My home is a 1 1/2 story cape with a concrete slab crawlspace, built ~1946. I bought the home about 6 years ago. The crawlspace has small windows installed at grade level for ventilation, which I've only opened during the spring and fall. The HVAC is not a closed system. It uses the crawlspace as the plenum for returning air back to unit.
There is a very slight musty odor during rainy weather, but it's not offensive, and clears with just using the fan to circulate air.
There is NO insulation in the space as far as I can tell, and there is no vapor barrier.
At some point insulation was blown into the exterior walls (it's not fiberglass. I think it's cotton based, but not sure), and it has started to drop into the space.
I've had no problems with the heater or AC, and have no "problem" to fix that would warrant replacing it.
However, I am concerned about the debris that has collected in the space, and the musty smell, and my energy consumption.
I'm not even sure I should 'do' anything, except just know how to maintain what is already there. Or should I concern myself with closing the HVAC? Insulating the floors/crawlspace? Installing a vapor barrier?
These seem to be "good things", but should I "fix" something that isnt' really "broken"?
And any advice on who I could hire to clean it all out? I'd rather pay someone than do it myself. I'm not good around spiders...
