For example, it may seem counter-intuitive, but foundation vents should generally be left closed in summer and open in winter. The reason is that if left open in summer, the warmer more humid exterior air that is drawn into the crawlspace will condense more readily on cooler crawslpace surfaces and cause more moisture and mold realted problems than if left closed.
Full Answer
Why you should close your foundation vents?
Why You Should Close Your Foundation Vents. Putting foundation vents on our homes is an old fashioned idea. We spend lots of money each month heating & cooling our homes & by having a vented dirt crawl space it raises your monthly electric bill 15% (to 25%) every month, and will lead to a bigger expense with mold removal & rotted wood replacement.
When should you open the vents under your house?
They need to be open in the summer, however, to prevent the build-up of moisture that can seriously damage your foundation. In some parts of the country, summer is the driest part of the year, and moisture abatement doesn't become a prime concern until the winter rains begin.
Should fill valves be left open or closed?
The valves should be left in the open position which allows the seals to be in a relaxed position over the winter as opposed to pressing on the gate, causing a potential for stiction. But won’t the antifreeze just run right out of the tank if you leave the valves open? Our suggestion is to run enough antifreeze through the toilet and into the ...
When to close vents under house?
Should vents under house be open or closed? These vents allow outside air to circulate under the floor in summer to prevent the moisture buildup that encourages mildew and rot. In winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawl space might freeze. Simply so, should you close the vents under ...
Should you keep your foundation vents closed?
Your crawl space vents should always be closed and sealed off from the outside elements. Venting your crawl space leads to a variety of issues. First and foremost, open vents allow moisture to enter your crawl space. This creates the perfect environment for mold growth and mildew.
Should foundation vents be open or closed in the summer?
Building codes generally require working vents in the crawlspace to allow outside air to circulate under the floor in the summer to prevent moisture buildup that, among mildew and mold, encourages wood rot.
When should you open and close the foundation vents?
These vents allow outside air to circulate under the floor in summer to prevent the moisture buildup that encourages mildew and rot. In winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawl space might freeze.
Should crawl space vents be open or closed in winter?
When temperatures drop below the freezing point, water pipes in the crawl space are bound to freeze if the vents remain open. It's a good practice to close off the vents in winter. Doing so prevents the dry, cold winter air from freezing the pipes inside the crawl space.
Which vents do you close in the winter?
If you have a top/bottom return vent setup, close the top vents in the winter months. Closing the top vents will make your system draw in air from the bottom vents that are at the low point in the room where cold air settles.
Should I keep basement vents open in winter?
Air vents should be open to prevent damage Increased air pressure can create cracks and holes in the ductwork. It can also cause your furnace's heat exchanger to crack. Leave all air vents open to prevent extensive damage to your home's heating system this winter.
What time of year should crawl space vents be open?
Remember that the ground temperature below grade is 55 degrees and crawl spaces tend to be cool. Open the crawl vents and allow the outside air in from mid-June to mid-September, and it's hot and humid.
Which vents should be open in winter?
Because hot air rises and cold air falls, you need to adjust your return vents with the seasons. In the summer, your lower vents should be closed and your upper vents should be open. In the winter, your upper vents should be closed and your lower vents should be open.
When should vents under house be open?
Most people prefer to close vents in the winter so that the pipes in the crawl space don't freeze. If you have a dirt floor crawl space and keep your vents open throughout the year, the floor will become a never-ending source of moisture. Even if the surface of the dirt looks dry, a few inches down the Earth is moist.
Is it OK to cover crawl space vents?
Even if you aren't planning on using your crawl space for storage, consider installing crawl space vent covers along with sealing and insulating your crawl space to create warmer floors, prevent frozen pipes, and manage your heating costs.
At what temperature do pipes freeze in crawl space?
The freezing point for water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which means in order to have pipes freeze there needs be at least six hours with an outside temperature below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Should I block the vents to my crawl space?
It is always a good idea to block the vents when the crawl space has uninsulated water supply pipes if the temperature gets below freezing. Frozen, busted pipes result in paying for plumbing repairs and possible water damage.
Should I close my basement vents in the summer?
You can safely close your basement air vents in the summer, yes. You'll want to do so intermittently, though, instead of leaving them closed for several weeks at a time. If you consistently want to keep your vents closed, be sure to rotate which vents you shut at least every two days.
Which vents should be closed in the summer?
Because hot air rises and cold air falls, you need to adjust your return vents with the seasons. In the summer, your lower vents should be closed and your upper vents should be open. In the winter, your upper vents should be closed and your lower vents should be open.
Which AC vents should be open in summer?
Which Vents Do You Need To Open In Summer? Since hot air rises from the bottom to the top, opening the upper vents is imperative. It lets out the hot air, cooling your home. At the same time, the lower vents need to be closed.
Should you close vents in unused rooms in summer?
No- you should not close air vents in your house. Closing vents can actually waste more energy than operating your system normally. This is because when you close vents in unused rooms, your central air system will push the excess air to other places in your home.
When should foundation vents be closed?
For example, it may seem counter-intuitive, but foundation vents should generally be left closed in summer and open in winter.
Why are vents important?
The vents are there to allow water vapor from the soil to escape to the atmosphere.
Why are twotogo pipes open?
twotogo, the ones we have are regulated by temperature. They stay open for summer and as the weather will turn colder, they will close to keep the cold air from blowing under the house. We live in a raised woodframe. I'm down South so we very rarely get freezing temps, but we still have all our pipes insulated. In the summer months they remain open to allow for air circulation because down here we have 90% humidity. As the weather cools the humidity drops so then it's OK if they close.
Do vents circulate air in the summer?
The reality is that the vents don't circulate enough air in the summer to lower the humidity under the house. The vents are a throwback to truly ventilated crawlspace - like a house on stilts. The winter definitely sees some benefit in closing vents.
Does closing vents affect the vents?
No, closing the vents should not impact either one, unless you have a massive leak somewhere.
Can HVAC vents leak in crawl space?
In my last house, the HVAC vents leaked enough that the crawlspace was somewhat conditioned. In that case, sealing is definitely the way to go.
What is a foundation vent?
A: The foundation vents are designed to provide a cross flow of air under the house that assists with the removal of any moisture accumulation in the crawl space before it can build up and cause mold, mildew, or damage to structural components.
How long should I leave my vents open?
How long you leave the vents open or covered each year is dependant on where you live. In Hawaii, for example, where moisture levels are very high and the chance of freezing is very low, vents can typically stay open all year. In other regions where the opposite conditions exist — low moisture and very low winter temperatures — the vents may need to remain covered for several months. If you have a severe moisture buildup in your crawlspace during the short period that the vents are closed, then you probably have a moisture problem in the home that is due to poorly graded soil, plumbing leaks, unvented fans, or some other source not related to ambient air-moisture conditions.
Why is there moisture in my crawl space?
If you have a severe moisture buildup in your crawlspace during the short period that the vents are closed, then you probably have a moisture problem in the home that is due to poorly graded soil, plumbing leaks, unvented fans, or some other source not related to ambient air-moisture conditions .
Can you put vinyl over tile?
As to the second question, it’s best if you remove the tile first. However, if the tile is sound you can float a latex filler material over it to smooth it out, then install vinyl over the top of that. I would, however, consider this a less than ideal repair and would not recommend it for a long-term solution.
Can foundation vents be closed in winter?
For that reason, I always recommend to people that their foundation vents be closed or blocked whenever freezing temperatures are a possibility, and that they remain open the rest of the year.
What was the purpose of foundation vents in a house?
The thinking was that the vents allowed air to circulate under the house, keeping it dry.
What happens when you put moisture in a vent?
However, what happens in many locations is that moist outside air coming through the vents condensed or collected, causing corrosion, mold, mildew, and rot.
How hot does an air vent need to be?
Automatic vents are less fuss. Air Vent makes ones that open at about 70 degrees F, close about 40, and don’t require any electricity.
Do unvented crawl spaces stay drier than vented crawl spaces?
The report concluded that closed, unvented crawl spaces stay considerably drier than vented ones, regardless of the climates. On the other hand, some of the energy-use results were surprising.
Do foundation vents need to be changed?
A debate ensued, and because some builders are slow to change, many foundation vents continue to be installed. Some building departments are also slow to change and still require foundation vents as part of their building code.
Should we block our crawl-space vents or keep them open?
Tom Silva replies: I think working vents in crawl spaces are a good idea, and so do the building codes, which generally require them. These vents allow outside air to circulate under the floor in summer to prevent the moisture buildup that encourages mildew and rot. In winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawl space might freeze.
Why vent a crawl space?
First and foremost, open vents allow moisture to enter your crawl space. This creates the perfect environment for mold growth and mildew. Furthermore, unsealed vents could lead to wet insulation, wood rot, and higher electricity bills at the end of the month.
What happens when you put a warm air in a crawl space?
To make matters worse, the warm air that enters your crawl space will rise into the living areas of your home, dragging anything light enough to travel with it. This includes mold spores, dust mites, and the humidity that’s already wreaking havoc in your crawl space.
Do closed crawl spaces use less energy?
According to a study by Advanced Energy, closed crawl space homes have used an average of 15% less energy for space conditioning. Is that something you may be interested in? If so, contact JES to set up your free, no-obligation inspection. In conclusion, it’s fair to say the crawl space vents open or closed debate has reached its solution, and at JES, we’ll work with you to provide the proper repairs for your home’s crawl space moisture problems.
Do vent covers rot?
Made from a durable plastic, our vent covers won’t rot or rust. Moreover, they’ll help save you money in the long run. As mentioned before, the outside air causes humidity and moisture problems in your crawl space, which increases energy costs for homeowners.
Should crawl space vents be closed?
However, the right answer is very clear. Your crawl space vents should always be closed and sealed off from the outside elements .
Can you put a vent cover over a crawl space?
The crawl space vents open or closed debate shouldn’t be a debate at all. Make sure to have your vents closed off properly. Not only is this a stress-free installation process, but the vent covers will be permanently placed over your old vents.
How to make sure your foundation is safe?
The best way to make sure your foundation is safe and healthy is to schedule a free inspection with JES. With your free inspection, you’ll either learn that everything’s okay, or you’ll get a full report on what you can do to make it okay.
Why don't you want mold on your foundation?
Mice and Bugs May Proliferate. Another reason you don’t want mold, mildew, or rotted wood is that it pulls in insects.
Why do crawl space vents have humidity?
However, while inviting in fresh air, crawl space vents also invite in humidity. That means you’re going to start seeing condensation pretty quickly . It’s important to realize that even automatic crawl space vents have this problem.
Why do we need to address moisture in crawl space?
Learn why you need to address crawl space moisture and humidity. Improving Your Family’s Quality of Life. Moisture in your crawl space can significantly impact your family’s quality of life in a number of ways. First, it can just make the home feel uncomfortable.
How to tell if a foundation is wrong?
Have you noticed nail pops in your walls? Do your floors seem strangely uneven? Does it feel like one of your walls is leaning in on itself? These are all potential signs that there’s something wrong with your foundation. You need to fix foundation problems as early as possible. That’s exactly what a foundation inspection can do.
Why shouldn't you mess up your home?
If you mess something up, it could spell disaster .
Do foundation vents let moisture in?
The truth is, foundation vents simply let moisture into your crawl space. Even if you’ve installed foundation vent wells and looked for the best foundation vents available, you’re still going to have moisture issues.
Why do you need to keep foundation vents open?
Keeping the foundation vents open during the summer is a no-brainer if you live in a climate with warm, humid days and frequent summer storms . The vents provide crucial air circulation that can not only prevent rot but also discourage termites and other pests.
Why do we need open foundations in summer?
Houses in those parts of the country benefit from open foundations in the summer because circulating air through the crawl space keeps them cooler. A draft in the crawl space also evaporates moisture that may be left over from the rainy season. That moisture can do more damage in the heat of summer than it can in the winter months.
Do you cover the foundation vents in the winter?
Soil Care. By Chris Deziel. Although air should circulate year-round through the attic, your house will probably be more comfortable if you cover the foundation vents in the winter. They need to be open in the summer, however, to prevent the build-up of moisture that can seriously damage your foundation.