Lime is a common yard fertilizer component due to its pH-balancing abilities and its cost-effectiveness. Although many homeowners know that a lime fertilizer treatment will help their grass grow faster and greener, some hesitate to use it out of concern about its effects on their family’s health.
Fortunately, it is possible to use lime safely. The primary determinant in its potential to become a human health risk breaks down into one general factor — whether the lime is caustic (fast-acting but harmful) or non-caustic (safe but slightly less effective).
If you’re considering a lime fertilizer for your yard care routine, it’s crucial to pick a type of lime yard treatment that’s safe for adults, kids and pets alike. In addition to selecting the right lime-based fertilizer for your lawn needs, you also need to follow specific guidelines when handling any kind of lime.
Keep reading to learn the basics of garden lime safety and how you can grow your lawn without exposing your family to hazardous che
Is It Safe to Put Lime Under Your House?
Adding lime to the soil underneath houses is a controversial practice. Some homeowners believe it can control moisture, odors, and pests in crawlspaces. However, experts warn that lime dust poses serious health hazards and can reduce indoor air quality. This article examines the potential risks and benefits to help you decide if using lime under your house is safe.
What is Lime?
There are a few different types of lime products
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Quicklime or calcium oxide is limestone that has been calcined or heated to remove carbon dioxide. When quicklime is mixed with water, it reacts vigorously, releasing heat. This makes it hazardous to handle.
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Hydrated lime or calcium hydroxide is quicklime combined with water, It is safer to use than quicklime alone but still alkaline and caustic
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Agricultural lime is made from crushed limestone. It helps neutralize acidic soil but does not have the same risks as other types of lime.
Hydrated lime is most often used in crawlspaces, mixed with water into a whitewash. Supporters claim spreading it on surfaces reduces moisture and odors. However, even hydrated lime poses safety issues.
Potential Benefits of Lime Under Houses
Proponents make these claims about using lime in crawlspaces:
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It can control mold and mildew growth by neutralizing acids and raising pH levels.
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Whitewashing crawlspace surfaces may help preserve wooden structural elements.
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Sprinkling hydrated lime on dirt floors deters crawling insects like ants.
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The alkaline lime odor masks musty smells from moisture.
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Applying lime is safe if proper precautions like masks and gloves are used.
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It provides a natural alternative to chemical products for moisture issues.
Concerns About Lime Under Houses
However, several risks are associated with lime use under houses:
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Even short-term inhalation of lime dust irritates the lungs. Long-term exposure may cause chronic respiratory disease.
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Hydrated lime can still burn skin, eyes, and other tissues through direct contact. It is caustic.
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Poor ventilation causes lime dust to accumulate in confined crawlspace areas, concentrating health dangers.
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Lime dust drifts through floorboards, potentially decreasing indoor air quality and affecting occupants with asthma or allergies.
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Overapplication of lime can damage plants. It may also contaminate groundwater supplies when it leaches through soil.
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Frequent reapplication is often needed to maintain effectiveness, leading to repeated hazardous exposures.
Best Practices for Safer Lime Use
If you choose to apply lime in your crawlspace, follow these precautions to reduce risks:
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Wear proper protective equipment like goggles, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and an N95 respirator mask when handling lime.
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Only use hydrated lime, never more reactive quicklime products.
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Apply lime carefully in thin layers instead of dumping or spreading it heavily.
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Monitor air quality in the crawlspace and rooms above. Increase ventilation as needed.
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Seal crawlspace access doors and accesses to living areas to contain lime dust spread.
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Rinse any lime skin contact thoroughly with cool water. Seek medical help for serious burns.
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Adhere strictly to label directions and hazard warnings on lime products.
The Verdict on Lime Under Houses
There are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue. The decision depends on your specific needs. Limited, cautious lime application under houses may provide some benefits. However, the well-documented health hazards make other moisture control options preferable for most homeowners. Avoid overapplying lime or using it heavily for prolonged periods. Seek to address root causes of excess moisture rather than relying solely on lime treatment in crawlspaces. With careful precautions against hazardous lime dust exposure, modest use may be acceptable. But other solutions pose fewer risks in most cases.
Best Practices for Using Lime
To avoid coming into contact with lime, you can follow a few steps to use it correctly. There are also safety measures you can take if a person comes into contact with some lime dust.
Avoiding Common Lime Application Mistakes
Applying too much lime to your grass raises the soil’s pH, making it more challenging for grass to grow, and it may even kill the grass over time. This process is slow and may take weeks or months to cause noticeable damage to your lawn.
Lime can burn your grass if too much dust stays behind on the blades after you apply it. Be sure to water your lawn after using lime to remove any excess dust from grass blades.
Is Your Crawl Space Making Your House Stink?
FAQ
Is it safe to put lime around your house foundation?
Enough lime can leach from a foundation to effect soil pH when the foundation is relatively new. Once it has weathered for a while, the danger is slight unless excess concrete has been directly dumped into the soil near the foundation – a surprisingly common practice.
What does lime do around your house?
Lime is one of the most underused, versatile and beautiful building materials. Unlike Portland cement it breathes, helping reduce mold and damp.
Will lime eliminate odor?
How do you dry out a crawl space under a house?
To dry out a crawl space under a house, remove standing water, use a dehumidifier and fans to circulate air, and consider installing a vapor barrier and potentially a sump pump to prevent future moisture buildup.
Is hydrated lime safe?
Hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) is safer than quicklime (calcium oxides) or chlorinated lime (CaOCl2) but is still highly caustic. When in contact with the body, it can cause skin burns, blindness, and lung irritation.
Can I put lime under my house?
No. Putting lime under your house will compromise the air quality around your home. Research indicates that lime dust can cause burns and tissue damage when in contact. It would be best to abide by some safety guidelines when cleaning sewage with lime. That way, you’ll ensure the safety of yourself, your family, your pets, and the environment.
Is lime dust safe?
(Things to Know) Using lime under your house or in crawlspaces is a controversial topic Some sources claim it is perfectly safe and effective for controlling moisture, odors, and pests However, other experts argue that lime dust poses health risks and compromises indoor air quality.
What are the disadvantages of using lime under a house?
Potential Downsides of Lime Critics of using lime under houses and in crawlspaces point to these drawbacks: Hydrated lime is caustic and can cause skin burns and eye damage through direct contact. Even short-term inhalation of lime dust may lead to respiratory irritation or lung damage. Long-term exposure can cause chronic lung disease.
How do I protect myself when using lime?
So you do need to protect yourself when using lime. But not to the level of a radiation suit. You also need to protect kids and animals. A mask (lime can damage the lungs if you breathe in enough of the dust). Goggles. If lime gets in your eye it’s bad news. Protective gloves. You really want tough water/chemical resistant gloves.
Can you put lime on concrete?
The lime solution will not penetrate the concrete and may become dust that reduces air quality in your home. For metal surfaces, apply and remove as with concrete. For wood, apply with a brush as you would paint and allow it to penetrate. There is no need to wipe off, as it will continue to prevent mold growth.