Crawl Space Encapsulation and Moisture Control
U.S. Pest Protection provides crawl space encapsulation and moisture control for homes in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Moisture under your home invites termites, wood-destroying fungi, and dozens of other pests, and it can shorten the life of your termite treatment. From antifungal wood treatments and vapor barriers to dehumidifiers, drainage work, and full encapsulation, we find where the water is coming from and fix it, backed by our Whatever It Takes Guarantee. Call 615-590-1260 or schedule a free crawl space inspection.
Protect Your Home From the Ground Up
Air from your crawl space rises into your living space. Keep it dry, and you protect your home, your air, and your termite treatment.
Keep Your Crawl Space Moisture Free
Bare soil releases moisture into your crawl space every day, and in Tennessee summers, humid air flowing through crawl space vents condenses on cooler ducts, pipes, and framing. A heavy-duty vapor barrier, sealed openings, and a dehumidifier turn a damp crawl space into a clean, dry one that protects your framing and makes your termite and pest treatments last longer.
Signs Your Crawl Space Needs Professional Attention
Watch for a musty smell, cupping or buckling hardwood floors, cracked tile, condensation on ducts or pipes, fungus on joists, standing water, or more cockroaches, silverfish, and camel crickets than usual. We’ll measure moisture levels, find the source, and recommend the right solution.Total Home Pest Protection, Made Simple
Schedule Your Free Inspection:
Our experts thoroughly assess your home’s pest control needs.
Get Your Customized Solution:
Receive a comprehensive protection plan tailored to your home.
Enjoy Peace of Mind:
Rest easy with protection backed by our Whatever It Takes Guarantee.
Crawl Space Encapsulation Protects Your Home and Your Family
Left unprotected, your crawl space can silently damage your home and affect your family’s health. Here’s what’s at risk:Why Moisture Control Is Part of Pest and Termite Protection
Most Tennessee homes sit over a crawl space, and a damp crawl space is exactly what termites and pests are looking for. Moisture causes three problems at once:- It attracts termites: Subterranean termites need damp soil and wood to survive, and a wet crawl space puts both side by side. See our termite control services.
- It wears down termite treatments: Constantly wet soil and standing water around a foundation can shorten the life of soil termite treatments.
- It feeds wood rot and pests: Damp wood grows decay fungi that soften it for termites and carpenter ants, and cockroaches, silverfish, centipedes, camel crickets, and pill bugs all thrive in damp crawl spaces. See our wood rot guide.
Inspectors call these conducive conditions. Fixing them makes every other pest and termite treatment work better and last longer.
Why We Take Moisture Personally
After we fixed the moisture under our own home, we noticed our young kids weren’t getting sick nearly as often. We hear the same thing from many of our customers. National research has linked damp homes with coughing, wheezing, and nose and throat symptoms, which is one more reason we take moisture seriously.
Erica Brister, President & CEO, U.S. Pest Protection
A national review by the Institute of Medicine found sufficient evidence linking damp indoor environments with upper respiratory symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in people with asthma. Learn more in our mold and moisture guide.
Our Moisture Control Solutions
Every crawl space is different. After a free inspection, we recommend the right combination for your home. These services can stand alone, be combined, or be included in a U.S. Pest service plan.- Antifungal wood treatments: We’ve treated crawl space framing for more than 30 years, stopping fungal growth on joists, sill plates, and subfloors, on their own or paired with a moisture barrier or encapsulation.
- Vapor barriers: A heavy-duty barrier over the crawl space ground keeps soil moisture from rising into your framing.
- Dehumidifiers: Installed in the crawl space to pull excess humidity out of the air.
- Drainage work: We correct where water collects or enters so it moves away from your foundation.
- Full crawl space encapsulation: A complete seal of the crawl space for the most protection, including termite treatment unless your home already has U.S. Pest termite protection.
Sealing a crawl space can also save energy. A U.S. Department of Energy–funded study in North Carolina found that homes with closed crawl spaces used about 15 percent less energy for heating and cooling than homes with vented crawl spaces, and their crawl spaces stayed much drier through humid summers.
What Happens During Crawl Space Encapsulation
- 1. Inspect and measure: We check moisture levels in the framing, look for leaks and drainage problems, and inspect for termites and pests.
- 2. Clean out the crawl space: Debris is removed so the barrier seals properly.
- 3. Seal openings: Vents, cracks, and gaps where humid outside air and pests enter are sealed.
- 4. Treat the wood: Foundation walls, joists, and subfloor are treated with an antifungal product.
- 5. Protect against termites: Every encapsulation includes termite treatment, unless your home is already covered by a U.S. Pest termite protection plan. Sealing moisture out and termites out go hand in hand.
- 6. Install the barrier: A heavy-duty vapor barrier is installed over the ground, up the walls, and around supports, with seams taped and sealed.
- 7. Control humidity: A dehumidifier is installed to keep the space dry year-round.
Pests That Thrive in Damp Crawl Spaces
- Subterranean termites: Need damp soil and wood to survive. Subterranean termite guide
- Carpenter ants: Nest in wood softened by moisture and rot. Carpenter ant guide
- Powderpost beetles: Anobiid beetles need damp framing. Powderpost beetle guide
- Cockroaches: American and Oriental roaches live in damp crawl spaces. Cockroach guide
- Silverfish and centipedes: Need humidity to survive. Silverfish guide
- Camel crickets: Build up in cool, damp spaces. Camel cricket guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is crawl space encapsulation?
It’s a complete seal of your crawl space: a heavy-duty vapor barrier over the ground and walls, sealed openings, and a dehumidifier to keep the space dry year-round.
How does moisture affect termites?
Moisture attracts subterranean termites, softens wood for them, and can shorten the life of soil termite treatments. Controlling moisture protects your termite treatment and your home.
Do I need full encapsulation, or just a vapor barrier?
It depends on your crawl space. Some homes need only a vapor barrier or a dehumidifier, while others benefit from full encapsulation. A free inspection tells you which.
What is an antifungal wood treatment?
A treatment applied to crawl space framing to stop fungal growth on joists, sill plates, and subfloors. We’ve provided them for more than 30 years, on their own or with other moisture work.
Why is my crawl space wet in the summer?
Humid outdoor air enters through crawl space vents and condenses on cooler ducts, pipes, and framing, the way a cold glass sweats.
What are signs of crawl space moisture problems?
Musty smells, cupping or buckling floors, condensation, mold or fungus on framing, standing water, and more pests than usual.
Can crawl space encapsulation lower energy costs?
It can. A U.S. Department of Energy–funded study in North Carolina found homes with closed crawl spaces used about 15 percent less energy for heating and cooling than homes with vented crawl spaces.
Does encapsulation include termite treatment?
Yes. We require termite treatment with every crawl space encapsulation, unless your home is already protected by a U.S. Pest termite plan. Moisture and termites go together, so we protect against both.
Can moisture control be part of my service plan?
Yes. Vapor barriers, dehumidifiers, drainage work, and antifungal treatments can be included in U.S. Pest service plans.
How do I get started?
Schedule a free crawl space inspection. We’ll measure moisture, check for termites and pests, and give you a written plan and price. Call 615-590-1260 or schedule online.
Serving Homes Across Middle Tennessee
We provide crawl space encapsulation and moisture control in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, and surrounding areas.
Protect Your Home From the Ground Up
Get a free crawl space inspection and a plan to keep moisture, termites, and pests out. Schedule your free inspection or call 615-590-1260.
We’ll do Whatever It Takes to Protect Your Home
Get a free inspection, a customized treatment plan, and total peace of mind for your family.
