Many houses are built on top of crawl spaces instead of concrete foundations. A crawl space is a narrow opening that sits between the ground and a home’s first floor to allow for air circulation. Even though crawl spaces are purposely built, here are four problems that could crop up.

Flooring Issues

People sometimes think a sagging floor is a symptom of an aging house. However, if your home has a crawl space, moisture formation can rot your floor joists and cause them to sink. This particular situation will require crawl space repair Tulsa OK to fix these drooping floors.

Formation of Mold

While crawl spaces are more cost-effective than concrete foundations, they’re also prone to dangerous mold. This occurs because of the warmth inside your home, as well as from the earth sitting below. Mold thrives in warmer temperatures, so if you notice a musty smell, it could be coming from your crawl space.

Insects and Pests

Crawl spaces make it easy for you to reach plumbing or wiring, but unfortunately they’re prime real estate for mice, skunks, groundhogs or termites. If a rodent can dig its way under a crawl space, you can bet it will. Harboring pests can result in chewed-up insulation, wires and with termites, destruction of wooden supports.

Exacerbation of Allergies

Mold that forms in a crawl space will eventually make its way into your living quarters. Since heat rises, spores will seep into your carpets and throughout the house. If you notice more than normal coughing, sneezing, throat or skin irritation, don’t rule out the crawl space as the culprit.

Quick Repair Is Best

For all the good that crawl spaces do, they pose certain challenges like dampness, mold and lodging for pests. When caught early, these situations are easily repaired by professionals that will keep your crawl space clean, dry and doing its job.