Memorial Day weekend in Northeast Arkansas means pool parties, BBQs, and... crawl space inspections? Hear me out.
May is the perfect month to check your crawl space before summer temps hit the 90s. Right now, it's comfortable enough to crawl around down there without sweating through your clothes.
Look for three things: standing water (we've had decent spring rains), torn vapor barriers, and missing insulation around rim joists. That 6-mil poly sheeting should cover 100% of your dirt floor and lap up foundation walls 6 inches minimum per IRC N1102.2.11.
Saw a crawl space in Trumann last week where the vapor barrier had pulled away from two walls. Homeowner's energy bills jumped 18% last summer because ground moisture was making their HVAC work overtime. Humid air takes more energy to cool.
Rim joist insulation is the big one most folks miss. Those 2x10 or 2x12 boards around your crawl space perimeter need R-13 minimum (R-19 is better). Use faced batts with the paper toward your heated space, or spray foam for air sealing plus insulation.
Found rodent damage? Don't ignore it. Mice love making nests in fiberglass batts, and their entry holes let in outside air that kills your efficiency.
Spend 30 minutes down there this weekend with a flashlight and your phone camera. Document what you find. Most crawl space fixes pay for themselves in 2-3 years through lower utility bills.
Reply or DM us for a free crawl space evaluation. We're scheduling summer projects now.