Walking into a room and smelling something strange is always off-putting. But it’s even worse when you aren’t sure where the smell is coming from — or why. Many homeowners assume that a musty odor is a sign of mold somewhere in their home, but that may not always be the case.
Let’s take a look at a few reasons your home might have that particular scent, what to do about it if it is mold, and how you can prevent the smell from coming back.
Breaking the Mold
A distinctly pungent and musty smell is something you might immediately associate with mold. Indeed, mustiness is often caused by excess moisture in your home, which itself can cause rapid mold growth. Therefore, even if the issue is only water damage, it’s still vital to have a mold remediation professional inspect the area to see if any of it is lurking behind your walls.
In actuality, though, there is another issue that can cause mustiness: a lack of ventilation. Stale air can often lead to mold growth, just like excess moisture.
But even then, the presence of the smell doesn’t necessarily mean that mold is the reason behind it. The bottom line is that a musty smell alone doesn’t immediately spell mold growth. But it does mean that your home likely has all the ingredients to become a petri dish for a colony, and that’s something you’ll want to take care of sooner rather than later.
How to Know If It’s Mold or Not
If you can see something that clearly looks like mold, that’s actually fortunate. Many homeowners can’t see mold, as it often hides in places that aren’t looked at very often or are impossible to check without special tools (or by going the extreme approach and taking a sledgehammer to your drywall).
Visible signs of mold typically include black, green, or white patches, usually on walls or ceilings. Take a closer look at any areas of your home that are most prone to accumulating excess moisture, like your bathrooms. It’s also an excellent time to check the areas of your home you don’t usually visit, like crawl spaces or attics, as they may have sustained water damage you aren’t aware of, creating the perfect home for mold and its musty odor.
If you can’t see anything akin to mold, your next step should be to check for leaks. A leaky pipe, for instance, could lead to mold growth beneath your floorboards. You’ll still need a professional to confirm that mold is the problem causing the unpleasant odor, but if you’re experiencing the smell and notice a leak somewhere in your home, there’s a good chance that’s what’s causing it.
It’s Mold: What Now?
If you’ve determined that you are, in fact, dealing with mold, your primary task is to address whatever’s feeding it. That’s usually moisture-related, which should lead you to invest in fixing leaks or installing a dehumidifier. These steps might not eliminate the mold immediately, but they’re a good way to slow things down while you come up with a more substantial plan.
Once the moisture problem is under control, you can address the mold growth itself. You can often handle a small bit of mold with household cleaners, but professional mold remediation will always be the best route for eliminating it. That’s because these teams have specialty tools that ensure mold doesn’t come back and are capable of determining whether there’s actually more to the issue than meets the eye.
Perhaps the biggest reason to call for professional remediation, though, is how easy it is to accidentally spread the infestation if you DIY. Medium or large-size colonies are incredibly challenging to get rid of yourself. Most people will spread the spores to other parts of their home, making a manageable situation into something much bigger. Don’t risk making the problem worse; call for help when needed.
With the mold being taken care of, the last thing to tackle is getting rid of that musty smell. You can use room deodorizers, candles, or whatever else you like to freshen the air. Opening windows can help with ventilation as well.
Making Your Mold Old News
A musty smell should always be a red flag that clues you into something wrong within your home. It’s possible that the underlying isn’t mold (or is not mold yet, at least), but regardless, it’s essential that you take the proper steps to determine what the problem is so you can rid your house of the smell for good.
If you need any assistance with your mold protection or remediation efforts, you can always rely on mold remediation professionals. Your future residents will thank you and be glad they’ve selected your building as a place to call home.
