3 Things To Do When You Smell Musty, Moldy Odors In Your Home
Your home doesn't have to go through a flood or become flooded by a busted water line for mold to occur. Mold can begin to grow just about any dark, damp area. If you've been smelling that musty, moldy odor that comes when mold has taken over an area of the home, you have mold growing, and it's time to do something about it. Here, you'll find a few tips to help you identify where the smell is coming from and what you can do about it.
Follow Your Nose
Get a piece of chalk and talk a slow trip around your home, following your nose to the musty, moldy odors coming from somewhere. As you search, check the areas underneath the cabinets, under and around the windows and doors, and around the areas of your chimney. These areas are highly prone to mold growth and should be inspected often.
If you find an area where the smell is strong, mark it with a piece of chalk so you can quickly find it later.
Look for Water Damage
Water damage will show eventually. Sometimes, when the moisture is seeping into the home behind the walls, under the floors, or above the ceiling, the mold begins to grow inside the wall and it can take several weeks or months for the damage to show through to the interior side of the surface.
Take some time to look for any signs of water damage. This could be the darkening of natural woods, the swelling of pressed wood or drywall, the discoloration of the building material, or the separation of the window from the seams around it.
Call the Professionals
If you've been smelling the problem but have no idea where the problem lies, it's time to call in the professionals. This is not one of those things that you just ignore and eventually the smell will go away and you can go about living your normal life — this is a problem that will only continue to worsen until you find out where the moisture is coming from and where the mold is growing and then you put a stop to both.
Unfortunately, this isn't always an easy task. It takes time, knowledge, equipment, and the right supplies to kill the mold once and for all. Talk with your local mold removal experts to find out more about eliminating the mold from your home before it makes you and your family sick.
For more information, contact a mold remediation team.