Access

• A crawl space allows for complete access to the foundation for repairs and maintenance that cannot normally be achieved through regular slab foundations. This access is a positive for those with older houses or foundations that might fall into disrepair. Plumbing and electrical lines can also run through the crawl space, allowing better access for repair. If leaks happen from these pipes, they occur under the house, rather through the first floor, which causes less damage to a home.
  
  

Heating

• A crawl space in a home allows the air that resides there to create its own form of insulation. Concrete slab creates a colder floor and house because it transmits the cold from the ground below directly into the house. Furnaces and hot water heaters can be placed in this area to keep the house warm and to keep pipes fro freezing.
  
  

Cost

• The cost of creating a crawl space can be greater than that of making a concrete slab foundation, which is a downside. Concrete slabs also protect the pipes contained within them. Pouring the concrete can be done by one contractor or by an individual who knows what he is doing. A crawl space, however, requires several workers to complete as well as more materials, leading to significantly higher cost.
  
  

Moisture Retention

• Moisture retention in a crawl space is harmful to the concrete in the crawlspace, and the mold that results from it can harm those who reside in the home. If there is no sunlight on the house or surrounding area, the concrete can retain moisture throughout the year and eventually damage the structure.