Dehumidifier Installation
in Clearbrook, BC

Clearbrook is one of the older residential communities in Abbotsford, developed as a distinct Mennonite farming settlement before being absorbed into the modern city. The residential areas of Clearbrook have housing stock from the 1950s through the 1970s on relatively flat terrain with heavy clay soils — conditions very similar to the older Fraser Valley communities we serve throughout the Lower Mainland. Crawlspace moisture and mold issues are common in this housing stock, which was built to the standards of its era.

Humidity management is the operational heart of any crawlspace encapsulation system. Sealing the crawlspace envelope stops the major sources of moisture entry, but the residual humidity in the sealed space — from the soil itself, from diffusion through concrete stem walls, and from any minor air leakage — needs somewhere to go. In most Lower Mainland crawlspaces, a properly sized commercial dehumidifier running continuously is the right answer. The target is to maintain relative humidity at or below 50 to 55 percent year-round, which is the threshold at which mold growth and wood-boring insect activity become effectively impossible.

Proper sizing is critical. An undersized dehumidifier will run continuously without reaching the setpoint humidity level, eventually burning out its compressor. An oversized unit is not a problem in terms of dehumidification, but it costs more upfront and uses more energy than necessary. We calculate required capacity based on crawlspace square footage, current moisture load (as measured during inspection), the vapor barrier coverage and sealing quality, and the seasonal humidity patterns typical for the specific location.