Crawl Spaces and Cold Floors

Eliminate cold floors with crawl space encapsulation

Sealing the crawl space eliminates the air flow that makes the living space uncomfortably cold.

One of the most common complaints homeowners have in the winter is cold floors, particularly those above the crawl space. Even if your crawl space has fiberglass batt insulation in between the floor joists, you will still most likely have to deal with cold floors.

The cause of cold floors above the crawl space is air flow. Crawl spaces are not sealed off from the outside, and they are frequently under-insulated. In the winter time, cold air from the outside enters the crawl space through vents and gaps in the structure. The crawl space insulation you have under the floor isn't enough to prevent the floor above from cooling down, and the colder temperatures force your heating system to work harder, costing you money.

Dr. Energy Saver can solve these problems in your home by sealing and insulating your crawl space. Here's how our system works:

• Crawl space insulation: The first step to warmer floors is insulating the crawl space. We use spray foam insulation and rigid foam board insulation to achieve the desired effect. Both of these insulation materials provide the water resistance necessary in the crawl space environment, so they won't decay and lose effectiveness like fiberglass batts. Spray foam air seals as it insulates, eliminating small gaps and cracks. Rigid foam is designed for crawl space walls and also includes a thermal barrier to prevent air you've paid to heat from escaping the home.
• Crawl space encapsulation: Once the crawl space is insulated, we seal the area with a polyurethane membrane. This process will make the crawl space part of the "conditioned" space -- the area you heat and cool. This serves to eliminate outside air, excess moisture, and pest problems in the crawl space while providing the added bonus of a storage area.

Once the system is in place, you will notice dramatically warmer floors above the crawl space. You won't lose heat through ducts or pipes in the crawl space either, which will save you money on your heating costs.

If you're interested in having Dr. Energy Saver make your floors warmer, contact your local dealer today! Our home comfort experts will help you get the best solutions for your cold floors, making your home more comfortable and efficient.