Does A Musty Smell Mean There Is Water Damage?

A musty smell in your house is an indication of potential water damage that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. Musty odors are often caused by water damage in walls, the basement, floors, under the sink, in the bathroom, and other areas of a home.

Whether the water damage is caused by burst pipes, leaking appliances, floods, or clogged gutters, it's important to take immediate action to eliminate the problem before it worsens. Prolonged exposure to musty odors can cause a variety of health effects nasal congestion, eye irritation, lung problems, and more.

How to Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your House

Find Out What’s Causing the Musty Smell

Sometimes the source of musty odors may not be obvious, so you’ll have to look around your home carefully to identify the source of the problem. For instance, it’s easy to determine the source of a musty smell if you recently had a burst pipe that flooded your living room or kitchen. However, finding the source of a musty smell caused by a leaking pipe located underneath your walls or underneath your home's foundation can be a challenge.

To find the source of a musty smell, be sure to look into the common places where water damage may be hiding. Look into places like the basement, attics, crawlspaces, bathroom, and behind the drywall.

Water-damaged materials such as carpeting, wood, drywall, and sheet rock can produce musty smells if they’re not cleaned and dried quickly.

Address The Source of the Problem

If the source of the musty smell is something you can fix such as repairing a broken water pipe or fixing a leaking appliance, ensure you address the source of the smell so that it doesn’t come back in the future.

The next step is to remove damaged materials and dry the affected area. You may have to hire a water damage restoration company to help you out.

Remove the Mold

Mold and mildew are the main causes of a musty smell in a house. If your house smells musty, then it is most likely due to the presence of mold and mildew. Mold removal should be left to an experienced mold removal company that is equipped with advanced mold removal equipment to get the job done. After removing the mold and mildew, they will deodorize the area to eliminate the unpleasant smell.

If a musty smell is coming from your bathroom, it's a good idea to install bathroom exhaust fans that help to vent hot and moist air that builds up in your bathroom.

While it’s easy for many people to ignore signs of water damage thinking they will go away on their own, ignoring musty odors in your house can lead to further problems down the road.

If you’ve been searching for a dependable water damage company to help you with water damage restoration, call Tidal Wave Response.