Smell mildew coming up from crawl space? (sink, kitchen, pipes)

[Braunwyn]

Hi all,

Part of my kitchen is an extension, which sits on a crawl space. We've had a very wet spring and summer and now I can smell mildew by my sink area and I'm guessing it's coming up from the crawl space since the pipes from the sink go down there. I'm having someone come this Friday to wrap the pipes in the crawl space to help with freezing over the winter. What can I have him do to prevent high humidity down there and moisture problems?

Thanks so much in advance!

[Pruzhany]

Open the vents and put some DampRid down there.

http://www.damprid.com/

[davebarnes]

Clorox is your friend

[BirdieBelle]

You can't bleach the whole crawlspace.

It will be difficult to keep ANY mildew smell from entering. Every time you open a door, air gets sucked in through various openings in your house, and it brings the smell with it.

There are a variety of ways you can deal with it. Sealing any openings from the crawlspace into the house is the first place to start. So around pipes and any other access openings or doors. You also need to deal with water at the source.

There are two opposing camps in the crawlspace debate: those who believe you should vent it and bring "fresh air" in, as mentioned above, and those who say you should seal it off completely, a la this approach:

Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey | Crawl Space Structural Supports & Moisture Barrier System in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore

We have a vented crawlspace, a sump pump, and a very high water table. We considered sealing it but have not. It is very expensive, and I'm not sure I believe all their claims anyway.