Standing water or damp soil in the basement of your home can come from a variety of sources. These may include, but are certainly not limited to the following.

(1) A leaking fresh water supply line, usually galvanized, copper, pvc, or pex.
(2) A leaking sewer drain line, usually cast iron, galvanized, clay, or ABS.
(3) Naturally high water table.
(4) Overwatering plants around your house (creating a man-made high water table).
(5) Sprinklers spraying through basement vents.
(6) Leaking pools (this is rare).
(7) Improperly directed gutter downspouts.
(8) Flooding of streams or rivers.

Standing water or extremely wet soil in your home’s basement (under the house) can cause a variety of structural and health problems. Excess moisture caused by evaporation from standing water or damp soil in your crawl space can lead to mold growth on the wood base and underside of the subfloor. It can also cause warping or buckling of the subfloor and mold growth in the habitable area of ​​the building. If your home has HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) ductwork in the basement and the system is compromised with excess moisture, microbial amplification can result. All of these issues can possibly create unhealthy indoor air quality. A broken sewer line in your crawl space and the subsequent release of raw sewage onto the floor of the crawl space can create a terrible odor problem in your home. There are also potential health problems from constantly inhaling sewer gas from an open or broken sewer line.

Some solutions to the problems mentioned above. Try to determine the source of the water intrusion and correct it yourself. This can be as simple as redirecting sprinkler heads, fixing leaky outdoor faucets, or redirecting gutter downspouts. If you suspect plumbing problems, you should call a licensed plumber.

Often there is too much water under your home for a plumber to properly inspect the pipes, you may need to call a water damage restoration company. Many water damage companies offer crawlspace overflow or sewage cleanup, in case the leak is coming from a sewer drain line. After the water has been removed and the crawl space made accessible, a plumber can check for leaking pipes. If your foundation is wet, he may need a water damage restoration company to dry it out to prevent mold growth.

If you have problems with excess water or a high water table, you may need to contact a landscape engineer or waterproofing contractor to design a French drain system or other remedy to prevent water from pooling under your home. Many plumbing companies or waterproofing contractors will also install sump pump systems in the lower area of ​​your crawlspace to help combat water buildup. You may also want to consider installing a basement dehumidifier to regulate the relative humidity to a level that will inhibit structural damage or mold growth. Another way to maintain airflow through the crawlspace (and therefore promote evaporation) is to install crawlspace ventilation fans over existing crawlspace vents. There are also companies that can completely encapsulate your crawlspace with thick plastic, thus effectively sealing your home from the ground.

As you can see, there are many problems that can arise due to excess water or moisture in the crawlspace of your home or building, and just as many solutions. If you suspect a problem that may need a professional fix, a good place to start is on the Internet with your favorite search engine and a search for “crawl space.” This should get you started in the right direction with any crawl space (under the house) issues you may have.