Why Vented Crawlspaces Don't Always Work

In this session, Nikki Krueger from Santa Fe and Sam Myers from Retrotec will cover the “what?”, “why?”, and “how?” of encapsulated crawl spaces. Whenever a home is built with a traditional vented crawl space, we run the risk of allowing moisture from outside air to condense inside the space, allowing mold to grow and wood framing to rot. This can be especially true if the crawl space contains leaky ductwork and have a severe impact on those living with respiratory and allergy issues.
Back in the early 2000s, Advanced Energy conducted a crawl space study to determine how much we can benefit from encapsulating existing vented crawl spaces, and what components are needed to achieve a dry, healthy space. This research has influenced new codes, products, and training workshops around the country, and we continue to learn more as new case studies are conducted. Join this session to see why vented crawl spaces are a risk to occupant health and home durability. We’ll share what we have learned that makes the most optimum crawl space design for a comfortable, durable, and healthy home.