Dampness, humidity, and flooding are common issues for homes around the Moberly, MO, area for many reasons. Expansive, absorbent soils are common in this area; Missouri as a whole has a damp subtropical climate that experiences cold winters and long, humid summers. Under these conditions, every home is at risk of dampness, humidity, and flooding. In fact, preventing such issues in a property like this can be far more difficult than you might expect. It is important to put waterproofing measures in place where possible.
A crawl space interior drainage system could be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal when it comes to preventing dampness and flooding in your home. Interior drainage is particularly useful for homes in and around Missouri because it collects and removes water that enters a home’s crawl space or that forms as a result of high humidity and condensation.
What Is an Interior Drainage System and How Does it Work?
Interior drainage systems are some of the most common waterproofing measures found in homes around Missouri. A crawl space interior drainage system can take many different forms, depending on the needs of the space. Broadly speaking, however, interior drainage systems are placed at or below ground level around the perimeter of a space.
Interior drainage systems differ from other forms of drainage in a number of ways, but they are primarily passive water removal products that gather water from their immediate area so it can be removed from the space. Most modern interior drainage systems are covered by a layer of gravel (or similar material), and this is key in preventing avoidable blockages and clogs as it acts as a kind of filtration system that protects the drainage system.
An interior drainage system can be turned into a proactive waterproofing measure by connecting it to a sump pump and a wider drainage system. By doing this, you can maximize the potential benefits of a crawl space interior drainage systems and protect your home in a more robust way. The benefits of any crawl space interior drainage systems are many.
The Benefits of a Crawl Space Interior Drainage System
Interior drainage systems have many different benefits you should consider when waterproofing your property. Knowing all of the strengths and limitations of these kinds of systems is the job of a professional, but the potential benefits of interior drainage installation for a property are something all homeowners should be aware of.
Effective
Interior drainage is effective for a number of reasons, but its placement is a huge factor. Because interior drainage tends to be placed at the perimeter of a room at or below ground level, it is adept at gathering the moisture that other drainage systems miss out on. Most notably, it is excellent for gathering condensation that forms on the walls and runs down to the perimeter of a space.
Low Relative Cost
Interior drainage systems are relatively inexpensive and easy to install when compared to other drainage systems. This is especially true if there is no need to excavate the existing interior structure to fit them. It is relatively easy to install interior drainage into a crawl space with exposed dirt floors. It is certainly easier than installing interior drainage into a crawl space with a solid concrete floor.
Lowered Humidity
One of the benefits of any waterproofing system is a general lowering of humidity and dampness in the space (and the property as a whole). This is good for a number of reasons, but primarily because of the way in which it reduces the risk of issues like mold, mildew, and wood rot.
Easy To Disguise
Because interior drainage is generally placed below ground level, it is far easier to disguise than many other forms of drainage. Because the trenches in which it is placed tend to be filled with material like gravel, it also tends to present less of a hazard than, for example, a sump pit.
Getting the right interior drainage system for your home and situation will increase these benefits. Here at Foundation Recovery Systems, we favor the CrawlDrain™ interior drainage system for a number of reasons.
Why Do We Recommend the CrawlDrain™ Interior Drainage System?
The CrawlDrain™ system was designed with crawl spaces in mind and has superior durability and corrosion resistance when compared to other brands. This system is made from the highest quality materials with a range of unique features that ensure that the crawl space stays dry and safe no matter what. These are just some of the reasons that we at Foundation Recovery Systems favor the CrawlDrain™ interior drainage system above others:
Unique Design
The CrawlDrain™ interior drainage system has a number of unique features that make it more effective in water collection and removal than typical interior drainage systems. Most notable is the fact that CrawlDrain™ has holes at the base to allow it to collect and drain water that seeps up into a home from below.
This feature means that CrawlDrain™ is capable of acting as a preventive measure as well as water removal measure because of the way in which it prevents groundwater from getting into your home in the first place. This has many different benefits, the most obvious of which is the reduction in dampness and humidity as well as a lower risk of water damage.
Durable Materials
CrawlDrain™ is made to withstand the damaging effects of soil movement and saturation. This system is resistant to rust and corrosion and will not deteriorate when faced with regular soil saturation. It also can flex and move, and has an incredible lifespan.
Clog Resistant
Unlike many typical drainage systems, the CrawlDrain™ utilizes a unique filter fabric to prevent avoidable clogs, blockages, and damage to the drainage system as a whole. This not only reduces the need for widespread and regular flushing and maintenance but also increases the lifespan of the system as a whole.
An additional benefit to this fabric filter is the reduced risk of crawl space flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and soil saturation. This could save you a lot of stress and prevent a huge amount of avoidable damage over the lifetime of the system.
Part of a Larger System
While interior drainage is a very effective product, it works best when paired with other waterproofing measures. One of the biggest benefits of the CrawlDrain™ interior drainage system is that it is part of a wider range of crawl space solutions and is designed to work with these other products and systems.
When you pair a CrawlDrain™ interior drainage systems with a sump pump, drainage matting, and vapor barrier, for example, you will maximize the positive effects of each individual item. This has huge long-term benefits for your home as a whole. For example, a home with a fully waterproof crawl space tends to be more hygienic, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient. This means that investing in such a system could save you money, keep you healthy, and prevent avoidable damage and issues within your home over many years.
Interior Drainage System
FAQ's
The presence of water at any time in your St. Louis, MO, crawl space has the potential to cause damage, but persistent dampness and water pools in your crawl space are a sign of ongoing and serious issues in your home.
Seepage, Groundwater, and Open Vents
If your crawl space is persistently damp and commonly has pooling or standing water in it, there is a good chance that it is in some way vulnerable or exposed and that this is the source of the water (rather than damage of some kind). The most likely sources of moisture that are not connected to damage of some kind are an exposed crawl space floor, a process known as seepage, and open crawl space vents.
Seepage and the saturation of a dirt floor in a crawl space are processes that hinge largely on the porous nature of concrete. When the soil around and under your home is saturated, the concrete foundation and foundation walls may start to absorb water, slowly letting it pass through them and into your property. This will cause minor dampness at first but can lead to significant amounts of water over time. Open crawl space vents, by contrast, can let water pass directly during periods of intense rainfall, heavy snowmelt, or localized flooding. Likewise, they can cause increased humidity and condensation as a result of the impact of the stack effect.
Internal and Structural Damage
If the amount of water in your home is significant, it is more likely that the underlying source is some form of damage to your property’s structure or plumbing system. A crack, leak, or rupture somewhere in a property’s plumbing system will be the most obvious and serious source of water—a full-size plumbing flood can cause copious amounts of water to enter a crawl space in a very short period of time. It is far more likely that a low-level leak will be to blame for small amounts of standing water or persistently high humidity.
Structural damage like cracking and fragmentation in a property’s foundation or foundation walls can also be responsible for small amounts of water and high humidity in a home. This generally happens because of water’s incredible ability to find even the smallest channel in which to travel. Even a hairline crack can allow water in your home and, over time, the passage of water through small cracks can contribute to their growth and spread.
Dampness and humidity are some of the most dangerous issues any home can face, not because they are directly dangerous in most cases, but because they create an unhealthy environment that allows secondary and tertiary issues to grow and spread. The most worrying of these issues are wood rot and mold formation.
Rotting Wood
Wood rot is a very real danger in homes that have issues with dampness and high relative humidity, and once it takes root it can cause severe and widespread damage. There are three kinds of wood rot that you should be aware of: brown rot, soft rot, and white rot. All of these forms of wood rot require fungal spores and a certain amount of moisture to grow, but the varying kinds impact wood slightly differently, spread at different paces, and can survive in slightly varied temperature ranges.
Brown rot, or dry rot, is the most worrying kind of wood rot for most homes because of the alarming speed at which it can spread. You will recognize wood rot by the discolored, cracked appearance it causes in impacted wooden surfaces (they almost look burnt in some cases). White rot, by contrast, moves fairly slowly and causes a white residue to form on the wood while making the texture spongy and soft. Soft rot is more likely to cause a slightly honeycombed appearance with patches of discoloration. If left to grow unchecked, wood rot can cause collapse in impacted sources.
Mold and Mildew
Mold, like wood rot, requires the presence of spores, moisture, and organic material in order to grow and thrive. However, unlike wood rot mold does very limited damage to the surfaces on which it grows. Instead, it is more likely to cause issues for you and your family. Not all mold species are dangerous to people; most are benign, while a select few cause issues that are similar to those caused by allergies. Only a few forms of mold are actively dangerous, but black mold is unfortunately common.
Black mold can cause serious issues for many people. The side effects of exposure include headaches, dizziness, rashes, infections, fainting, and even seizures. These side effects and issues are even more pronounced when the individuals in question are already vulnerable in some way. Those with underlying respiratory or auto-immune conditions are particularly at risk of serious issues that require medical attention. It is best to control dampness and humidity to avoid mold formation and to act quickly to remove it when you find any formations in your crawl space or home.
A crawl space interior drainage system tends to be a part of a larger waterproofing process, and while this process is beneficial for most homes, it is not one you should undertake alone. While relatively simple, there are a lot of things to consider when waterproofing a home, and professionals are best placed to undertake this process effectively.
The Dangers of DIY
Attempting to waterproof your own crawl space may seem like an excellent idea at first, but there are a number of ways in which this process can go wrong. Waterproofing may be straightforward, but it is far from easy, especially when you consider the need to deal with underlying issues first.
Waterproofing is best undertaken when the property in question is healthy. If your home has underlying structural damage or issues within its plumbing system the process of waterproofing could be rendered inefficient. Dealing with these problems and repairing things like foundation damage or plumbing leaks can require specialized tools and training. Structural repairs in particular can be dangerous when professionals are not involved.
Professionals Get the Right Results
When you consider the fact that you may need to hire a professional to prepare your home for waterproofing anyway, it makes far more sense to allow them to also waterproof your crawl space. A professional waterproofing process is not only far more efficient, but it can also be more cost-effective in the long term. This is partly because of the lower risk of damage to fragile materials like vapor barriers, but also a matter of quality.
Professionals have access to the very best waterproofing products, many of which are not available over the counter in local hardware stores. This is because they can buy through professional supply stores and even directly from manufacturers when they need to. This all translates into a better, more durable result for your home.
High-Quality Crawl Space Drainage Systems from Foundation Recovery Systems
If you feel that a crawl space interior drainage system would be beneficial for your property, it is important that you seek professional help. Here at Foundation Recovery Systems, we have in-house specialists who can help you get the right results for your home no matter what state it is currently in. To ensure that you get the best possible results from any drainage installation process, we offer free inspections and estimates.
Our team is always on hand to help, but these appointments come with no obligation to book with us on the day (or at any later date), so take your time and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. We’re happy to serve Kansas City, Moberly, Springfield, and St. Louis in Missouri, as well as Des Moines, Iowa, and offer annual maintenance plans to ensure your home stays in peak condition.
