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Crawl Space Encapsulation Sump Pump

Crawl space encapsulation is difficult work and many don’t want to spend the time or money to install a sump pump. Homeowners that have dry crawl spaces are certainly not convinced a sump pump is necessary.

Do I need a Sump Pump in a Dry Crawl Space

I am empathetic with every homeowner asking the question of, “Do I need a sump pump?” The fact is when we inspect a crawl space more than half the time there is standing water or evidence of standing water on the vapor barrier. Standing water and high humidity can lead to mold and foundation problems. In those instances, recommending a sump pump is easy.

What is a tougher recommendation is advising the homeowner to install a sump pump when there is no evidence of standing water. If you are looking only at current circumstances, it makes no sense to install a sump pump in a dry crawl space.

I Wish I Installed a Sump Pump

We preach a worry-free crawl space. This means planning for future contingencies. We have been fixing crawl spaces for many years. Not saying we have seen it all, but we have seen a lot. It is heartbreaking to tell a homeowner we have to rip out the vapor barrier and redo the crawl space encapsulation. This happens because crawl spaces typically flood given enough time.

Why Did My Crawl Space Flood

If you are wondering why your crawl space flooded, it can be for several reasons. Typically, it is from a footer drain problem. After several years of shifting dirt and clogging footer drains, the water has nowhere to go. Many times the footer drain is plugged or never gets run to daylight. We see this for french drains and downspout extensions as well.

The second most common reason is pipe leaks. Flooding from pipe leaks is very common due to cold weather or too much pressure. Sewer pipe leaks are the worst to deal with. Think about all the times you have had to deal with a leaking toilet or faucet. All that water has to go somewhere and it is usually your crawl space.

These are just two of the reasons we recommend installing a sump pump even in a dry crawl space. We hope your sump pump will never turn on but it is nice to know it is there when you need it.

I hope you found this information useful. Please comment below if you have any questions or would like to say hello.