Moisture Control

Is Moisture Control Necessary For Virginia Homes?

Moisture is one of the biggest threats your home will face. When moisture is allowed to accumulate in your home, it will gradually weaken the wood inside your walls. In addition to promoting the growth of mold and fungi, water damage creates holes and gaps that attract pests looking for an accessible entrance inside; water-damaged wood is especially attractive to termites.

Controlling moisture in your home increases energy efficiency, making it less costly to heat and cool the home while preventing mold growth, wood rot, insect damage, and swelling. In our area, moisture is a big problem. Once moisture has seeped into the structure, it can travel throughout the home, causing air quality problems and other potential health issues, including allergies or asthma, along with severe and costly damages to the structure itself.

The Problems That Moisture Causes

Moisture is responsible for many costly problems in homes and businesses across America, especially in the hot, humid Virginia climate. When moisture starts to accumulate, you can expect problems to follow, including:

• Leaks

• Rotting wood 

• Increased pest activity

• Fungi and mold formulation 

• Increased condensation inside the home

• Negative impacts on personal health

In addition to being destructive and harmful to your well-being, these problems also put a strain on your home. Don’t leave your home at risk for the issues moisture brings: contact the professionals at All Pest Control & Solutions for help.

All Pest Control & Solutions offers safe and effective moisture control services that can not only eliminate existing excess moisture within your home but also help seal it and keep it protected for tomorrow.

Moisture control helps avoid issues stemming from excess humidity, including:

Potential Causes Of Moisture Problems

Moisture attracts potential hazards to your home or business. One of these is pests, who love a moist area to call home. Here are some possible sources of moisture both from the exterior and interior:

Moisture issues can quickly lead to potentially hazardous conditions and extensive remediation and corrective actions if left unattended. A thorough inspection by a trained professional can ensure the source of the moisture and the most effective solution is selected. Call today to set up a FREE home or property inspection!

Moisture Control Solutions From All Pest Control

All Pest Control & Solutions provides several options for moisture control to meet the needs of homeowners battling Virginia’s humid climate.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

For decades, building codes and conventional wisdom meant crawl spaces were built with outside air as the primary means to control moisture. Many homes built on crawl space foundations in the Southeastern United States have suffered from poor moisture management within the structure as a result, and also from a growing number of ailments caused by excessive moisture in the home, including:

• Mold or moisture damage in the crawl space itself or upper living areas.

• Musty odors in the living areas.

• Sweating or condensation on the air conditioning ductwork or equipment.

• High humidity in the crawl space and living areas, with mold growth on surfaces.

• Condensation on insulation, water pipes, or metal on pipes in crawl spaces.

• Hardwood floor buckling.

• Doors and windows that stick and are hard to open due to swelling.

• Insect infestations from pests attracted to moisture, such as termites and wood-boring beetles.

• Mold-caused rot in wooden framing.

Your crawl space is one of the most vulnerable areas of your home to develop moisture issues. Moisture problems in the crawl space, and the resulting problems that follow, can be devastating. How can we protect this important area of your home? The answer is crawl space encapsulation!

Crawl space encapsulation is the process of sealing off and insulating your crawl space against invasive contaminants, including dirt, water, and pests. 

Benefits Of Encapsulation Services:

• Protects your crawl space from mold development.

• Prevents structural damage to the home.

• Improves air quality throughout the home.

• Reduces energy costs by removing gaps that allow heated or cooled air to escape.

• Increases potential storage space within the crawl space.

• Reduces radon development in the crawl space.

• Creates a barrier that helps prevent pest infestation, including termites and wood-destroying beetles.

Modern research now shows that keeping crawl spaces sealed without ventilation to the outside improves moisture control and results in significant energy savings. All Pest Control & Solutions will encapsulate and seal off your entire crawl space in white plastic to reduce moisture in your crawl space and prevent your risks for mold.

Contact us today and find out more about the ways encapsulation services from All Pest Control & Solutions can help protect your home’s crawl space!

Ventilation Systems

Crawl spaces often need additional ventilation or vapor barriers paired with fans to reduce high moisture levels. Temp-Vent® is a powered foundation vent system proven to be one of the quickest and most effective systems for moisture control ventilation. In addition, small fans are encased in the housing of the vent to create negative pressure and pull air through the foundation. Powered vents are installed on one side of the foundation with open, non-powered vents on the opposite side. 

Home Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers may be needed in areas with extremely high levels of moisture. Dehumidifiers minimize mold and mildew growth, reduce pest infestations, and save the average home energy consumption. These systems require installing a ground cover, a vapor barrier, a condensate pump, and a drain line to remove moisture. Foundation vents and any large cracks in the foundation wall are sealed off properly. 

As part of our crawl space encapsulation services, we install crawl space dehumidifiers and ventilation to keep your home’s air dry and clean, protecting it from mold and other damages. Warm air coming into a basement or crawl space naturally rises through the home and out through the upper windows and roof—creating a vacuum within your home. The air in the crawl space will condense and create mold and wood rot while creating efficiency problems for your home’s energy systems. By sealing the crawl space off with encapsulation and vapor barriers and installing a dehumidifier, we can prevent excess moisture and create a dry and healthy environment in your home.

*Please note: Repairs to girders, sill plates, subfloor, insulation, etc., may need to be completed before installing new ventilation or dehumidifiers.

Sump Pump Systems

As the ground around your home becomes saturated with water, it will flow across the surface to any low spot. Water pressure builds over time, and if it finds a crack in your home foundation or the basement floor, it will easily flow inside and fill your basement or crawl space. If your home experiences groundwater flooding, you need a sump pump system installed. A sump pump will pump water out as it collects in your basement or crawl space automatically.

All Pest can recommend installing a sump pump to protect your home from flooding and reduce moisture problems due to water in your crawlspace or basement.

Fungus & Mold Treatments

Moisture-damaged wood, especially in crawl spaces, often develops mold and fungi. In addition to the health concerns their presence carries, the way they spread also strips nutrients from wood and leaves it prone to infestation from pests. 

Our technicians use the Bora-Care® Mold-Care solution to treat mold and fungi inside homes. This treatment method not only kills the mold it comes into contact with but also creates a persistent buffer that delays mold from developing in the future. This application is sprayed into the wood within your walls. It works as a safeguard against future mold problems while simultaneously improving your home’s air quality and reducing your risk for pest infestation.

Insulation Removal & Replacement

When you think about moisture control, you probably don’t think about insulation, do you? You may not realize that the insulation in your home acts like a sponge, wicking excess moisture and, over time- damaging the insulation. As insulation becomes damp, it degrades and loses some R-value, decreasing its ability to insulate your home effectively. And, in turn, increases your home’s energy expenses and your risks for attracting various moisture-loving pests. When performing moisture control services, All Pest Control & Solutions also recommends an inspection and replacement of damaged insulation as necessary to lower your utility bills and decrease risks for pest infestations.

All Pest Home Insulation Services

• Insulation Inspection: Our professionals will look for insulation damaged by excess moisture.

• Service Recommendation: If the insulation in your home is damaged, our team will recommend removing and replacing the insulation to prevent moisture and pest problems.

• Insulation Removal And Replacement: Our technicians will carefully remove the damaged insulation and replace it with new, top-of-the-line insulation to give you the best value for your dollar. Our customers see improved energy savings and enjoy the confidence of knowing their insulation is not holding excess moisture or becoming home to a pest infestation.

TAP Pest Control Insulation

At All Pest Control & Solutions, we utilize TAP Pest Control Insulation in our insulation services. Unlike other insulation products on the market, TAP uniquely offers two solutions in one product: energy-efficient insulation with the added value of pest protection. Not only does TAP Insulation provide thermal insulation and sound control, but it is also a ready-to-use insect control insulation, making it the perfect choice for any home.

Benefits of TAP Insulation:

• It helps buildings stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and lowering energy costs.

• It reduces sound transmission through walls, ceilings, and floors.

• It provides a pest defense barrier against ants, silverfish, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, centipedes, millipedes, sowbugs, darkling beetles, booklice, and termites*.

*TAP Pest Control Insulation is not recommended as sole protection against termites.

Additional Solutions

Depending on the conditions and your specific circumstances, other moisture control solutions such as sand installation and fungus treatments may also be appropriate. Your pest specialist will be able to help make this determination.

Trust All Pest For All Your Moisture Control Needs

We know more than just about the pests we eliminate at All Pest Control & Solutions: we also know what attracts them and the conditions that allow them to thrive. Moisture problems inevitably lead to more significant problems, so we have taken the time to help save our customers from future headaches by preventing moisture problems in the first place.

Is your home or property experiencing moisture problems, or are you at risk for problems in the future? Don’t wait: contact the pros at All Pest Control & Solutions for help today. 

Moisture Control FAQ

Why do I have black mold?

Black mold is likely to appear in homes that are damp and humid. Basements or crawl spaces are especially susceptible to mold growth, but this potentially dangerous mold can grow anywhere with excessive moisture. 

What are the signs of overexposure to mold?

Chronic coughing and sneezing, eye irritation, runny nose, and aggravation of asthma are the most common symptoms of overexposure to black mold. Not all individuals experience health issues, and those that suffer from asthma and allergies may see those conditions worsen. 

What’s the connection between moisture and termites?

Termite infestations are more likely to occur in homes with water damage, excessive moisture issues, and unventilated areas. Unfortunately, termite infestations can result in extensive damage – damage that may not be covered by insurance. To discourage termite activity, it is crucial to correct moisture issues, especially in areas prone to excessive moisture, such as basements and crawl spaces.