Even though the hollow area between the ground and first floor of your home (aka the crawl space) is prone to moisture, mold, dust mites, and other pests, few homeowners are aware that these pathogens can float up into the living space, compromising your indoor air quality and the health of your loved ones.
Several studies have shown that up to 40% of the air we breathe on the first floor of our homes comes from the crawl space or basement.
Dark, moist crawl spaces offer the perfect environment for moisture and mold—all of which can travel up to your home through the ductwork. This rising flow of moisture is dangerous to not only the health of your family but the integrity of your home. High humidity levels in crawl spaces are the leading cause of rotted beams and support columns as well as plumbing failures due to rust and corrosion.
Another substantial threat in crawl spaces is radon gas, a significant cancer-causing radioactive contaminant that affects indoor air quality and health. Radon gas comes from the decay of uranium in the soil, which can seep into your home through the cracks and openings in the foundation. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over 20,000 deaths each year are radon related and as many as 8 million homes throughout the United States have elevated radon levels.
In Canada, Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, accounting for 16% of lung cancer deaths, or 3,200 deaths in Canada, annually (Statistics Canada.)
While building codes have specific requirements for crawl spaces, passive ventilation alone is rarely enough to eliminate moisture damage, improve air quality, or protect the premature aging of your home. Other fixes, such as humidifiers or dehumidifiers, do little to remove radon and other toxins from your home. The bottom line is that you can’t improve air quality or move moisture without exchanging air!
The Solution: The key to preventing mold and radon and keeping your crawl space dry is to control high humidity and moisture with a solar-powered crawl space fan.
The iSolar 19W-MOD-CRL solar-powered crawl space fan offers an energy-efficient and reliable solution to removing damp or stale air underneath your home and replacing it with drier, fresh air from outside. The 19W’s powerful motor, which can exchange air at the rate of up to 400 CFM, expels moisture and water from the crawl space before it can cause any issues.
Remember, problems in your crawl space affect your entire home. Preventing moisture issues with proper ventilation ensures that dangerous radon and mold stay away from your living space and its occupants. Our new 440 CFM crawl space ventilation fan is ideal for foundations, basements, and any area that needs to remove humidity. If you’re interested in purchasing or distributing iSolar Attic fans please visit Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or contact info@isolarsolutions.ca.
