Of course, the best approach is to prevent high humidity and dampness from taking root in the first place. In order to do this, there are a number of things that you can do (or have a professional do) to protect your property.
Ensure Proper Drainage
Every property has some sort of drainage system built in. From the roof gutters and downspouts to foundation drainage, most properties have basic systems in place to divert water. Of course, that doesn’t mean that these systems are adequate. In wet and humid areas like Missouri, a property should have a variety of moisture management systems in place.
Having interior and exterior drainage systems will be important if you are to keep the humidity levels inside your property consistently low. For properties that have a crawl space, this means considering the health and condition of your perimeter drains and sump pump. Scheduling regular cleaning and maintenance will help to keep your existing systems in peak condition.
Professional Waterproofing
If you are keeping your existing drainage systems in optimal condition, but you are still seeing signs of dampness and humidity in your property, it may be time to consider waterproofing services. Professional waterproofing services can provide you with a far better result than DIY waterproofing, as well as a more durable solution to your issues with dampness.
Fully encapsulating your property’s crawl space is one of the best things that you can do to prevent humidity and dampness from working on your home. However, it will also provide you with a range of benefits. An encapsulated crawl space, for example, is one with a more consistent climate in terms of temperature. This will lower your average energy costs considerably by making it easier to keep your home at the optimum temperature.