During winter, many people in the USA focus on weatherproofing and often wonder whether they should close the crawl space vents or leave them open. Knowing the right temperature to close crawl space vents helps homeowners protect their homes during winter. On this page, we will discuss whether crawl space vents should be closed in winter.
What Are Crawl Space Vents?
Crawl Space Vents are small openings in a home's foundation walls that allow air to circulate through the crawl space beneath the floor. They are installed to prevent moisture damage, mold growth, wood rot, and pest invasion. These small vents play an important role in maintaining a healthy environment during warmer months, but become problematic as temperatures drop.
When to Close Crawl Space Vents?
During the summer, there is more humidity outside. Keeping the crawl space vents open in summer leads to moisture buildup in your home, which eventually causes mold growth and structural damage. Warm, moist air can also attract pests and create an unhealthy indoor environment.
Most people keep their crawl space vents closed during the winter, when humidity is low, to keep dry air out of their interior. Keeping your vents closed during cold weather helps keep cold air outside, maintaining indoor warmth, improves insulation efficiency, and prevents pipe freezing.
Why Closing Crawl Space Vents is Essential in Winter?
Improves Energy Efficiency
Closing crawl space vents prevents cold air from entering the crawl space, improving indoor heating efficiency and reducing energy bills. It also helps maintain a balanced indoor temperature, making your home more comfortable in both summer and winter.
Prevents Crawl Space Condensation
Open vents cause condensation. Closing crawl space vents prevents condensation and helps protect against structural damage, wood rot, and mold growth. Additionally, it keeps pests and insects out of your crawl space, ensuring a healthier, safer home environment year-round.
Reduces the Risk of the Stack Effect
The stack effect causes air circulation due to a density difference: warm, less-dense air rises, and cold, denser air sinks, making the floor colder. This process can bring dust, bacteria, and mold spores into the rooms. By keeping the crawl space vents closed, you can protect your interior from such risks as well as from cold weather.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
Closing crawl space vents minimizes the stack effect and promotes healthy indoor air quality by preventing harmful particles, such as mold, spores, and bacteria, from entering your home. This reduces the risk of respiratory health problems, allergy, and asthma. In addition, it helps maintain a fresher environment by keeping damp odours away from your living space.
Prevents Pest Invasion
Keeping the crawl space vents open causes damp conditions inside, which attracts pests. To protect your interior from wet conditions, pest infestations, and wood damage, properly close the vents. Closed vents also discourage rodents, termites, and insects from nesting in your crawl space.
Prevents Frozen or Pipes Burst
Poor moisture management can leave insulation around pipes damp, which then condenses in winter. Closing up vent space prevents these pipes from freezing, reducing the risk of bursts. Also, closing up vent space saves you from costly plumbing repairs and water damage inside your home.
Preserves the Structural Integrity of the Home
Closing crawl space vents helps prevent overspanned floor joist damage and rim joist damage by controlling moisture, the main cause. Sealing crawl space vents helps protect your house's structural integrity.
How to Seal Crawl Space Vents Adequately?
Clean the Vents
Ensure you clean the vents thoroughly and remove all debris before closing them.
Apply Vent Overs
Properly use vent covers before closing them. This prevents dust particles from entering the ducts.
Insulated
You can add rigid foam or a vapour barrier as insulation. This insulation ensures protection against moisture and cold air.
Scan Humidity Levels
You can use a hygrometer to scan the humidity levels in your crawl space. The ideal humidity level to prevent mold growth should be below 60%.
Conclusion
Preparing your crawl space for winter involves closing the vents, which is an important step to keep your home warm. Closing crawl space vents protects your home from a range of issues. Using a temporary vent cover for winter seems a better option in comparison to permanently closing the vents because they play a crucial role in maintaining the airflow in summer too.