Are Crawl Space Inspections Worth It?

Why Should You Have Your Crawl Space Inspected?

Why are crawl space inspections important? First and foremost, they make you aware of the any issues in your crawl space. After all, the area isn’t always easy to keep an eye on, and things can quickly go unnoticed. With a professional inspection, it’s possible to identify and deal with any number of these problem signs:

Does My Crawl Space Need to Be Inspected?

Owning a home comes with many responsibilities—from repairs, to updates, to bills, to everyday family life. Amidst these tasks, it’s easy to overlook your crawl space, especially because it often feels “out of sight, out of mind”.

However, the crawl space serves as your home’s foundation. It keeps the entire structure standing, and it holds many of your home’s most important systems like air vents, water pipes, and electric wiring. For this reason, it should be treated with the same importance as any other part of your home.

How Do I Know My Crawl Space Needs an Inspection?

So when is the right time to have it inspected? Well, it’s a good rule of thumb to have your crawl space inspected at least once a year. But there are certain signs that can indicate you need a crawl space inspection as soon as possible. These include:

• Warping door and window frames
• Higher electric bills than usual
• Decreased water pressure throughout your home
• Musty smells in your home

What makes these quirks special? They’re all signs of crawl space damage. If left unattended, these symptoms can evolve into severe structural damage throughout your home. Inspectors can catch this damage early and help you save on repairs.

What Does A Crawl Space Inspection Involve?

Worried about what an inspector will get up to while inspecting your crawl space? There’s no need to fret. Most inspectors break their exploratory process down into the following three steps:

Entry Inspection

A crawl space inspection doesn’t start in your crawl space. Instead, inspectors will need to look over your entry point before moving inside. For a crawl space’s entry point to pass muster, it must be a minimum of two feet wide and 18 inches tall.

If your crawl space is on the smaller side or otherwise appears to have been damaged or compromised, then your inspector will recommend that you have it repaired, regardless of the state of the rest of your crawl space.

Superficial Inspection

If an inspector determines that it’s safe to enter your crawl space, then he’ll perform a superficial inspection of the space as a whole. During this inspection, your inspector will look out for obvious signs of wear and tear.

This means standing water, mold clusters, a damaged vapor barrier, and so on. If an inspector finds anything wrong with your crawl space during this phase of the inspection, he’ll be able to provide you with a free quote on potential services before inspecting for structural damage.

Full Assessment

After an inspector has identified any glaringly obvious problems with your crawl space, he’ll take a closer look at the space’s bones. This way, both you and the inspector can determine whether or not your crawl space is structurally sound. Similarly, an inspector will be able to identify potential problem areas for you to reinforce.

Schedule a Free Crawl Space Inspection With Indiana Foundation Service

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Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.