What's That Musty Smell?

If your home has a basement or a crawl space, you might be wondering why it often smells musty.

The damp, musty smell is from mould and mildew growth which release a foul scent. The mould and mildew are caused by excess moisture in your home.

What causes excess moisture in our homes?

Moisture occurs naturally in homes just by us living in them; bathing, cooking and cleaning releases moisture. For these reasons, most homes are equipped with exhaust fans to help expel the moisture.

However, if you’re taking steps to eliminate the normal moisture in your home and it still smells musty, it might be due to one or a combination of factors:

• Water penetrating the basement from the outside
• Plumbing problems
• Open sump pump pits
• Leaky roof
• Having a dirt floor crawl space

The odour is a sign that something is not right in your home.

The naturally cooler, darker and humid environment in your crawl space and some areas of your basement combined with less circulated air, means these places are prone to mould and mildew growth; which result in musty, stale and foul smells. Aside from the terrible smell, mould and mildew also have an impact on your health!

Even thorough cleaning of the affected areas will not permanently get rid of the smell - and remember, there may be unseen mould and mildew growth behind walls or in ceilings. Using a dehumidifier alone to battle moisture problems is not a solution either.

The problem needs to be appropriately addressed and the excess moisture eliminated permanently.

It’s very likely you experience a bad smell in your home if it has a dirt floor crawl space. Unsealed crawl spaces have environments that fluctuate with the weather and by design are highly susceptible to mould and mildew causing conditions.

We are the experts in “All Things Basementy”! We can help determine the source of excess moisture and offer a permanent solution for your basement or crawl space challenges.

Please reach out to us, we’d be pleased if you considered Advanced Basement Systems to eliminate the musty smell in your home; once and for all. Please call us at 226-706-243 or visit us online for a free inspection and estimate.