Most property owners assume living in the Valley of the Sun means Water Damage Restoration is the last service we would worry about underneath our floors. But if you have ever lived through a torrential Phoenix monsoon storm, you know how fast our caliche-heavy soil turns into standing water that refuses to drain away from your foundation. When that heavy rain pools right against your exterior walls, it often finds its way straight into the crawl space.
Neighborly Restoration sees the aftermath of these sudden downpours all the time. Property owners call Neighborly Restoration wondering why there is standing water underneath their home weeks after a storm passed. The desert heat bakes the surface, but underneath, trapped moisture has nowhere to go. Managing that water requires proper Water Damage Restoration. It takes regular upkeep to protect your subfloor and framing.
Warning Signs of Crawl Space Moisture
Property owners do not hang out under their house for fun. But ignoring what is happening down there will cost you money. Here are the red flags Neighborly Restoration looks for:
- A musty, damp odor drifting up through your floor vents or baseboards
- Cupping hardwood floors or spongy spots near the edges of rooms
- White, powdery mineral deposits on foundation walls, known as efflorescence, which is that white powdery substance
- Rust on metal ductwork or hanging pipes underneath the home
Routine Maintenance to Extend the Life of Your Work
Once you have had water removed and the area dried out through Water Damage Restoration, you have to keep it that way. Maintenance in our Phoenix climate is all about blocking external moisture sources. Check your irrigation lines regularly, since broken sprinkler heads right next to the foundation can quietly dump hundreds of gallons under your house all summer long. Make sure your yard grading slopes away from the structure so flash floods and monsoon runoff run past your home instead of pooling against it.
A heavy-duty vapor barrier is your best defense against the natural humidity rising from dry desert earth that occasionally gets soaked. Inspect that plastic sheeting at least twice a year. If the sheeting is torn, displaced, or bunched up, it will not stop ground evaporation from rotting your floor joists.
For homes and businesses in Phoenix, Neighborly Restoration provides Water Damage Restoration services.
When to Call a Professional
Some minor issues you can handle with a shop vac and a box fan, but deep-seated moisture calls for heavy commercial equipment. If you notice standing water that will not recede after 48 hours, active mold colonies spreading across wooden beams, or structural sagging in your floors, pick up the phone. Getting experts involved early saves you from dealing with major structural repairs later on.
Neighborly Restoration provides Water Damage Restoration services for homes in Phoenix, Arizona.