Crawl Space Encapsulation with Aprilaire E70 Dehumidifier and New PVC Door

Most crawl spaces are out of sight, out of mind - until something goes wrong. Musty smells drifting up into the living area, warped floors, or high humidity readings inside the house are all signs that what's happening underneath matters a lot more than most homeowners realize.

Here's what we were working with on this one. The crawl space needed a full encapsulation setup - a heavy-duty vapor barrier along the walls and floor to lock out ground moisture, an insulated foundation blanket, and a properly installed dehumidifier to keep the air dry year-round. We also swapped out the old access point with a brand new PVC crawl space door.

The dehumidifier we put in is the Aprilaire E70. It's a commercial-grade unit built specifically for crawl spaces and tight spaces like this. We hang it from the floor joists using heavy-duty chains to keep it up off the liner and allow good airflow all around it. The condensate drain runs directly out through PVC pipe - no buckets to empty, no manual maintenance. It just runs.

The new PVC door matters more than people think. A bad access door is basically an open invitation for outside air, pests, and moisture to walk right in. A solid, insulated replacement door seals that gap and keeps everything the dehumidifier is working to control from sneaking back in. It's one of those finishing details that makes the whole system work properly.

Put it all together and you've got a crawl space that's actually sealed, actively controlled, and easy to access when needed. The house above it benefits too - better air quality, less stress on the HVAC, and protection for the structure underneath. If your crawl space has that damp, musty feel, this is exactly the kind of setup that fixes it for good.