One Way To Lower Humidity Without Using A Dehumidifier

The humidity level in your home requires a careful balancing act, as it being too low or too high can cause a plethora of structural and health issues. While using dehumidifiers is one way to address excess moisture in the air, they don't fix the underlying issue, so if you're dealing with persistent high humidity, you may need to add a vapor barrier to your crawl space.  

In your home, humidity issues can be caused by factors like climate, poor ventilation, HVAC issues, or even your crawl space. Yep, that's right. Your crawl space could be having a detrimental impact on your home's humidity levels. While it's easy to forget about your crawl space, about 50% of its air makes its way into your living space through gaps in the subfloor. High humidity levels in your home contribute to mold growth and cause structural issues like rotting your furniture and floors or damaging your walls. Plus, any mold that already grows in your crawl space can get into your home through those gaps. 

One way to lower the humidity in your crawl space is by installing vapor barriers, a thick plastic sheet often made from polyethylene that blocks ground moisture. If you have a dirt-floored crawl space, it is especially recommended to use them. In addition to lowering humidity levels, vapor barriers can eliminate pests and reduce your energy bill, as excess moisture makes your home appliances run less efficiently. Depending on the size of your crawl space and materials, a vapor barrier can cost between $1.35 to $2 per square foot.

Although vapor barriers are beneficial to your crawl space, they come with their downsides, too. One of the biggest issues is that vapor barriers can only address moisture coming up from the ground. And while a vapor barrier can last several years, it is vulnerable to damages like tearing or puncturing. It may also erode over time from the same moisture that it's holding back. If any damages occur, the overall effectiveness of your vapor barrier is reduced, so you should have it inspected at least once a year.

Ultimately, vapor barriers are a cost-effective way to immediately address excess humidity in your crawl space. For a more effective solution, though, you need to encapsulate your crawl space. This process still uses a vapor barrier but adds it to the walls, too. It is able to completely waterproof your crawl space and typically lasts between 10 to 15 years. However, encapsulation is more expensive. On average, the process ranges between $2 to $4 per square foot for basic insulation, and rises up to $10 per square foot if it involves a lot of cleaning, repairs, or special features. An encapsulated crawl space also requires a dehumidification system like a crawl space-specific dehumidifier, which can cost between $1,500 and $3,000.