Nobody likes coming home to a musty smelling home. That distinctive ‘musty’ smell is typically caused by mold spores – which is a result of excess moisture. Not only is it an unpleasant smell, but it could be a sign that the air in your home is unhealthy (exposure to mold spores can lead to allergic reactions or serious respiratory issues). This is why you need to find the source as soon as possible. The good news is that once you identify the source, it’s often easy to fix the problem. In this post, we’ll take a walk through five of the most common causes of a musty home and how to get your home smelling fresh again.
Cause #1: Hidden leaks
Leaking water from pipes or rainwater/groundwater seepage could be causing hidden mold growth, resulting in a musty smell. Look out for clues: peeling paint, warped baseboards, bubbling drywall or stains on ceilings and walls. Make sure to also check under sinks, around toilets or behind washing machines for leaks.
Solution: Patch up the leak as soon as possible and dry out any damp materials. Moldy and crumbling drywall or warped timber may need to be replaced. Proactively prevent leaks by replacing old corroded plumbing and sealing cracks in walls or roofs.
Cause #2: Damp carpets
Carpets can start to stink if they get wet and are not quickly dried. Spillages, flooding, pet accidents or even stepping on carpets with wet shoes can introduce moisture, which can get deep into the fibers. Mold and bacteria can then start to grow in these damp areas of carpet.
Solution: Use a carpet cleaner and anti-microbial solution to deep clean your carpets and get rid of any mold. If your carpets remain stained or continue to stink, consider replacing them. Prevent future musty carpets by taking shoes off indoors, drying spillages straight away with towels or switching to hard floors.
Cause #3: Wet clothes
Wet laundry forgotten in a washer or piled on the floor will start to sour quickly. The same goes for wet towels or other fabrics that haven’t been dried out properly.
Solution: Don’t leave clothes sitting in the washing machine! If you forget and they start to smell, rewash them with hot water. To prevent laundry getting moldy, hang it up straight away or use a dryer. Make sure to also hang up wet towels or sweaty workout clothes – don’t leave them scrunched on the floor or in a gym bag.
Cause #4: Dirty HVAC
Mold and bacteria can collect in HVAC systems – especially those that are old or rarely cleaned. Every time the system runs, you’ll end up pumping out musty air around the house. Try sniffing your vents to see if this is where the smell is coming from.
Solution: Your HVAC system may need to be cleaned, repaired or replaced. Consider hiring a HVAC maintenance company to take a look. It could be a simple case of replacing air filters, or you may need to invest in a new system if your current one is ancient and faulty.
Cause #5: Humid air
Too much humidity in the air could cause condensation to collect on surfaces, leading to mold growth and musty odors. You could live in a very humid area or your home may be poorly ventilated. Either way, it’s something you can fix!
Solution: Start by ventilating your home – open windows on dry days or use extractor fans to pump out stale air. Alternatively, consider buying a dehumidifier and run this in any rooms where you’re getting a lot of condensation. This will get rid of excess moisture in the air and prevent mold growth. An air purifier could meanwhile help to get rid of any current mold spores in the air (some dehumidifiers double up as air purifiers).
Making your home smell good again
Ultimately, beating musty odors is all about tackling moisture in your home. Good ventilation and regular cleaning will also help. Don’t just try to cover up bad smells with scented candles or air fresheners – identify the source so that you can eliminate this source and make the air healthy.
