Key takeaways
- Warm air rises and pulls air from below
- Crawl space air moves up through gaps in the floor
- Damp, musty air comes along
- Sealing the space breaks the chain
A house acts like a chimney. Warm air rises and leaves through the upper levels, and replacement air is drawn in from below.
What gets pulled up
A good share of the air on the first floor can come from the crawl space, through gaps around pipes, wires, ducts and the rim joist. That air carries moisture, dust and odors with it.
What to do
A dry, sealed crawl space sends cleaner air upward. Sealing gaps in the floor and at the rim joist helps too. Our home page animation shows the difference between a vented and a sealed space.
Related services
Questions about your own crawl space? Call or text 800-224-9245, or use the quote form below.