How Long Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Last?

If you're going to invest in something for your home, you want to know how long it will last. After all, something expensive may be worth the cost if you never have to think about buying it again. If the price tag doesn't match our perceived value, it isn't worth the money.

South Central Services has insulated hundreds of homes with spray foam. Encapsulation is the premier method to handle otherwise musty crawl spaces in southern Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Encapsulation is also one of the most expensive solutions for crawl spaces. To determine if encapsulation is worth paying for, you need to know how long it will last in your home.

By the end of this article, you will understand:

• How long each piece of encapsulation should last
• Any maintenance required to maintain your crawl space

How Long Does Closed Cell Spray Foam Last?

Closed cell spray foam insulation is installed on the walls on a crawl space in encapsulation. As a polyurethane product, spray foam insulation should last indefinitely. Closed cell foam will adhere to the walls of the crawl space and will not break down naturally.

When exposed to UV light, spray foam insulation can deteriorate. However, crawl spaces never see the light of day, so the insulation on your walls should last for the lifetime of your home.

How Long Does Plastic Sheathing Last?

Plastic sheathing is installed on the floor of a crawl space and sealed with tape. This plastic creates a vapor barrier to stop vapor transfer from the ground.

The lifetime of plastic sheathing will depend on a few different factors.

If your crawl space experiences a lot of foot traffic, your plastic sheathing may experience wear and tear. Any crawl space with HVAC equipment housed inside is more regularly accessed for maintenance. We recommend keeping a plastic winter sled inside your crawl space to use as a tool caddy if you access your crawl space for maintenance. This winter sled prevents tools and equipment from punching through the plastic sheathing.

The lifetime of your vapor barrier will also depend on the thickness of your plastic. Our crew at South Central Services does not install any plastic thinner than 12 mil. For crawl spaces that experience more foot traffic, we usually install 20 mil. Plastic thinner than 12 mil is much more likely to tear. That delicate of plastic also cannot act as a vapor barrier, which would compromise the effectiveness of your encapsulation.

Even if your plastic sheathing does tear, most tears can be repaired with professional-grade tape. As long as your vapor barrier is intact, occasional maintenance on the plastic sheathing should not ruin your encapsulation.

How Long Does Dimple Mat Last?

A dimple mat is not used in every crawl space encapsulation. For crawl spaces with heavier foot traffic or requiring more drainage, a dimple mat is installed beneath the plastic sheathing on the crawl space floor.

Dimple mat is composed of plastic and should not deteriorate.

How Long Does Crawl Space Tape Last?

The type of tape that professional contractors use for encapsulation is high-grade tape. The tape ensures that the vapor barrier is completely sealed around the edges of the crawl space and any support pillars in the crawl space.

As long as the crawl space conditions are kept dry and regulated, the tape should stay sealed indefinitely.

How Long Will My Insulated Door Panel Last?

At South Central Services, we often install insulated door panels for crawl spaces. Encapsulation is meant to seal off the crawl space from the outside and join it to the home's conditioned space.

If the entry to the crawl space is leaky and allows airflow, the encapsulated crawl space is not truly sealed off from the outside. Air leakage can compromise your home's energy efficiency.

We create these insulated doors from heavy-duty waterproof canvas, insulation, and a zipper. They are designed to withstand water, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. These doors should last indefinitely if not exposed to UV light. The process is minimally invasive if your insulated door panel needs to be replaced.

How Long Will My Dehumidifier Last?

We recommend dehumidification systems for crawl spaces that face excessive moisture or house HVAC equipment. A dehumidifier pulls water from the air and helps control the climate in the crawl space.

Depending on the dehumidifier you purchase, the warranty will last between 1 and 6 years. The manufacturer may cover the cost if your dehumidifier breaks or needs to be replaced during the warranty period.

Every machine is different. We cannot estimate the lifetime of every dehumidifier. Like any other appliance in your house, you should expect 10 to 20 years of life from your crawl space dehumidifier.

We do recommend purchasing from a reputable brand and registering your warranty. If you buy your dehumidification system from a quality company, you should not have to invest in a new dehumidifier for at least a decade.

Dehumidifiers do require some maintenance. Like many HVAC machines, dehumidifiers have filters that must be changed periodically. You should also check the drain line of the dehumidifier from time to time to ensure it is unrestricted.

If a dehumidifier breaks and is not replaced, you will no longer be controlling the humidity of the crawl space environment. Since you will be changing the filter a few times each year, you can catch any issues with your dehumidifier if they occur.

The Bottom Line About The Lifetime Of Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation is an expensive solution for crawl spaces. In southern Pennsylvania, it is the best option to address the root problems in crawl spaces and the symptoms these problems cause. Encapsulation is also a permanent solution for the crawl space. As long as the encapsulation is well-maintained, you will never need to pay to fix your crawl space again.

Key areas to watch in your encapsulated crawl space are tears in your vapor barrier and the function of your dehumidifier. Be sure to change the dehumidifier filter regularly every few months. Contact the company that encapsulated your crawl space if you notice a tear in the floor's vapor barrier. The professionals can either recommend a tape or complete the repair themselves.

Now that you know how long crawl space encapsulation lasts, your next step is to:

• Estimate the cost of encapsulating your crawl space
• Learn how to save on your encapsulation through a federal tax credit
• Discover why homeowners choose South Central Services for crawl space encapsulation