Crawl space moisture control method

A method of reducing moisture damage to a building having a foundation crawl space with a floor, comprising the steps of:

• (1) forming a pit in the floor for collecting water in the crawl space;
• (2) forming a trench in a portion of the floor, the trench being configured to intersect the pit;
• (3) pneumatically depositing an aggregate for placement in the trench to displace water into the pit, said depositing including:
• (3a) positioning a pneumatic conveyor system outside the crawl space, the conveyor system having an intake to receive material and a conduit defining a discharge outlet for dispensing received material,
• (3b) providing an aggregate source outside the crawl space adjacent the intake,
• (3c) selectively positioning the discharge outlet adjacent the trench;
• and
• (4) positioning a moisture barrier on top of the floor and aggregate to reduce exposure of the building to moisture from the crawl space.

A method of reducing moisture damage to a building having a foundation crawl space with a floor, comprising the steps of:

• (1) excavating a pit in the floor;
• (2) positioning a liner in the pit, the liner defining a cavity and an inlet intersecting the cavity, the cavity being configured to collect water, the liner being sized to define a space between the liner and the pit;
• (3) forming a trench in a portion of the floor, the trench being configured to intersect the pit;
• (4) putting a drain tile in the trench, the drain tile having an outlet engaging the inlet of the liner so that the water flowing along the drain tile is collected in the cavity;
• (5) positioning a pneumatic conveyor system outside the crawl space, the conveyor system having an intake to receive material and a discharge outlet for dispensing received material;
• (6) providing an aggregate source outside the crawl space adjacent the intake, the aggregate source providing an aggregate at least the size of pea gravel;
• (7) selectively positioning the discharge outlet within the crawl space;
• (8) drawing aggregate into the intake from the aggregate source by suction when the conveyor system is activated;
• (9) discharging the aggregate through the discharge outlet at a rate of at least two tons per hour;
• (10) depositing aggregate into the trench;
• (11) depositing aggregate into the space;
• (12) placing a moisture barrier on top of the floor and aggregate to reduce exposure of the building to moisture from the crawl space;
• (13) installing a pump system for pumping water out of the cavity and away from the crawl space, the pump system including:
• a submersible sump pump driven by an electric motor;
• a conduit connected to the sump pump, the conduit having an outlet outside the building to expel water;
• and
• (14) controlling moisture by pumping water out of the cavity with the pump system when water in the cavity exceeds a predetermined level.

A method of reducing moisture damage to a building having a foundation crawl space with a floor, comprising:

• (a) forming a pit in the floor for collecting water in the crawl space;
• (b) forming a trench in a portion of the floor, the trench being configured to intersect the pit;
• (c) pneumatically depositing an aggregate for placement in the trench to displace water into the pit at a rate of at least two tons per hour;
• and
• (d) positioning a moisture barrier on top of the floor and aggregate to reduce exposure of the building to moisture from the crawl space.