The $18 Device That Protects Your Crawl Space Investment
Introduction
The Simple Tool That Should Come With Every Crawl Space Job
WHY MONITORING YOUR HUMIDITY MATTERS
You just spent thousands of dollars encapsulating your crawl space.
The crew finished up, everything looks great, and they handed you a warranty.
But here's a question most homeowners don't think to ask: how do you actually know it's working?
That's where an 18-dollar humidity monitor comes in.
It's a simple device that sits in your crawl space and tells you in real time whether your system is doing its job.
And yet, a lot of companies won't include one.
I'll explain why in a minute, but first, let me show you what this little device actually does.
What Is a Crawl Space Humidity Monitor?
A crawl space humidity monitor is a two-part system. You've got a sensor that goes in your crawl space and a reader that sits somewhere in your house - usually in a closet or utility room where you can check it easily.
The sensor transmits your crawl space humidity in real time to that reader. No guessing, no waiting for yearly maintenance to find out if there's a problem. You can walk by and check it anytime you want.
Here's what you're looking for: your humidity should stay below 60-65%. That's the sweet spot. Stay in that range and your encapsulation is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. But if that number starts creeping up past 65%? You've got a problem that needs attention.
This isn't complicated technology. It's just a sensor and a reader. But it's the difference between knowing your investment is working and hoping everything is fine until something goes wrong.
Why You Actually Need This
Look, encapsulation isn't something you do and forget about. Your dehumidifier is running down there, pulling moisture out of the air, keeping everything dry. But dehumidifiers can have problems. Filters get clogged. Parts wear out. Error codes pop up.
When your humidity spikes above that 65% mark, it means your dehumidifier isn't working right. Maybe the filter needs cleaning. Maybe there's an error code that needs a part replaced. But here's the thing - if you don't have a way to monitor it, you won't know there's a problem until it's been going on for weeks or months.
And by then? You might have moisture issues starting up again. That's exactly what you paid to prevent.
What the Monitor Tells You
This little device is your early warning system. When that humidity number starts climbing, you know something needs attention. If you've got an AprilAire dehumidifier (which is what I install), the unit will throw an error code when something's wrong.
I'm certified to repair AprilAire units, and I've fixed countless dehumidifiers over the years. Most of the time, it's a part that needs replacing. I keep all the common parts on hand, so I can usually fix it same-day.
But you can't call me to fix a problem if you don't know there is one. That's why the monitor matters. It tells you when to pick up the phone before a small issue becomes a big one.
The Industry Secret
Here's something most crawl space companies won't tell you: monitors mean accountability.
If you can see your humidity levels, you'll know when something's not working. And if something's not working, they have to come back and fix it. That means service calls. That means standing behind their work.
Some companies would rather you not have that visibility. No monitor means no calls until the yearly maintenance visit - if they even come back for that.
Yesterday I was servicing a dehumidifier that another company installed four years ago. They never came back. Not once. The filter was so clogged you couldn't even feel air coming out of it. The homeowner had no idea because they didn't have a monitor. They thought everything was fine.
That's the difference between selling someone an encapsulation and actually caring if it works.
Teaching Crawl Space Classes
One of the most fulfilling things I've added recently is teaching crawl space classes. This is a new chapter for me, and it combines everything I'm passionate about.
Teaching has always been part of what I do. Every inspection is a teaching opportunity. But now I'm able to share that knowledge with other people in the industry too. It's about raising the bar for everyone and making sure homeowners get better service across the board.
When you teach, you learn even more. Every class I teach makes me better at what I do. And knowing that I'm helping improve the whole industry in Nashville - that's pretty special.
Our Monitoring Approach
I include a humidity monitor on every single job I do. No exceptions. It's part of doing the work right.
The standard setup is simple - one sensor in the center of your crawl space, one reader in your house. That's usually all you need to know if your system is working properly.
But I also offer a smart home upgrade for larger crawl spaces. This puts three to five sensors under your house in different quadrants. Each section gets labeled - back left corner, back right corner, center, front left, front right. You can monitor all of it from your cell phone and see the humidity in each area.
Most homes don't need the upgrade. But if you've got a bigger crawl space or want that extra detail, the option is there.
Ready to Protect Your Investment?
If you're getting crawl space work done, make sure monitoring is part of the deal.
And if you already had work done but don't have a way to monitor it, that's a problem we can fix.
Give me a call or text. Every encapsulation I do includes humidity monitoring as standard. And my warranty actually covers you when something needs attention.
Because spending thousands on crawl space work only makes sense if you can verify it's actually working.
