A musty smell in basement rooms can ruin even the nicest renovation or living space. If you’ve noticed unusual odors coming from the basement, it might be time to call in the professionals—as it might be a sign of dangerous allergens like mold and mildew. If this is your first time dealing with musty smell removal, there are a few things you should know before getting started.
What Causes a Musty Smell in Basements?
Before we get into how to get rid of musty smells in your basement, it’s important to discuss what causes them.
Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) have a low odor threshold, meaning it doesn’t take a large amount of material to create a smell. Even a small amount of mildew can make your entire basement musty. But not all mildew or mold problems are small and the longer they sit, the more they may spread. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that “odor is not a reliable test for the quality of indoor air.” An odor is an indicator of a problem, but it takes a professional to assess the true scope of the damage or hazards.
Mold and mildew spores drift through the air until they find a damp, dark, and warm environment—conditions commonly found in basements—that allows them to multiply and thrive.
Common Causes of Musty Odors
Think about the parts of your home near water, that produce water, or feel humid. These spaces could be anywhere in your home, from windowsills with potted plants to water sources in bathrooms, machines in laundry rooms, or refrigerators and trash cans in your kitchen. Basements are especially vulnerable, as they often have low light and low air circulation. These areas let mold and mildew spores thrive and multiply, which can result in an unpleasant odor.
How to Identify a Serious Odor Problem
Basement musty smell removal can be tricky because in most cases, it’s not just about the smell. The scent is often just an indicator of a larger problem. If one of your kids accidentally left their pizza unopened in the basement, you can probably solve that odor problem with a candle and some aerosol spray. By contrast, those tools would only mask (not solve) musty basement smells and could lead you into a false sense of health safety.
Can Musty Smells Affect My Health?
You can’t rely on your nose to tell you the whole story. In fact, if you rely only on your sense of smell, you may put yourself at risk. If someone has some degree of impaired smell, they’re more likely to experience a hazardous event, such as eating spoiled food, letting things on the stove catch fire, letting mildew or mold to fester, or not noticing smoke or gas or smoke smells in the house.
The longer a musty smell is around, the greater your health risk. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) cautions that extended exposure to these compounds can cause a variety of health effects.
When to Call for Professional Help
In most cases, you should seek a professional assessment to understand the scope of the basement musty smell removal. Even if the source of the musty smell is gone and the area is clean, there may be more work to do. Musty odors can cause collateral damage, and the scent may have affected your carpets, upholstered furniture, or any number of porous surfaces.
SERVPRO®’s specialized odor removal and cleaning services address the holistic problem and help reduce the chance of smells returning. Through such methods as hard surface cleaning, deodorization, remediation, and textiles cleaning, our team can help get your space odor free.