It’s that time of year in Oregon when the weather is colder and many people worry about their pipes freezing. The first thing they do is close up the crawl space vents with styrofoam blocks thinking this will help. But every home inspector that I have worked with says this is a big no-no.
Here’s why:
Your Crawlspace Needs to Breathe:
Here in Oregon we get water in our crawl spaces – it’s just a fact. It can happen for a variety of reasons; poor grading of the soil around your home or periods of heavy rain creating excess ground water. Wet crawl spaces mean excess moisture which can lead to mold growth below the home and up into the attic. Keeping ALL of your vents open year round will help the air flowing and stop moisture build up.
radon is the highest leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers:
I’ll say that again. radon is the HIGHEST LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER IN NON-SMOKERS. If you aren’t familiar with radon (it doesn’t deserve a capital letter here) it is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the soil. Some areas have higher amounts of radon in the soil than others but even small amounts of radon can be harmful to your health. Everyone should test their home for radon gas and take the proper measures to ensure the least amount of radon enters the home. The best way to lower radon levels is to keep your crawlspace vents OPEN! Closed vents mean the radon has nowhere else to go but up into the home. The second way is to ensure that the floor of your crawlspace is completely covered with black 6 mill vapor barrier. The vapor barrier should be in good condition without rips or holes.
Click Here to learn more about radon gas and how to test for it.
There is low risk of your pipes freezing in Oregon:
Don’t quote me on saying that your pipes will never freeze or burst – of course that can happen. But we don’t get below freezing often enough to keep your crawl space vents closed up for months at a time. If temps drop below freezing for more than a day or two, fine, go ahead and close them up. But then open them back up immediately after the freeze. Many homes have insulation covering the majority of the plumbing and if you live in an older home without insulation below the floors, consider adding it. Your feet will thank you and so will your energy bills!
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