Many people wonder what causes their house or building to smell musty. Musty smells are indicative of water intrusion and/or mold growth within a home or building.
Signs of Water Intrusion Include:
- water stains along the floor or walls
- occasional pooling of small amounts of water or moisture on the floor
- visual spotting or mold growth on porous materials (wood, sheetrock, cardboard boxes, etc.)
- Efflorescence (a condition that produces white or gray ash on the walls) and spalling (flaking, peeling, or popping of a wall’s surface)
Possible Causes of Musty Smells:
Basement - Causes of musty odors depend upon the location in your home or building. If the smell is coming from your basement, it could be the result of ground water, flooding, a leaky foundation, a pipe burst or excess humidity.
Attic - Musty smells in an attic may have been caused by a roof leak, ice dam, bathroom exhaust venting moisture, or a pan overflow (if your HVAC unit is located in the attic)
Bathroom - If the smell is present in a bathroom, it could be due to poor exhaust ventilation, moisture buildup, a pipe break (possibly inside the wall), or a tub or toilet overflow.
Other room - Excessive rainfall, clogged or poorly drained gutters, and the sudden thaw of frozen gutters can all contribute to water buildup, and subsequent water intrusion. If the musty odor is located in another room of your home or space in your building, it was likely caused by one of those factors.
When water damage isn’t dried and treated properly, moisture evaporates increasing humidity indoors and creating mold.
If mold is visible in the musty smelling area, AirCare Services specializes in mold remediation and removal services.
If the area in question has no visible mold, an indoor air quality test should be performed to identify the source of the musty odors. Click here to learn more about AirCare’s indoor air quality testing services!
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