Odor and moisture from the crawl space

[Mark Forest]

I had about 2” of water in my flooded crawl space in April. I sucked it out with a utility pump and opened all the crawl space vents. We have not had any heavy rains like we did with the spring thaw and the April showers so there is no more collecting water. However the ground is certainly muddy and it smells like musty dirt which comes up into the house.

I thought I needed a sump pump, but if I had bought one there would be nothing for it to pump out for the past few weeks. I have seen sump pumps that don’t work get locked up so they don’t perform if you do need them. The ground is muddy and musty, but no collecting water.

What I think would be good to cut down on the smell is a crawl space dehumidifier or some kind of fan system. I googled crawl space dehumidifier and they sell some for over $1000.00. Please make a more thrifty recommendation. Thank you.

[Rob K.]

Have you turned on every faucet and then looked under the house to see if there's a leak? I've seen many times where the bathtub shoe is leaking or the toilet.

Also, check the downspouts to make sure they're far enough from the house and also the grading.

I've seen sump pumps in crawlspaces. You either need to (illegally) discharge the water into the sewer line, or take it way far from the house.