Field Report: What’s Under Your Home? Four Crawl Spaces in One Day
Most homeowners never see what’s happening under their house. That’s what we’re hired to do. In one day, Professional Pest and Termite Inspectors Adam and Chase crawled under four homes in Nashville, Brentwood, Mt. Juliet, and Lebanon for a routine crawl space inspection. All four looked good, with two recommendations.
Field Report at a glance
| Who | Adam and Chase, Professional Pest and Termite Inspectors |
| Where | Four homes in Nashville, Brentwood, Mt. Juliet, and Lebanon |
| Why | Premier Service Inspections for pest control customers |
| What they checked | Moisture readings, signs of termites, and signs of wood fungus, with a written report for each home |
| What they found | All four homes in good shape |
| What they recommended | A moisture barrier for one home and a fungus treatment for another |
Out of sight, out of mind
A crawl space is the one part of your home you probably never visit. It’s dark, it’s cramped, and there’s rarely a reason to go down there. But it’s where your home’s floor framing, plumbing, and ductwork live, and it’s where termites, moisture, and wood fungus usually show up first.
By the time a problem shows up upstairs, as a soft floor, a musty smell, or swarming termites, it has often been growing under the house for a while. A regular inspection catches it early, when it’s smaller and easier to fix.
What is a Premier Service Inspection?
A Premier Service Inspection, or PSI, is part of our pest control service. It’s included on all of our pest control plans: Monthly, Every Other Month, and Quarterly.
New customers get a PSI every three months. During each one, our inspector:
- Takes moisture readings on the wood
- Looks for signs of termites
- Looks for signs of wood fungus
- Leaves you a written report of what they found and what, if anything, they recommend
The point is peace of mind. If your home ever needs termite protection, a moisture barrier, a fungus treatment, or something else, you’ll know early, from someone who has actually been under your house.
What Adam and Chase found
All four homes were in good shape. At two of them, they recommended a next step:
- A moisture barrier at one home, to help keep moisture from the soil out of the crawl space
- A fungus treatment at another, to protect the wood before fungus can do any damage
That’s a good day. A crawl space inspection isn’t about finding something wrong. Most of the time, it’s about confirming that everything is right, and catching small things before they become big ones.
What we look for under a home
Every crawl space is a little different. Here’s what our inspectors check, and why each one matters.
| What we check | What we’re looking for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Floor joists, beams, and sill plates | Soft or damaged wood, mud tubes, and other signs of wood-destroying insects | These hold up your floors |
| Moisture in the wood | High moisture readings | Damp wood invites termites and wood fungus |
| Wood fungus | Discoloration, growth on the wood, or wood that’s starting to soften | Fungus can weaken wood over time |
| Vapor barrier | Missing, torn, or shifted plastic that leaves soil exposed | Bare soil releases moisture into the crawl space |
| Foundation walls and piers | Mud tubes and cracks | Termites travel up walls and piers to reach the wood |
| Standing water and drainage | Puddles or wet soil | Water under the house feeds moisture problems |
| Plumbing and ductwork | Signs of leaks or condensation | Hidden leaks add moisture |
| Wood and debris on the soil | Scrap lumber, cardboard, and wood touching soil | These give termites an easy food source and path |
| Other pests | Droppings, nests, and insects | A crawl space can be a home base for pests |
Why moisture matters so much
Subterranean termites live in the soil and dry out easily, so they’re drawn to damp places. The University of Tennessee notes that termites need moisture to survive and that damp crawl spaces make homes more attractive to them. Wood fungus needs moisture too. That’s why moisture readings are part of every PSI.
A vapor barrier, a sheet of heavy plastic laid over the soil, helps keep ground moisture out of the crawl space. For crawl spaces with ongoing moisture problems, crawl space encapsulation seals the space more completely. If fungus is already on the wood, our wood fungus treatment protects it.
Signs it’s time for a look under your home
- A musty or damp smell inside the house
- Floors that feel soft, bouncy, or uneven
- Swarming termites or discarded wings near windows in spring
- Lots of camel crickets or spiders
- It’s been more than a year since anyone checked
A free inspection, for anyone
You don’t have to be a U.S. Pest customer to find out what’s under your home. Our inspections are free for anyone. Schedule a free inspection online or call 615-590-1260, whichever is easier. If you’re already a pest control customer, your Premier Service Inspections are part of your plan.
FAQs
What is a Premier Service Inspection?
It’s an inspection included with every U.S. Pest pest control plan. Our inspector takes moisture readings, looks for signs of termites and wood fungus, and leaves a written report.
How often do customers get a Premier Service Inspection?
New pest control customers get one every three months.
Is a crawl space inspection free?
Yes. U.S. Pest offers free inspections to anyone, customer or not. Schedule online or call.
What do inspectors look for in a crawl space?
Moisture in the wood, signs of termites and wood fungus, the condition of the vapor barrier, standing water, leaks, wood debris, and other pests.
Do I need a vapor barrier in my crawl space?
Many crawl spaces benefit from one, because bare soil releases moisture. Your inspector will tell you whether your home needs one.
Sources: University of Tennessee Extension, Subterranean Termite Control (PB1344) (termites, moisture, and crawl spaces); U.S. Pest Protection Premier Service Inspection details.
