Crawl Space Door Maintenance Tips
A crawl space door is a crawl space’s first line of defense, protecting it from critters and excess moisture. It can also regulate air quality and improve energy efficiency.
If you already have a crawl space door, you’ll want to maintain it the best you can. That’s because a malfunctioning or incorrectly fitted door can lead to high humidity, excess moisture, energy loss, and other annoying issues.
But what’s the best way to do this? Below, discover different methods for maintaining crawl space access doors and how Groundworks can help. Also, learn when it might be time to install a new door to keep your crawl space in tip-top condition.
Check Your Crawl Space Door Regularly
While not the most exciting job in the world, inspecting your access door every so often will make sure your crawl space is properly insulated. Look out for cracks and other signs of damage that allow water and pests to enter your home and potentially cause structural issues down the line.
Metal crawl space doors are popular with some Toronto homeowners because of our windy winters. If you have one, check it for rust. Wood rot is a common problem with wooden doors, especially cheaper plywood ones.
Keep Your Door Sealed
Even small cracks in crawl space doors allow water to enter this area, which is never good. Store-bought door sealants might help here. However, consult a crawl space repair expert like Groundworks if you have larger cracks.
You’ll also want to make sure your crawl space access door closes properly. If it doesn’t, foam weather stripping, which you can pick up from Home Depot or any good homeware store, should seal smaller gaps. You might need a crawl space expert to install this for you, though.
Clean Your Door
Your crawl space access door is exposed to the elements all year round, so you’ll probably notice dirt and debris when you inspect it. While some grime is perfectly normal, too much nasty stuff can damage doors and generally make them look unappealing. We recommend cleaning your door once a month or so.
Regular dish soap or vinegar should remove stains from most wooden and metal doors. However, you might need a commercial cleaning product for more stubborn spots.
While you’re at it, clean the rest of your crawl space to avoid mold growth, air pollution, and other problems.
Read more: 8 Easy Steps to Clean Your Crawl Space
When Should You Install a New Crawl Space Door?
Sometimes, replacing an old crawl space door is the only option. If this is the case, Groundworks can find the right door based on your budget and circumstances and then install it for you.
Consider getting a new door if your current one:
- Doesn’t close or lock properly
- Is rotting or has lots of rust
- Has large cracks or gaps that you can’t repair with sealants or weather stripping
The sooner you act, the better. A broken or damaged door often leads to water intrusion, pests, and other issues that eventually threaten your home’s structural stability.
How We Can Help Improve Your Crawl Space Access Door
The best way to look after your crawl space door is to call in the experts at Groundworks. Our team can regularly inspect your door (and other areas of your crawl space), identify any issues, and suggest the most appropriate repair solutions.
While DIY maintenance is still essential, one of our experts can spot signs of damage you might miss, protecting your home from potential water damage and other problems. As a result, you’ll preserve your home’s value and protect your family’s safety.
Serving Toronto and the surrounding areas, Groundworks has all your home repair needs covered. If water has already infiltrated your crawl space, our dehumidifiers, sump pumps, vapor barriers, and other custom-engineered solutions help you create a safer living environment in this part of your home.
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