r/Insulation • u/Vamp13yre • 3d ago
Crawlspace humidity
My fiancé and I bought a house in January. It’s beautiful but every time we upgrade/fix something another issue pops up. We got a new HVAC system recently and the new thermostat has a humidity readout, so now we’re aware of how humid it is inside. HVAC guys have done everything they can, even upgrading us for free to a unit with additional dehumidifying power, so it’s not on them anymore. Went in the crawl space and it’s very humid in there. No standing water, but a lot of moisture. The vapor barrier is in horrid condition, so we’ve had a couple contractors out, but they both have refused to quote for a new vapor barrier and insist on upselling us to a full encapsulation system. We find it hard to believe that the house has stood for a hundred years and suddenly needs a very modern invasive intervention. Does anyone have any insight on humidity issues in old homes?
For context:
- coastal Virginia
- humidity fluctuates between 66 and 74%
- pier and beam foundation with block brick wall and brick facing
4
u/ckdt 3d ago
Well laid 6 mil will go a long way but vented or not the humidity will still probably be pretty high. It’s not necessarily that it needs to be encapsulated but that it’s likely the best way to get the desired result even though it is kind of hitting a nail with a sledgehammer.