Crawl Space Repair in CO & NM, including Canon City, Durango & Grand Junction.

Crawl Space Mold: Where it Comes From

Identifying Why Crawl Spaces Grow Mold & How to Control it

To Survive, Mold Needs:

  1. Warmth
  2. Moisture
  3. Food

Your crawl space will
always be warm enough
for mold.

There'll always be wood,
and other organic materials
there for mold to eat.

The only way you can
control mold is to
eliminate crawl space
moisture and humidity
at its source.

If you've ever had to kill a weed, you know that simply cutting away the visible portion is not enough. To kill a weed permanently, you have to remove it by the roots— its source of life.

Like weeds, mold and fungi cannot be killed simply by wiping the visible portion away. Mold spores are almost always present, just waiting for a chance to grow. The only way to truly control mold growth in a home is to eliminate the bare necessities it needs to live.

At Silver River Basement Systems, we are experts at creating crawl space environments where mold and rot cannot thrive. We stop the problem by eliminating what helps it grow- specifically moisture and humidity. For a free dry crawl space quote, call or e-mail us today!

Silver River Basement Systems operates in the Colorado & New Mexico area, including Grand Junction, Durango, Farmington, NM, and many areas nearby.

Rot & Mold in a Crawl Space

To survive, mold needs three things: some warmth, organic materials to eat, and a relative humidity of 60% or higher.

Mold is very tolerant to heat and cold— it grows in refrigerators, and it will certainly survive in your crawl space. Mold can also survive by eating just about any organic material, including wood, fiberglass resins and paper backings, cardboard, dust, and organic materials in soils.

However, mold has one important weakness: it needs lots of humidity to survive. This can be controlled by sealing off the crawl space vents, installing a plastic vapor barrier on the walls and floor, and running a dehumidifier in the space.

Sources of Crawl Space Moisture & Mold

Natural Sources
Man-Made Problems
  • Groundwater Leaking into the Crawl Space from the ground below
  • Water flooding in through the crawl space vents and pipe penetrations
  • Water vapor entering through your dirt or concrete walls and floors
  • Failing over overworked dehumidifiers
  • Plumbing leaks or sewage leaks
  • Failing water heaters leaks
a wet, moldy crawl space in Farmington, NM

A damp, moldy crawl space with open vents and a dirt floor.

a crawl space liner installed in a damp crawl space in Grand Junction

After the crawl space liner installation

Controlling Mold & Rot in a Crawl Space

Mold and rot in a crawl space is a serious & insidious problem. While the problem may seem merely cosmetic at first, allowing it to continue to thrive can lead to the following:

  • Rotting timbers and structural wood
  • Sinking floors above the crawl space
  • Drywall cracks in the home above the crawl space
  • Unhealthy, allergenic mold spores in the home

The most common reason for crawl space mold is vented or dirt crawl spaces. Open crawl space vents bring in summer humidity, snow, rain, fog, and other sources of moisture— all of which creates a good habitat for mold. Additionally, winter cold will cool crawl space utilities such as furnaces or water heaters, costing you more on your utility bills.

Fortunately, sealing the crawl space to prevent these problems is a simple job— one that can be completed in a day or sometimes less.

The vents should be sealed off with airtight covers, and a thick, durable liner can be installed on the walls and floor. Airtight crawl space doors can be installed, and an energy efficient crawl space dehumidifier should be installed to dry out any existing moisture & maintain the space.

If you'd like to find out how much installing a system like this in your home would cost, Silver River Basement Systems would be happy to help. We provide free crawl space sealing estimates to homeowners in our area, including an on-site inspection, personal consultation, and written quotes. Call or e-mail us today to get started! We serve Farmington, NM, Grand Junction, Durango.

Crawl Space Mold Gallery - Click on any image below to see the full size.

a moldy, rotting crawl space in Colorado & New Mexico rotting, decayed insulation in a crawlspace in CO a crawl space dehumidifier that can't keep up with humidity from the crawlspace vents
a dirt crawl space filled with garbage and debris mold, rot, and decay damage in a damp, humid crawl space rust and old pipes in a rotting, sagging crawl space

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.

Serving CO & NM including the Greater Grand Junction area
Our Colorado & New Mexico Service Area
Cities in Alamosa County, CO
Alamosa
Hooper
Mosca

Cities in Archuleta County, CO
Arboles
Chromo
Pagosa Springs

Cities in Conejos County, CO
Antonito
Capulin
Conejos
La Jara
Manassa
Romeo
Sanford

Cities in Delta County, CO
Austin
Cedaredge
Cory
Crawford
Delta
Eckert
Hotchkiss
Lazear
Paonia

Cities in Dolores County, CO
Cahone
Dove Creek
Rico

Cities in Fremont County, CO
Canon City
Coal Creek
Coaldale
Cotopaxi
Florence
Hillside
Howard
Penrose
Rockvale

Cities in Gunnison County, CO
Almont
Crested Butte
Gunnison
Ohio City
Parlin
Pitkin
Powderhorn
Somerset

Cities in Hinsdale County, CO
Lake City

Cities in La Plata County, CO
Bayfield
Durango

Cities in Mesa County, CO
Clifton
Collbran
De Beque
Fruita
Gateway
Glade Park
Grand Junction
Loma
Mack
Mesa
Molina
Palisade
Whitewater

Cities in Mineral County, CO
Creede

Cities in Montezuma County, CO
Cortez
Dolores
Lewis
Mancos
Mesa Verde National Park
Pleasant View
Towaoc
Yellow Jacket

Cities in Montrose County, CO
Bedrock
Cimarron
Montrose
Naturita
Nucla
Olathe
Paradox
Redvale

Cities in Ouray County, CO
Ouray
Ridgway

Cities in Saguache County, CO
Crestone
Moffat
Saguache
Sargents
Villa Grove

Cities in San Juan County, CO
Silverton

Cities in San Miguel County, CO
Egnar
Norwood
Ophir
Placerville
Telluride

Cities in Rio Arriba County, NM
Abiquiu
Alcalde
Canjilon
Canones
Cebolla
Chama
Chimayo
Cordova
Coyote
Dixon
Dulce
El Rito
Embudo
Espanola
Gallina
Hernandez
La Madera
Lindrith
Los Ojos
Medanales
Petaca
Tierra Amarilla
Truchas
Vallecitos
Velarde
Youngsville

Cities in San Juan County, NM
Aztec
Blanco
Bloomfield
Farmington
Flora Vista
Fruitland
Kirtland
La Plata
Nageezi
Navajo Dam
Newcomb
Sanostee
Sheep Springs
Shiprock
Waterflow

Our Locations:

Silver River Basement Systems
P.O. Box 905
Ship:1871 North Hwy. 149
Lake City, CO 81235
1-970-238-8873