Maintenance Guides / Exterior & Structure

Check crawl space vapor barrier

Difficulty: moderateTime: 30 mins

Why it matters

The vapor barrier prevents ground moisture from rising into your home's framing. A torn or displaced barrier lets humidity in, which leads to mold, wood rot, and musty odors throughout the house. Repairs are cheap — damage from a missing barrier is not.

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How to do it

  • 1

    Enter the crawl space with a headlamp and gloves.

  • 2

    Walk the perimeter and check that the plastic sheeting covers the entire floor.

  • 3

    Look for tears, punctures, or areas where it has pulled away from the walls.

  • 4

    Patch small tears with vapor barrier tape (available at hardware stores).

  • 5

    If the barrier is badly damaged or missing entirely, consider professional encapsulation.