Porous Foundation Walls
The foundation walls of this crawl space are unsealed and uninsulated, allowing the outside air and moisture to seep through and elevate the relative humidity. There are also open vents lining these walls which allow outside moisture and temperatures to freely enter the crawl space and affect the environment, as well as allow small critters and creatures to sneak their way in.
Unsealed Vapor Barrier
The 6-mil vapor barrier in this crawl space has gaps in it that are not sealed. There were also gaps where the liner meets the piers and foundation walls, allowing moisture to rise from the earth and raise the relative humidity, which can lead to moisture problems and mold growth on the organic materials.
Sagging Fiberglass Batts
The fiberglass insulation batts within this crawl space are damp and are beginning to sag out of place in the floor joists. This is a result of moisture infiltration through the foundation walls and moisture rising from the earth. The fiberglass batts will absorb the moisture and be pulled apart until it eventually begins to fall out of place. The added weight of the moisture in the fiberglass also causes the batts to sag.
