It is difficult to know when a strange smell is actually something to worry about. Each home of course has its own unique scent. And that doesn’t mean that there is any problem. But normally those scents are pleasant. When there is a musty odor that just doesn’t seem to go away then it could be an indication of a problem.
How can you identify a musty smell? It is kind of the smell you get when you do washing and then forget some semi-wet clothing in the dryer for a day or two. That smell of musty clothing is to be expected when there is a reason for it, like the example of the clothing. But when it lingers in your home without any obvious cause to the smell then it could be an indication of a bigger problem.
Water that seeps into the walls, floors or cupboards and other areas of your home, and then doesn't dry out properly can create the musty smell in your house. And when that water isn’t dealt with it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. And that can lead to incredibly dangerous mold growth.
Moisture inside the home might not sound like something that could be really dangerous. But it can be, even before it becomes life threatening. If your family is often sick and they don’t get better even with medicine, combined with the smell, it can be yet another indication of a big water problem in your home.
The only way to fix the problem is to get the water damage treated and make sure that any water or mold is cleared from your home. For that you will need expert advice. To make sure that it is all cleaned up and nothing remains.
But you might be thinking that there couldn’t be mold in your house, since there have been no big storms or other major catastrophes. Sadly storms aren’t the only problem that could create moisture in the home. Other problems could also come from leaks in your water pipes or leaks on a toilet that can all cause problems. Sprinklers that have come on could be another factor that could have led to moisture on the floors or furniture. Clogged gutters or blocked drains can also lead to moisture in your walls or in your roof.
And then finally a leaking water heater can also be a big cause of water damage. Defective water heaters can leak small amounts of water that can cause damage over time. On the other hand it can also suddenly break and leak all of the water inside the water heater out into your house. Damaging anything in the way of the water stream. Events like that can be incredibly destructive.
But when something like that happens then you will know about it. Smaller leaks can be even more dangerous since they can happen completely without your knowledge. Fixing a problem that you know happened is much easier than fixing a problem that you have no idea is even there. A musty smell could be your only indication of lingering water damage. Don’t just ignore it and hope it goes away.
It is still possible to fix it. Our water damage experts can direct you in the right direction and advise you on the best course of action to make your house completely safe again.