Food Storing food & water in a crawlspace?

[meandk0610]

I have a double-wide with a crawlspace that's about 2.5' high throughout. Would it be safe to keep food that has been packed in mylar and buckets down there? I don't have much storage space without that and am hoping that someone will have some experience. My skirting is actually concrete block with brick facing so it's pretty substantial, and it has vents on all sides that can be closed during cold weather. I've been here since 2012 and have never had a leak under there, even when we had those really cold, cold nights in February this year.

Also, I was wondering if anyone has any experience digging out some of the dirt between the support columns. I'll have to measure, but it looks like they're about 8' apart throughout; the house is tied down to the ones along the outside. Would it be possible to dig out some in between them to increase my storage ability? I know I need to stay away from the support columns, but don't know how far away from them I need to stay.

 

[Raggedyman]

do you have mice/rats that get in there? they MIGHT chew through buckets - you may want to set a few traps in there FIRST to see if you catch anything - say give it 2 weeks - if not then i think it would be OK. the other thing is what are your temperature extremes?

not so sure I would be removing any dirt from around support columns - better to get an ON SITE outside storage building IMHO

 

[summerthyme]

It should be fine... dry foods stored in buckets with mylar liners and O2 absorbers store pretty well under most conditions. The main thing to avoid is extreme heat... it definitely shortens the lifespan by a lot.

If you don't have pets which can get access to the crawlspace, I'd suggest tossing some rat bars in between the pails, just in case. Mice can't chew through pails, but large rats can, given enough time and determination.

I don't think I'd be doing any digging, either; not without consulting a contractor or engineer.

Summerthyme

 

[Publius]

Extreme heat and cold are two factors that need to be taken into consideration and I to would also worry about vermin like mice and rats can chew their way into most any plastic bucket.


I can understand your wanting to make use of this space, but digging down in the space between the footers that hold the building up is not advisable.

Not knowing where you live and how much land you have to work with, is it posable to make a small walk-in root celler somewhere on the land?

 

[Deena in GA]

The other thing I would caution you about, is to not put any cardboard boxes down there near any copper piping (if there is any). I know it was a freak accident, but our house caught on fire years ago from lightning hitting nearby, traveling up the copper pipe and dropping sparks onto the cardboard boxes we had stored in our crawl space. At least that's the theory the insurance adjuster came up with.

 

[kyrsyan]

If you can, I would get metal 5 gallon pails. Not as easy to find but rodents won't be getting in them. No cans or canning in that area but dry stuff should be okay. My biggest worry would be the summer heat.

 

[L.A.B.]

If you can, I would get metal 5 gallon pails. Not as easy to find but rodents won't be getting in them. No cans or canning in that area but dry stuff should be okay. My biggest worry would be the summer heat.

My experience with Poly pails with (the popular screw top lid). (1). Don't stack them over 2 or 3 pail high. (2). Don't count on Poly stopping a Rat. Two different experiences at two different locations.

Metal pails or drums depending on your available space and strength wrestling them around.

 

[meandk0610]

I've never seen a rat close to the house (barn cat and Jack Russell terrier as well as chickens right around the house). I have heard/seen a couple of mice, though not recently and, like I said, only a couple (like maybe 1 every 8 months or so). The crawlspace is closed up pretty well; I've sealed the hole around where the hose comes out and replaced the dryer vent. The only other access is right at the crawlspace door; I'll have to see if I can rig up some kind of gasket or something.

It does not get hot under there. At all. Damp in a couple spots, though. Maybe I'll take some scrap wood under there just to set buckets on.

So, I think I'm going with plastic pails with mylar bags and hammered-on lids, set on pieces of scrap 2x4 (would maybe help air circulation if set across 2 boards), and only 1 high since there's no more space anyway. I have to use plastic buckets; I just wouldn't be able to move a metal one that's filled under the house. No digging; just using the wood supports underneath.

Do you guys think I should put mouse bait/poison? If so, close to the buckets or away from the buckets? The buckets will not be able to be very far from the door. There's just too many wires and beams under there to be able to move them around much.

 

[summerthyme]

As long as your dog or cats can't get under there, I'd put some of the wax rat bars right under/near the buckets. But, don't just put your preps under there and forget them! Check on them at least once a month... see if the bars have been eaten/taken, and make sure there is no damage to any buckets. I would definitely set them on 2x4's to get them off the damp ground.

Summerthyme

 

[Krayola]

I have not done this myself but I have heard of people storing food in (unused)metal paint cans. I don't know all the details so you'd have to research it. I think you can buy new unused paint cans at the hardware store. If memory serves me right, you might have to line it with a mylar bag because the paint cans are not food-grade. Sorry I don't have more info on it but if you do an internet search you can probably find some advice on how it is done.

 

[CnMO]

A friend has a crawl space like you seem to have.

He spray painted the floor joist above white, and laid down over the gravel that was under there already, cheap white roll sheet vinyl for a floor. He did this so he could see under there, and vinyl floor made it easier to work under there.

For lights,, He put metal clamp lights connect to extension cord, and plugs it into the GFI outlet when he need to go in the crawl space so he can see without any trouble with the white paint, white vinyl flooring, and clamp on metal lights.

He stores lumber, pipes, etc . and buckets, and coolers (older metal/ and plastic) with #10 cans.

 

[GreenGecko]

[I had written a longer post, but the system timed me out before I submitted it. ]

I was able to monitor my attic space in the home I moved into with a spare security camera. [I know this is a luxury for most.]

Since it only records motion, I could quickly see if I had removed all 'mice' from my home. It has been a month since I have seen any movement.

I am going to move this camera to my crawl space, and start monitoring it. For my home also has a bricked-in space. I have plans for the space, and found a four-foot snake skin under there the other day. I am hoping the owner has left.
[I left the snake skin outside for the birds. Some will take it into their nest to scare off egg poachers. Maybe I should have put it in my attic to scare off mice. hmmmm]

Anyway, it was a suggestion.

I do know someone that has a trap door from their bedroom closet into a room they dug out deeper into the ground in their crawl space. I can not advise on how far away from any support they were. I think a lot would depend on the type of soil you have.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I have yet to meet a rat or mouse that can chew through a 50 gallon steal drum. It has been a few years since I picked one up. Last time I did I think the cost of a used one from a food processor was about $11.00. It came with a metal lid and metal stap with a bolt to hold the lid in place. They called it a burn barrel and I chose not to enlighten them. IMHO the poly bags and oxygen absorbers are a good investment. As far as security cameras? How about a baby monitor? I have picked them up used at an out grow sale for $20.00 or less. I prep on the cheap and have made some expensive mistakes. Not using the sealed bags and oxygen absorbers was a fool's savings. Dried bay leaves also repel bugs.

Around here a few feet below ground level the temperature usually doesn't vary much between about 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I stored some nice commercially canned beef stew in an garage without climate control over a winter and ate it the next summer. The can looked fine, no bulges, no rust, the seal was intact. The food looked and smelled great! I was sick as a dog. Do not want to make that mistake again, ever.

Hope that helps.

 

[summerthyme]

I prep on the cheap and have made some expensive mistakes. Not using the sealed bags and oxygen absorbers was a fool's savings.

AMEN!!! IMHO, this can't be repeated enough! While whole grains and pasta tend to store without oxygen absorbers longer than most things, about the only things I've found that will store well for long (years) without the additional packaging are sugar and salt. EVERYTHING else- even white rice, white flour, etc- WILL go rancid or get very stale, unless you keep it in the freezer, which of course isn't practical.

Not everyone can smell rancidity, I've found. I've got a sensitive nose for it, but I've been surprised at how many people *can't* smell rancid odors until they get *really* strong. And while rancid food won't kill you immediately (unlike some forms of food poisoning) it's REALLY not good for you!

O2 absorbers and mylar bags are cheap insurance!

Summerthyme

 

[Carl2]

Rodents will tunnel into your crawlspace. 33-gallon galvanized trash cans are rodent proof.