Dehumidifiers and ERVs

Moisture is one of the biggest threats to your home’s crawlspace. High humidity can lead to mold growth, wood rot, pest infestations, and poor air quality throughout your home. At Crawlspace Transformers, we offer advanced solutions like dehumidifiers and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) to maintain a dry, healthy, and balanced crawlspace environment.

What's an ERV?

Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) are mechanical ventilation systems designed to provide fresh air to indoor spaces while simultaneously improving energy efficiency. Here's a detailed look at what they are and how they function:


Ventilation: ERVs exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, which is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality. This helps in removing odors, pollutants, and excess moisture.

Energy Recovery: They recover energy from the exhaust air (the air being expelled from the building) to pre-condition the incoming fresh air. This can involve:
Heat Recovery: Transferring heat from the warm exhaust air to cool incoming air in winter or vice versa in summer.

Moisture Transfer: In some models, ERVs can also transfer humidity, either adding moisture to dry incoming air or removing moisture from humid incoming air, which helps in maintaining a comfortable indoor humidity level.

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Methods of Crawlspace Waterproofing

Sealing the Crawlspace

Interior Sealing involves applying a waterproof coating or sealant to the interior walls of the crawlspace. This can be done with special paints or membranes designed to keep water out.


Installing a Vapor Barrier

A heavy-duty polyethylene sheet is laid over the ground of the crawlspace to prevent moisture from the soil from evaporating into the air. This barrier is often sealed at the edges to walls or foundation.


Drainage Systems

French Drains: These are trenches filled with gravel or rock, containing a perforated pipe that collects water and directs it away from the foundation.

Sump Pumps: Installed at the lowest point, these pumps automatically remove water that collects in the crawlspace.


Exterior Waterproofing

While more invasive and expensive, this involves digging around the foundation from the outside and applying a waterproof membrane or coating, sometimes with drainage boards.


Ventilation and Dehumidification

Encapsulation: This is a more comprehensive approach where the entire crawlspace is sealed with a heavy-duty liner, and often includes dehumidifiers to control humidity levels.

Ventilation Systems: These can be passive (like vents) or active (fans or whole-house ventilation systems) to reduce moisture.


Grading and Gutters

Ensuring proper grading (sloping the ground away from the foundation) and functional gutters and downspouts to direct water away from the house.

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Consideration when waterproofing crawlspaces

In humid climates, sealing and dehumidifying might be more critical than in dry climates where ventilation might suffice. Older homes might require more extensive work due to outdated building practices.


Crawlspace waterproofing can significantly extend the life of a home and improve living conditions. If you're considering this for your home, it might be wise to consult with a professional to assess the specific needs based on your home's construction, local climate, and soil conditions.

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