They tried to be ‘good homeowners for once’ and, after six years, decided to check out their home’s crawl space. Now they didn’t want it

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After living in his Tacoma, Washington home for six years, one homeowner finally made a decision that many homeowners avoid: check the crawl space.

What started as an attempt to feel responsible quickly turned into a horror story. “I thought I’d feel responsible and adult about it. Maybe even smug,” they wrote in a recent Reddit post. Instead, they were met with standing water, bunched-up plastic sheets, and a disturbing layer of fuzzy white growth on the floor joists. “I tried to be a good landlord once and now I wish I hadn’t,” they said.

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Below is what they found

“It looks alive. I swear it looked at me,” the original poster described the white mold growing on the wood under their house. They admit they haven’t touched the crawl space since they bought the house in 2019, calling it “blissful ignorance.”

The house, built in 1978, sits in the Pacific Northwest, an area notorious for moisture problems. Commenters were quick to sympathize, sharing similar experiences and offering detailed do-it-yourself steps.

Home ownership is a shock, but fixable

While the scene was shocking, many homeowners reminded the poster that it was good to spot the problem. “Catching mold and water damage early can save you thousands compared to when the floor starts to deteriorate,” wrote one commenter. Others echoed the sentiment: move on now before the issue snowballs into something more expensive.

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Many homeowners offer detailed steps to solve the problem: Start by removing standing water with a pump or shop vac, then dry the space using fans and a crawl space-rated dehumidifier. Then, clean the area with mold sprays like Concrobium and RMR-86, but only after it dries completely.

“People on Reddit will freak the f*** out about mold, but you can do most of the remediation yourself as long as there’s no rot and you use the best. [personal protective equipment]” advised one top commenter. Others recommended striking the joists with a screwdriver to check for rot before deciding to seek professional help.

Who to call, who to ignore

The poster asked if they should call the mold guy, the waterproofing guy, or the priest. Overreaction: Start with a crawl space or waterproofing specialist, not mold remediation.

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Commenters named several local contractors serving the Tacoma area, and many warned against national chain companies, citing inflated prices. “Crawl space companies will rip you off completely. Don’t call a big company,” one person said. “Call Small and get quotes.”

Some flagged another potential issue: insurance. A former insurance professional warned. “Do not report this on your homeowner’s policy,” they wrote. “Water and mold claims will jack up your insurance rates, and it will be recorded as home history.”

Despite the regret, several commenters assured the OP that they are not alone. “Welcome to home ownership, where curiosity is promptly punished,” wrote one. Another added, “You didn’t fail, you just unlocked a bonus level.”

With a sense of humor and community support, what started as a pathetic quest turned into a crash course in crawl space management.

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Image: imagine

This article is about them trying to be ‘good homeowners for once’ and, after six years, decided to check out their home’s crawl space. Now they wish they hadn’t originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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