The Problem : Moisture Buildup
Moisture can enter the wall cavity in four different ways:
- From construction materials (Moisture of Construction)
- From outside your house (Ground Water Leakage)
- From beneath the foundation of your house (Capillary Rise)
- From the warmer air inside your house (Condensation)
Regardless of how the moisture gets in, once it's trapped it can lead to decay, odors and mold.
Moisture of Construction
Freshly poured concrete is filled with moisture and requires months to dry. If your insulation and vapor barrier are installed in the days, weeks or months after pouring your concrete, that moisture gets trapped.
Ground Water Leakage
Concrete is porous, so moisture moves through it. Hydrostatic pressure (caused by the weight of water and soil) pushes moisture toward and through your concrete.
Capillary Rise
Capillary rise is driven by the wicking effect that draws moisture into your concrete walls like a sponge.
Condensation
Condensation occurs when warm, moist interior air comes into contact with your cooler concrete wall. Once the air cools to a certain temperature (the dew point), it converts from a gas to a liquid and becomes trapped in the wall cavity or crawl space.
