Storms and heavy rain can cause significant flooding issues for homeowners with crawl spaces in North or South Carolina. Here is what you need to know about crawl space flooding and how you can take steps to guard against moisture exposure in the future.
Is Water in Crawl Space Normal?
While finding water in crawl space after heavy rain is a common occurrence in both North Carolina and South Carolina, it’s not something you should accept as an unavoidable situation.
It’s important to understand why your crawl space gets flooded so that you can take action to prevent it in the future. Waterproofing your crawl space can eliminate most causes of water damage, reducing the wear and tear damage that your home’s structure suffers.
What Causes Crawl Space Flooding?
There are a few different reasons your crawl space floods from time to time, in addition to heavy rain. Each type of flooding requires unique solutions, so identifying the underlying cause is essential.
Plumbing Issues
There are plumbing pipes that run beneath your home. If a fitting erodes or a pipe bursts, you’ll likely find some flooding in your crawl space. A loss of water pressure, low flow, and higher water bills are all signs of an undiscovered water leak. Check your crawl space as soon as you expect a leak.
Eroding Gradient
When a contractor constructs a home, they will position the home to sit on a high point on the land. This ensures there’s a gradient that directs the flow of rainwater away from the foundation.
If the soil has eroded, the gradient may have changed enough to send water flowing toward your home. As a result, you’re likely to find water in crawl space after storms.
Cracked Foundation
The foundation walls that make up your crawl space will crack over time. This can result from pressure as moisture causes the surrounding soil to expand. Once a crack forms, it will deepen over time. You’ll need foundation repairs to address this issue before any crawl space waterproofing measures will be successful.
Signs You Have a Moisture Problem in Your Crawl Space
You may wonder, is water in crawl space after heavy rain normal for your region? While the humid and moist climate in North Carolina does cause crawl space moisture problems, there are ways to prevent water damage. The first step is recognizing that moisture is causing a problem.
Even if you don’t find standing water in your crawl space, keep an eye out for these signs of a potential problem:
- High indoor humidity
- Warped floorboards
- Warped wooden support beams in the crawl space
- Wood damage from termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-eating pests
- Mold in the crawl space
- A musty odor in the home
- Severe allergy symptoms
You may catch a mild moisture problem by inspecting your crawl space when you notice the soil around your home is damp. If you find that moisture seeping into your crawl space, you’ll need to take action before your crawl space and your home’s structure suffer serious damage.
How to Prevent or Eliminate Crawl Space Flooding
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can prevent water in crawl space after heavy rain. In addition to preventing flooding, you can also remove standing water through the use of these methods:
- Install a sump pump
- Encapsulate your crawl space with drains
- Install a dehumidifier
- Regrade the soil around your home
- Extend the downspouts on your gutter system
A foundation repair contractor in your area can recommend the best solution for waterproofing your crawl space.
Dealing With Water Under House After Heavy Rain?
Even if you haven’t seen the signs of water damage in your crawl space, you can still take action to prevent future flooding. Taking steps to prevent water access can help you safeguard your home against water damage, saving you money on repairs down the road.
If your crawl space does suffer flooding after a storm, calling a professional to handle it is vital. A professional can make the proper repairs and offer the best solutions for prevention in the future.
