he word “dirt” is the problem. The unsealed dirt allows mold, odors, moisture, wood rot, radon, and soil gases to make your crawlspace and home unhealthy. The foundation vents actually add more moisture to the crawlspace and cost you about 15% more on your power bill.

Mold is always in the dirt. Moisture and evaporation causes the mold to grow and allows ideal conditions for mold growth and eventual wood decay in the sub-floor. In short the house actually becomes sick, which means people in the house can get sick.

How does the unsealed dirt crawlspace do it’s damage?

Water in the crawlspace is not the main problem. Moisture in the dirt, from the foundation vents, and the water table underneath the house causes evaporation which increases the relative humidity. Now you add mold and other contaminants from the dirt floor of the crawlspace and you have created a toxic stew. Mold now has the three things it needs to grow – a food source (the wood floor), moisture, and adequate temperature. Foundation ventilation has proven to be a bad idea.

If this problem is not corrected, the wood floor will eventually begin to rot. In terms of health, however, the mold is your real enemy. It does not just smell bad; it can make you sick.

Mildew and molds are fungi – simple microscopic organisms that thrive anywhere there is a moist environment. Molds are a necessary part of the environment; without them, leaves would not decay and aspects of soil enrichment could not take place. It is their ability to destroy organic materials, however, that makes mold a problem for people – in our homes and in our bodies.

Mildew (mold in early stage) and molds grow on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other organic materials.

Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. They reproduce by spores – tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air. Molds digest organic material, eventually destroying the material they grow on, and then spread to destroy adjacent organic material. In addition to the damage molds can cause in your home, they can also cause mild to severe health problems.

We are all exposed to many kinds of mold both inside and outside the house.The exposure is greater in damp or wet conditions, especially when timely drying out does not have a chance to occur.

Of the thousands of molds that exist, some are known allergens (aggravating or causing skin, eye, and respiratory problems), and a few molds produce harmful mycotoxins that can cause serious problems. But all molds, in the right conditions and high enough concentrations, are capable of adversely affecting human health.

The potential for health problems occurs when people inhale large quantities of the airborne mold spores. For some people, however, a relatively small number of mold spores can cause health problems. Infants, children, immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions, and the elderly are at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold.

Typical symptoms reported from mold exposure include:

  • Respiratory problems -wheezing, asthma attacks, etc
  • Nasal and sinus congestion or dry, hacking cough
  • Eye irritation – burning, watery, redness
  • Nose or throat irritation -sneezing fits, bloody noses
  • Skin irritations -rashes or hives
  • Nervous system -headaches, memory loss, mood changes
  • Aches and pains

The more serious health problems have been associated with the toxic black mold, Stachybotrys atra. The mold is greenish-black and slimy, resembling tar or black paint. Stachybotrys typically grows only on repeatedly wetted materials that contain cellulose – from paper to ceiling tiles, and any kind of wood. In most cases, this mold can be removed by a thorough cleaning with a 10% bleach solution. Severe mold infestations may require the assistance of a professional with experience in dealing with Stachybotrys.