If you have a problem crawlspace – moisture, mold, sewage - call Steamatic of Sacramento to protect your property and your health.

Steamatic has many years of experience working in crawlspaces that have been flooded with clean water, contaminated with sewage, or contaminated with mold. We now offer a proactive crawlspace service that could greatly improve your indoor air quality and protect your financial investment in your home. Steamatic is now a dealer for the CleanSpace Crawlspace Encapsulation System.

Because every crawlspace is different, the solutions to fix them will be different. However, as part of the solution, Steamatic's first priority will be protecting the building occupants and our employees while adhering to the industry standard for water damage restoration, the ANSI/IICRC S500-2006.

CleanSpace Encapsulation System for Crawlspaces
Because of Sacramento’s high water table, many crawl spaces are damp or wet. The humid air flowing upstairs can cause the following effects: smelly carpets, buckling hardwood floors, mold in the house and attic, dust mites, higher incidence of allergies and increased heating costs.

Since the natural air flow in a house is from bottom to the top, the moist air and musty odors can move into the living area of the home. In fact building scientists have found that up to 40 percent of the air on the first floor of a house comes from the crawlspace. Installing a heavy-duty vapor barrier in the crawlspace can improve conditions in the living or occupied area of the house. This encapsulation system is likely to reduce costs to heat and cool the house, and it can also allow the crawlspace to be used as a storage area. More information about the CleanSpace Encapsulation System is available from Basement Systems.

Note: any drainage problems must be solved before installing the CleanSpace system. If needed, S.O.S. can refer qualified firms.

 Drainage problems outside the house can sometimes be fixed by re-routing of the downspouts, improving the grade of property or the installation of French drains. However, because of Sacramento's high water table, some crawl spaces may leak ground water regardless. Those situations require a permanent sump pump system to remove the water. An alarm system that warns the owner if the sump pump fails or a new flooding takes place is also advisable.

The liner S.O.S. installs over the soil and up the sides of the crawlspace is a 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high-and-low density polyethylene with polyester-cord. S.O.S. technicians will fasten the liner to the walls by installing expansion fasteners into the foundation and then seal it with polyurethane caulk.  The liner is always installed two inches under the sill plate to allow for routine termite inspections.  As for the dirt floor, S.O.S. technicians will completely isolate the soil with the liner that is also secured and sealed around wooden posts and at masonry piers or columns.

 The crawlspace will look fantastic and can now be used for storage.

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Crawlspaces Flooded With Clean Water
 If a homeowner discovers standing water in his crawlspace and calls Steamatic, our first question will be whether the source of the water intrusion has been located and fixed. A common cause is a broken pipe requiring plumbing services.  However, many plumbers won't go under a house until the water has been removed.

Note: some causes of water intrusion may be more complex and problematic than can be solved by a plumber or by S.O.S. employees. In such situations,  S.O.S. will refer qualified engineering firms, landscapers and other contractors.

 After flooding, safely drying the soil and the air in the crawlspace is critical. Although the water comes from a clean source, it won't stay clean once it enters the dirt crawlspace, and soil organisms will get into the humid air. For that reason, the crawlspace air must be kept out of the living area. S.O.S. sets up a safe drying system by creating a negative pressure system in the crawlspace with an air filtration device and ducting. The soil and air are dried with dehumidifiers and with additional air filtration devices if needed.

 Note: air movers or fans should never be use to dry a crawlspace if the building is occupied.

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Crawlspaces Contaminated With Sewage
S.O.S. has remediated many crawlspaces that have been inundated by sewage. In addition to extracting the contaminated water and setting up a safe drying system as described above, S.O.S. must remove any solids and debris.

The final step is the remediation of the soil. One option is to excavate several inches of the top soil. A more aggressive measure is the installation of radon gas mat covered by 10-mil plastic sheeting that is actively vented with a permanently-wired fan. The gas mat system allows the soil to bioremediate naturally. It can be removed in a year. See the description of the CleanSpace liner for another excellent option.

Note: spraying the dirt with biocides isn't an option they are quickly deactivated by dirt. Nor does S.O.S. apply lime or lye in a crawl space because these corrosives are hazardous and preclude any other solutions.

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Crawlspaces Contaminated with Mold
Crawlspaces that have been wet and humid for some time may have mold growing on wood joists, sills, support beams and sub flooring. As part of a crawlspace inspection, an S.O.S. project manager will inspect for mold and will provide an estimate for its removal with the understanding that the source of the moisture must be corrected first.

 Note: environmental sampling may also be required to determine the spread of contaminants, to establish the scope of work, and to create a baseline condition for clearance testing. S.O.S. will make referrals to qualified environmental testing firms.

With extensive experience in mold remediation, S.O.S. technicians will physically remove crawlspace contamination, either with sanding or scraping, or if space permits, environmentally friendly dry-ice blasting. During the process, S.O.S. will keep the crawlspace safely contained and under negative pressure to protect the building occupants.

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Health and Safety in Crawlspaces
An S.O.S. estimator inspecting a crawlspace will bear in mind that the job mostly likely will fall under CalOSHA confined space requirements for worker safety.

His first responsibility will be staying safe himself.  His next consideration will be access. When the crawlspace entrance is inside the building, precautions must be taken to prevent contamination to the living or work area. He will also assess any safety hazards such high levels of water, pests, exposed wiring or dangerous debris that must be eliminated before allowing workers inside. S.O.S. technicians remediating contaminated crawlspaces are required to wear full protective gear, must work in teams, and most follow company safety procedures.

Of course, in addition to a safety inspection, the S.O.S. estimator also will assess all of the remediation needs so he can come up a plan to fix the crawlspace problem.

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