Most homeowners never think about their crawlspace. It's dark, uncomfortable to access, and easy to ignore. But here's the problem: up to 50% of the air you breathe on your first floor comes up from your crawlspace. If that space is damp, moldy, or full of outside air, your home is paying the price — literally.
At Nason's Home Solutions, crawlspace work is one of our most requested services across the Bangor area. Here are five warning signs that your crawlspace is quietly costing you money and affecting your family's comfort.
1. Cold Floors in Winter
If your first-floor rooms have noticeably cold floors from fall through spring, your crawlspace is almost certainly the reason. An uninsulated, vented crawlspace allows frigid Maine air to flow directly under your living space. No amount of turning up the thermostat will fix cold floors if the problem is underneath.
The solution is twofold: sealing the crawlspace from outside air and insulating it properly. Our crawlspace encapsulation process closes off vents, installs a heavy-duty vapor barrier over the floor and walls, and creates a sealed, conditioned space that keeps cold air out and warm air in. The difference in floor temperature is something homeowners notice immediately.
2. Musty or Damp Smell in Your Home
A persistent musty odor on your first floor — especially in closets, hallways, or rooms near the center of the house — is a telltale sign of crawlspace moisture. That smell is caused by mold, mildew, and organic decay happening in the damp space below. Because of the natural stack effect (warm air rises, pulling air up from below), those odors and spores migrate directly into your living space.
If you're already seeing visible mold, either in the crawlspace or on surfaces inside your home, that's an urgent concern. Our IICRC-certified mold removal team can safely eliminate existing mold and address the moisture conditions that caused it. But in most cases, the real fix is stopping moisture at its source through proper encapsulation and dehumidification.
3. High Humidity and Condensation Issues
Do your windows fog up frequently? Do doors swell and stick in summer? Does your home feel muggy even with the AC running? Excess humidity often starts in the crawlspace. An exposed dirt floor can release gallons of moisture into the air every day, and that moisture travels upward through your floor system and into your home.
Encapsulation combined with a properly sized dehumidifier brings crawlspace humidity down to a controlled level — typically 50-55% relative humidity. This not only makes your home more comfortable but also protects your floor joists, subfloor, and insulation from moisture damage. Our waterproofing solutions address any active water intrusion that may be adding to the problem.
4. Pest Problems That Keep Coming Back
Mice, insects, and other pests thrive in damp, dark crawlspaces with easy access to the outside. If you've had recurring pest issues despite repeated treatments, the crawlspace is likely providing a welcome habitat. Open foundation vents, gaps around pipes, and unsealed access doors all serve as entry points.
A fully encapsulated crawlspace eliminates the conditions pests need: moisture, organic material to feed on, and easy access. Sealing vents, installing an airtight door, and covering the floor with a sealed vapor barrier turns your crawlspace from a pest haven into a clean, dry space that's far less attractive to unwanted visitors.
5. Sagging or Bouncy Floors
Floors that feel soft, bouncy, or visibly sag can indicate structural damage to your floor joists — and moisture is usually the culprit. Prolonged exposure to high humidity causes wood to absorb moisture, weaken, and eventually rot. In severe cases, we've seen joists with significant deterioration that compromised the structural integrity of the floor above.
Addressing this early is critical. Once the moisture problem is solved through encapsulation, damaged joists can be reinforced or replaced. Waiting only allows the damage to spread, making repairs more extensive and expensive.
The Real Cost of Doing Nothing
A neglected crawlspace doesn't just create discomfort — it creates compounding problems. Moisture leads to mold. Mold leads to wood rot. Wood rot leads to structural damage. Meanwhile, your heating and cooling systems work overtime trying to condition air that's constantly being replaced by unconditioned air from below.
Homeowners who invest in crawlspace encapsulation typically see energy savings of 15-25% on heating and cooling costs. That's real money in Maine, where the heating season runs six months or more. Add in the avoided costs of mold remediation, pest control, and structural repairs, and encapsulation pays for itself relatively quickly.
What Does Crawlspace Encapsulation Involve?
Our encapsulation process follows a systematic approach:
- Inspection and assessment — We evaluate moisture levels, structural condition, existing insulation, and any mold or pest issues.
- Water management — If there's active water intrusion, we install drainage and a sump pump system to manage groundwater before sealing the space.
- Vapor barrier installation — A heavy-duty, reinforced liner covers the entire floor and extends up the foundation walls, creating a continuous moisture barrier.
- Vent sealing — Foundation vents are permanently sealed to prevent outside air and moisture from entering.
- Insulation — Depending on your home's configuration, we insulate the crawlspace walls or the floor above using spray foam for maximum performance.
- Dehumidification — A commercial-grade dehumidifier maintains optimal humidity levels year-round.
Efficiency Maine Rebates Apply
Crawlspace insulation work often qualifies for Efficiency Maine rebates, which can significantly offset the project cost. An energy audit is the first step to determine your eligibility and identify which upgrades will deliver the best return on investment for your specific home.
Serving All of Central Maine
We help homeowners throughout Central Maine tackle crawlspace issues, including Bangor, Hampden, Brewer, Old Town, Orono, Hermon, Holden, Ellsworth, and beyond. Whether your crawlspace needs a basic vapor barrier or a full encapsulation with drainage and dehumidification, we'll assess the situation and recommend the right solution.
Get a Free Crawlspace Assessment
If you've noticed any of the warning signs above, don't wait for the problem to get worse. Learn about our team and certifications, or contact us to schedule a free crawlspace inspection. You can also call us directly at (207) 291-6558 — we're happy to answer your questions and help you figure out the best next step.