Each summer, Ohioans can expect both high temperatures and high humidity, even during drought periods. This is due in part to weather patterns that carry moist air from the Southern United States and Gulf of Mexico up and across the Midwest.

Without adequate preparation, this combination of heat and humidity can lead to problems in your home's basement or crawl space. Below, we discuss several steps you can take to minimize these issues and make your home more energy efficient during hot summer months.

The Stack Effect

If you have a vented crawl space, hot, humid air is drawn into it and throughout your entire home during the summertime due to what's known as the stack effect. As air escapes from the top levels of your home, it is replaced by air from the bottom levels i.e., the crawl space and basement.

In fact, building scientists estimate that as much as 50% of the air in your home is air that came from your crawl space or basement. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to minimize this air exchange and beat the summer heat. 

What to Do

It's incredibly important to make sure your crawl space vents are sealed and basement windows are kept closed to prevent hot, humid summer air from getting in.

This is a very simple step you can take to keep your energy costs down as well. Since hot, moist air is more difficult to cool, sealing it out will help your air conditioning system work more efficiently.

Sealing crawl space vents and basement windows also prevents condensation from accumulating on your ductwork, which can reduce cooling efficiency and lead to leaks and mold growth.

Additional Recommendations

If your crawl space or basement is prone to high humidity, moisture, leaks, or floods, our team may recommend crawl space encapsulation or basement waterproofing to seal out moisture, prevent flooding, and reduce the humidity. Give us a call today at 1-614-696-6400 to schedule a free inspection!