Critters-Bugs, Rodents, and More Bugs

Dirt crawl spaces are a haven for pests who are drawn to moist enviroments.Once they have found a home in your crawl space, they will end up in your living space also.
Spiders, beetles, centipedes, termites, and all kinds of other insects are found in dirt crawl spaces. Animals such as mice(dead and alive) are commomly found in dirt crawl spaces. In some cases, even rats, snakes, and small animals have been found.

Condensation

Because of the high humidity level in a dirt crawl space, cool surfaces such as the earth at 55degrees, concrete and metal surfaces will sweat with water vapor condensing out of the air. This causes rot, smells, and is a water source for critters.

Mold

Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture. Of these, the only one that can be controlled is moisture.

Dirt Crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded.

Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mytoxins, such are the black mold Stachbotrys. Many articles can be found on the effects of mold, and toxic mold.