crawl space encapsulation add value to my home?
A: Yes. Encapsulation not only improves indoor air quality and comfort, but it also improves energy efficiency. Documented lower utility bills can be a key selling point for any home, thus increasing the value of your home to potential buyers down the road.