Symptoms of moisture buildup are most often noticed in the humid spring and summer seasons but can occur at any time of the year.

An uncovered earth floor in a crawl space can contribute a significant amount of moisture to a house -- up to several gallons per day, installing a vapor barrier can significantly reduce moisture problems as well as many of the problems listed above.

The Causes and What to Look for

The primary causes of excess moisture in the crawlspace include:

• Surface runoff water is not excluded.
• Adequate ventilation is not achieved by vents.
• Excess moisture vapor is released by the ground.

Watch for these signs of excess moisture in the crawlspace:

• Soil is wet.
• Surface organism growth appears on the sapwood of some floor joists. This is usually "toadstool" organisms (brown and green in color and leaves a stain on the wood surface when smeared).
• During summer, the bottomside of the floor insulation has beads of moisture on the surface or is saturated with condensed moisture.
• Musty odors in the crawlspace or living area of the home.
• Excessive moisture in the living area. This condensation tends to migrate toward the windows.