My house, build in 1962, is on a slightly sloped lot with some moisture accumulation in the crawl space …. contributing to foul smell and mold (not the bad kind) smell …. it has been recommeded that the crawl space be almost completly sealed, including vents, up to approx. 6 inches below wood. If have always that there needed to be some underneath ventilation, however, I am hearing that opinion has recently changed?”
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Replies
Check this site:
http://www.rlcengineering.com/csfallacies.htm
"...it has been recommeded that the crawl space be almost completly sealed, including vents, up to approx. 6 inches below wood."
Yes, except for the "almost".
The floor of the crawl should be completely covered and the plastic should go up the walls as you describe. All overlaps and edges sealed.
You don't tell us where you are. If you need insulation, you should insulate the perimeter of the crawl, not the ceiling of the crawl.
The perimeter vents should be sealed shut.
Then measures should be taken to introduce conditioned air from the living area into the crawl. One method would be a vent in the floor with a short piece of duct with a small continuously running fan blowing air into the crawl.
Please note that for all intents and purposes I have no experience with this. What I have posted is just what I know from reading articles in Fine Homebuilding and Journal of Light Construction and threads here at Breaktime.
Edit: Here is a link to the plastic that many use:
http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php/cPath/21_933_68
Another day, another tool.
Edited 12/9/2004 10:06 pm ET by Rich Beckman