Had Crawl Space Work Done and Something Feels Off?
Introduction
When Crawl Space Work Goes Wrong
WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
I just left a crawl space that was done by another company back in 2022.
The homeowner called me out because something didn't feel right.
They couldn't put their finger on it, but they knew things weren't working the way they should.
Turns out they were right.
This was a 2,400 square foot crawl space.
The company that did it is claiming a 10-year warranty.
But what I found under there tells a different story.
There was a lot wrong. And the homeowner had no idea until they started noticing problems.
This happens more than you'd think.
Someone pays thousands of dollars for crawl space work, trusts the company to do it right, and then finds out years later that corners were cut.
By then, the company is hard to reach or won't stand behind what they did.
I'm sharing this because I want homeowners to know what to look for.
And if you've had work done and something feels off, I want you to know you have options.
What I Found Under This House
The list was long.
They used Home Depot corrugated pipe for the drainage with no gravel. That's not how you do it if you want the system to actually work long-term.
The plastic on the walls was attached with Hilti in the front of the crawl space. But the rest of it? Just glue. And it was already falling off. There were whole sections that weren't even covered at all.
The dehumidifier was an E70, which is undersized for a 2,400 square foot crawl space. But worse than that, it was placed three feet from the foundation wall. The intake side was basically up against the wall, so it couldn't pull air in properly. It wasn't doing its job.
And the filter? So clogged you couldn't feel any air blowing out of it. The unit was still running somehow, but it wasn't moving air. The homeowner told me the system had never been serviced since 2022.
This was supposed to be professional work with a 10-year warranty. But what I saw was corners cut at every turn.
Why These Problems Happen
I wish I could say this was a one-time thing. But I see it more than I'd like.
Some companies are just trying to get in and get out. They're not thinking about what happens two or three years down the road. They're thinking about the next job.
Sometimes it's crews that aren't trained right. They're doing what they were told to do, but nobody taught them the correct way. Other times it's companies cutting corners on materials to save money. Cheaper pipe. Less gravel. Smaller dehumidifier. It all adds up to a job that doesn't hold up.
And then there's the accountability problem. Once the check clears, some companies are hard to reach. You call about warranty work and suddenly nobody's calling you back. That 10-year warranty doesn't mean much if the company won't answer the phone.
That's the reality of this industry. Not every company, but enough that homeowners need to pay attention.
How to Tell If Your Crawl Space Work Was Done Right
You don't need to be an expert to know if something's wrong. You just need to pay attention.
Are you noticing humidity in your home that wasn't there before? Musty smells? Floors that feel soft or uneven? These are signs that something isn't working right under your house.
If you had encapsulation done, you should have received documentation. Photos of the work. Explanation of what was installed. Details on your equipment and how to maintain it. If you didn't get any of that, that's a red flag.
And here's a big one - when's the last time your dehumidifier filter was checked? These systems need maintenance. If your unit has been running for two or three years and nobody's touched it, there's a good chance it's not performing like it should.
You trusted someone to do this work. You should be able to verify it was done right.
What We Do Differently
This is exactly why I run my business the way I do.
Every job gets a moisture sensor. That way you catch humidity problems early instead of finding out when there's damage.
I take photos and videos before and after every job. When we're done, you get all of it. That's your proof of what was installed and how it looked when we finished. It also protects me. I can stand behind my work because I have documentation showing exactly what we did.
And we set up yearly service plans. Your dehumidifier needs maintenance. Filters need to be cleaned or replaced. Someone needs to check that things are still working the way they should. That's part of doing the job right. Not just installing it and walking away.
This isn't extra. This is the bare minimum if you want crawl space work that actually lasts.
What to Do If You Think Your Work Was Done Wrong
First thing - don't assume you need to pay for a whole new encapsulation. That's not always the answer.
If something feels off, get a second opinion. Have someone come out and look at it. Get a clear picture of what's actually wrong and what needs to be fixed.
Then take that back to the company that did the work. If they're claiming a warranty, hold them to it. Show them the photos. Give them a checklist of what needs to be corrected. Give them a chance to make it right.
Some companies will step up. Others won't. But you should at least give them the opportunity before you pay someone else to fix their mistakes.
That's the fair way to handle it. And it's what I'd want someone to do if they had questions about my work.
Why I Give Checklists Instead of Sales Pitches
When this homeowner called me out, I didn't walk in trying to sell them a new encapsulation.
I looked at what was done. I took photos. I made a list of everything that was wrong. And I told them to take that list back to the company that did the work. Hold them accountable. Here's your documentation. Here's what needs to be fixed. Call me and let me know how it goes.
Not every call needs to turn into a new job for me. Sometimes the right thing to do is help someone fight for what they already paid for.
If that company won't stand behind their work, then we'll talk. I'll come in and fix it the right way. I'll take over the warranty. But that's not my first move.
Doing right by people matters more than closing a sale. That's how I run my business.
Ready to Get a Second Opinion?
If you've had crawl space work done and something doesn't feel right, reach out. I'm happy to come take a look.
I do all my inspections myself. I'll tell you what I see, give you photos and documentation, and be straight with you about what needs to happen. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honest answers.
If it's something the original company should fix, I'll tell you that. If it's something we need to handle, we'll talk through your options.
You can call or text me directly. That's how we do things at Crawl Logic.
