A damp enviroment is very unhealthy and destructive. Mold thrives and reproduces by producing airborne spores by the millions, and some molds are toxic.

Insects and critters of all kinds love damp enviroments and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp enviroments causing structual damage.

The natural airflow in a house is from bottom to top. This sucks the most air and everything in it up into the living areas of the home.

Mold spores, odors, humidity and critters create a very unhealthy enviroment for people. Many people are allergic to these things, and experi- ence a host of symptoms and don't realize that their dirt crawl space is affecting their health.

Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture. Of these, the only one thing that can be controlled is moisture.

Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that never flooded.

Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mycotoxins, such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Many articles can be found on the effects of mold, and toxic mold.

Dr. Harriet Burge, an expert in airborne diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health says, “Mold in houses is not a good thing. It could lead to asthma. Houses with mold are damp, and have dust mites and other things in them that can cause illness, especially in children.”

Don’t panic; there is a solution that will stop your crawl space from being a hospitable environment for mold. Mold will not grow when the humidity levels are reduced below 40%.