Look before you go in
Open the crawl space hatch and look in with a flashlight before you go any further. Do not crawl into standing water, and stay out if you see wiring, a junction box or a furnace sitting in water. Check for:
- Standing water, and how deep it is.
- A vapor barrier that is torn, floating or covered in mud.
- Insulation that hangs down from the joists or looks dark and heavy.
- White or dark fuzzy growth on the wood.
- A strong musty smell.
Check the outside of the house
Most crawl space water in Puyallup comes from outside, and several of the causes are easy to check:
- Gutters. Fir needles and moss clog gutters quickly here. Water that spills over the edge lands right next to the foundation.
- Downspouts. Each one should empty at least a few feet from the house, onto a splash block or into a drain line that works.
- Grading. Soil and beds should slope away from the house. If water pools against the foundation after rain, it is finding its way under the house.
- Sump pump. If you have one, make sure it has power, the float moves freely and the discharge line is clear.
When it is groundwater
In the valley, the water table rises over the winter. Some homes near the river, Clarks Creek and the low streets north of downtown get water in the crawl space no matter how clean the gutters are. A sump pump and a perimeter drain are the usual long-term fixes. In the short term, the water still needs to come out and the framing needs to dry.
When to call
Call a water damage crew if:
- Water is standing and not draining on its own within a day.
- Insulation is wet or falling down.
- You see mold on the framing or smell it inside.
- Floors above feel soft or have started to cup.
- The water came from a broken pipe or drain line.
A crew will pump the space, pull wet insulation, replace the vapor barrier if needed and run dehumidifiers until the wood is dry. Call us and we will connect you with a local company.
Related services in Puyallup
- Crawl space water and mold: Pumping out flooded crawl spaces, replacing soaked insulation and vapor barrier, and treating mold.
- Storm and flood cleanup: Help after atmospheric river storms, roof leaks, overflowing gutters and high water.
- Structural drying and mold prevention: Dehumidifiers, air movers and moisture readings until walls, floors and framing are dry.