Hey everyone. I have searched and not found the exact answer, so I shall post. In my 1909 farmhouse, I have a musty basement. No obvious water intrusion, but the smell is certainly there. We have not cleaned it since we moved in 3 weeks ago, so I will try the bleach and water rub down, then dehumidify, but I also want to take care of the crawl spaces. I have researched the moisture barrier stuff and generally know how to tackle that problem, however my question is this:
Do I need to level the soil in the crawlspace before sealing with plastic? Most of the space is level, but around the drainpipe from the tub/shower/toilet all the dirt has been dug out. Should I worry about filling this in or just cover it and forget it. I am not sure if it is customary to leave space to access those pipes or not.
Also, is there a standard amount of vents one should have in a crawlspace? Right now I just have two, on opposite walls.
Thanks for the help. This new (and clueless) homeowner appreciates it.
Do I need to level the soil in the crawlspace before sealing with plastic? Most of the space is level, but around the drainpipe from the tub/shower/toilet all the dirt has been dug out. Should I worry about filling this in or just cover it and forget it. I am not sure if it is customary to leave space to access those pipes or not.
Also, is there a standard amount of vents one should have in a crawlspace? Right now I just have two, on opposite walls.
Thanks for the help. This new (and clueless) homeowner appreciates it.