Island Basement Systems is the Authorized Basement Systems Dealer in BC http://www.islandbasementsystems.com Island Basement Systems Dirt and/or vented crawl spaces are such a huge problem across the US that they are being called a true "housing epidemic".Dirt and vented crawl spaces are prone to retain moisture from the air, from the ground and the rain. Moisture in the crawl space creates a number of other problems. As it is absorbed by the wooden structures, such as the floor joists, and organic compounds find in some types of insulation it creates the perfect conditions for mold to grow and spread, causing those organic surfaces and structures to rot.Dust mites and other moisture loving pests find humid crawl spaces particularly appealing, and once they get in they remain undetected until a considerable amount of damage is caused.Small rodents, stray cats, snakes and other wild animals find shelter in them, and sometimes find their way into some structures where they get trapped, die and the stench of their decomposing remains will make your home smell terribly for what seems like an eternity, if you can't locate and extract them right away.In addition, due to a simple physics principle called "stack effect", 1/3 of the air you breathe in your home comes from your crawl space. As the heated air in the house rises and is eliminated through any openings in the attic and upper floors, the air supply is replenished with the air sucked in from the lower levels of the house: the basement and crawl space.The airborne mold spores, and dust mite pellets will be carried into your home as the crawl space air is sucked in. If you and/or a family member are suffering from indoor allergies, the cause of all your problems might be lurking in your crawl space. On the other hand, an encapsulated crawl space, can give you extra peace of mind, by getting rid of moisture and the problems it causes and helping keep animals from getting in. In addition, it will help lower your heating and cooling bills up to 36%, making your home more energy efficient.Contact us for a Free Estimate, and see how much we can improve your home, health and finances! http://www.islandbasementsystems.com/blog.php?post=Why-should-you-care-about-crawl-space-environment? Every homeowner who ever had to deal with a flooded basement knows the importance of having a good perimeter drainage system and a reliable sump pump to keep the basement dry.However, since conventional sump pumps are powered by electricity, they are rendered useless by power outages and circuit breaks.It is extremely important to have a sump pump system that includes a a battery operated backup sump pump.For extra protection and peace of mind year round, we offer the TripleSafe Sump Pump System, with not only one, but two back up sump pumps: an electric one, that will handle the job if the main one looses power, and a battery operated pump, to work in case of power outages. The system also comes with an alarm, that will let you know when one the electric pump is not working.If you have anything in your basement that you value, or appliances and utilities that will be ruined by flood, and are very expensive to repair and replace, you know you need a good sump pump system. You can't afford to have your basement dry only some of the time, you want it to be dry all the time! You need to be on the safe (or TripleSafe) side. Call us today for a Free Estimate! http://www.islandbasementsystems.com/blog.php?post=A-dry-basement-all-the-time! The Government of Canada is offering grants to homeowners who complete energy efficiency retrofits based on the recommendations of a NRCan-licensed energy efficiency advisor.The grant amount is based on the type of energy efficiency retrofit performed, and can provide funds for  improvements such as attic insulation, replacement of older combustion appliances with qualified ENERGY STAR® models. To qualify for the grants, the home must undergo a residential energy efficiency assessment, to be performed by a licensed advisor, before and after the conclusion of the retrofits.You can find complete information and a list of licensed advisors, at the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency Website. http://www.islandbasementsystems.com/blog.php?post=Energy-Efficiency-Grants-for-Home-Owners Yesterday, I was speaking with a home owner in Nanaimo, and he was trying to figure out why his crawlspace was still musty smelling, even after he increased his venting (as recommended by his neighbour). Subsequently, he placed batt insulation in the ceiling of the crawlspace to keep his floors from becoming too cold. And the musty smell was stil l there. This is just another example of how bad advice can cause a homeowner to waste money installing products that don't work. We're off to inspect his crawlspace next week.... http://www.islandbasementsystems.com/blog.php?post=Venting-a-crawlspace-comments