Is your crawl space musty or damp? If so, the smell can actually seep up through the floor into the room above. Most musty smells are caused by persistent leaks that leave your crawl space damp. Over time, the water can lead to mold and bacteria that cause odors. We cover how to remove a crawl space smell. Plus, we look at the common causes of musty odors.
Why Does My Crawl Space Smell Musty?
Most crawl space smells are caused by excess water. Whether it’s a leaky pipe, cracked foundation, or a flood, water can cause musty or even foul smells.
Since it is part of the foundation for your home, musty odors can come up through the floor. Although this may happen right away, it’s more likely that it can take days or even weeks before you can smell crawl space odors.
Aside from water, animals will also cause smells. Whether they are dead or even still living in your crawl space, they can cause intense odors as well.
Water is usually the cause of musty odors or damp smells, especially if they develop after rain or a flood. Animals are more likely the cause if smells develop suddenly and are extremely awful. If your crawl space smells, you should check for signs of water or animals.
If you have standing water, you can dry out your crawl space on your own. However, you can also call a crawl space water removal company.
Since animals can spread disease, you should also have a biohazard cleanup company deal with smells from animals.
How To Keep Crawl Space Smells From Coming Back
While the steps above will get rid of musty and damp crawl space smells, they can return unless you fix the water problem. Here are a few tips on how to keep your crawl space smelling fresh and clean:
- Add vents so moisture and humidity can escape
- Use a dehumidifier to pull moisture out of the air
- Put a moisture barrier down on the ground to block out water and smells
- Waterproof your foundation to keep out water and moisture
Tired of musty crawl space odors? Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a free quote fast, affordable crawl space cleanup and water removal.
