Have overlapping plastic down in crawlspace. Sump pump pit is a 5 gallon bucket. Pump works, is heavily rusted 30 + tears old and I have never heard it running. I have seen water under the plastic at times. I placed a dehumidifier last year and closed the vents. I can hold it below 50 percent humidity. Fiberglass insulation in joists with vapor barrier toward the dirt. Have radon.
I was thinking about having a proper sump pit installed. I know they will try to sell encapsulation. On the fence as to what type of business to contact- plumber, foundation service,etc.. Radon DIY vent keeps it 6.35 long term average
Anyone have this done? I know some of you had perimeter drains installed. Any advice or experience welcome. Should I pull the fiberglass down ?
Wife has been coughing since Thanksgiving. That is about when I closed the vents and installed the dehumidifier. But also shortly after her rotator cuff surgery. She changed blood pressure medicine and no improvement. Stating to wonder if cause is environmental.

All good things to consider.
Have you started with the basics like checking that the downspouts get roof water well away from the foundation and that the grading around the house keeps water away too?
Preventing water from getting in there in the first place is a much more efficient way to lower the humidity and problems.

Some medications can cause a dry cough, I'd take her to her doctor and let him examine her

Go online and see if one of the side effects is a dry cough

Neighbors property is 30 feet away and 10 feet higher. We are at midpoint in a downward slope.

Been to the Doctor twice and Nurse practitioner 2 times. Last visit they changed the BP medicine

We were supposed to go got a Pulmonary Function Tests just before Covid struck. Already knows she has asthma. NP says this is a "interesting" case. I think we may need a new Doctor. MD is a specialist in sleep disorders that also has some regular patients

Crawl seems dry above the plastic.

Moisture under plastic is normal. Under 60% is key. I wouldn’t do anything if it’s never above 50%, but maybe test sump pump and make sure exterior grade and drainage is good.

I'm having trouble imagining where each of the items you're referencing is located.

Radon vent is feeding from under the plastic? Is it powered?
Sump bucket is under the plastic?
Vents are through the outside walls of the crawlspace, or part of the HVAC?
Dehumidifier is above the plastic?
Is the plastic sealed to the outside walls?
Was the Radon measured inside the house? crawl space? above or below the plastic?
What part of the country are you in?

Need more info, photos would help too.

Is your HVAC located in the crawl?

Encapsulated crawlspaces are certainly nice, but done properly they are expensive. $15-20k isn't out of the question depending on the size of the space, thickness of the barrier, dehu setup and other variables.

Car needs new radiator, so this is on hold now.

Hvac is not in the crawl. Crawl is maybe 30x30.
Radon fan connected to perimeter drain pipe trenched along foundation wall. Plastic not attached to perimeter walls,sump bucket under plastic,radon measurement inside master bedroom at dresser top level,vents are in block wall to outside of crawl,Indiana.
Probably easier to move

Wife went to Dr. They referred her to ER. could not rule out kidney infection. Gave her some IV antibiotic and released her. Cough is gone. Have no idea if there was a kidney infection or not.
Crawl space inspection coming up. I think they will push encapsulation. Fiberglass is installed paper side down. I think I will just have the replace it with paper side up and install a proper sump pit. Still not convince encapsulation is anything but a new trend/moneymaker

quote:

Originally posted by Some Shot:
I'm having trouble imagining where each of the items you're referencing is located.

Radon vent is feeding from under the plastic? Is it powered?
Corregated drain tubeing is 3/4 around the inside foundation wall. Plastic is lying on top. Radon fan hooked to end of tube and venting outside.

Sump bucket is under the plastic?
I don't think this house had a sump before they had a pipe burst. There is a hole dug with a 5 gallon bucket in it. Sump pump inside bucker pipe to outside. There is overlapping plastic on crawl floor, Not attached to wall or taped together.
Vents are through the outside walls of the crawlspace, or part of the HVAC?
Just vents
Dehumidifier is above the plastic?
Yes
Is the plastic sealed to the outside walls? Glued it bit will not stick

Was the Radon measured inside the house? crawl space?
Radon measure inside the hose at 5 foot above floor.
above or below the plastic?
What part of the country are you in?

Indiana
Radon is down below 2 after the latest rain

I would encourage you to investigate replacing the fiberglass with closed cell spray foam. It has a very high insulation factor (R-7 per inch) and is a continuous vapor barrier. It will keep the radon from migrating through the floor assembly into the living space.

If I were doing it (having it done, more likely), I'd want the plastic sheeting overlapped and to run up the walls, then rigid foam insulation on the walls and up between the joists. Or maybe sprayed-on foam.

We need to have ours re-done. We had it done years ago. They got the plastic sheeting right, but they used fiberglass batts for the walls and a couple have fallen down.

The "talk" is closed cell foam the foundation walls, over the top opening on the concrete block,sill plate, and rim joists. Removing the old fiberglass