Has your crawl space been emitting strange odors? There could be a number of reasons why, including unchecked water damage. When there is heavy rainfall, it can push water into the crawl space through cracks in the foundation or walls. No matter what is causing the foul smell, you will want to eliminate it. Smells can seep through cracks in your flooring and into your living space. To help you eliminate the issue, we have created an outline of the main causes of musty smells in crawl spaces and ways to eliminate them.
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Main Causes of Musty Smells in Your Crawl Space
Musty smells in a crawl space are annoying to deal with, especially when you don’t know what is causing them. When looking at the list below, it’s important to remember that it could be more than one thing causing the musty smells under your house. That is what makes an accurate diagnosis so important. Otherwise, you could be dealing with a recurring issue.
- Groundwater drives smelly minerals in the soil to the crawl space
- Stagnant standing water
- Mold and mildew build-up
- Rodent droppings
- Deceased animals
- Sewage leaks in plumbing lines
The musty odor you’re detecting from the crawl space is likely a sign of water damage or moisture build-up. Although they may sound the same, water damage and moisture build-up are two separate occurrences.
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In a traditional crawl space, there is typically no ventilation to help it dry out. This sets up the perfect scenario for moisture build-up. If you notice a bad smell coming from under your house, you may need to hire a professional to perform an inspection for water damage. A licensed technician will be able to confirm if your crawl space is well-ventilated.
7 Steps to Eliminate Smells In Your Crawl Space
- Use a sump pump to remove groundwater and flooding
- Ensure gutter and downspouts are clear to help prevent crawl space flooding
- Clean out the crawl space
- Install a heavy-duty moisture barrier or new damp-proofing material
- Remove mold and fungus
- Clear out all rodents and pests (and conditions that attract them, like water, food, insulation, etc.)
- Contact a professional water damage restoration technician to treat sewage leaks and effects
Enclosed Crawl Spaces and Odors
Enclosed crawl spaces already have built-in water and moisture protection. If you’re experiencing a strange smell from your enclosed crawl space, it’s likely because the stagnant air is trapped. With no way for fresh air to get in and for foul odors to escape, musty smells can easily build up. The solid materials trapped in the vapor barrier can generate ammonia, which is directly correlated with the pH level in the soil. The higher the pH level, the stronger the odor.
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How Outside Air Can Help Eliminate Odors in a Crawl Space
Foul smells can linger if you don’t allow fresh outdoor air to enter. Imagine you’re cooking something in the kitchen with all the windows closed. If the food burns, smoke and bad smells will quickly fill the room. To get rid of them, you need to open up a window to allow them to escape. The same concept applies to musty odors in a crawl space. You need to ventilate your crawl space to eliminate musty smells.
Crawl Space Water Restoration Services
If you’re tired of that strange smell coming from the crawl space, it’s time to find out what is causing it. Our team of professionals provide dependable water damage restoration services in Flower Mound, TX and other areas. Our technicians have the equipment and skills necessary to remove excess moisture in your crawl space.
Flooding from heavy rain, water leaks, and broken sprinklers can all allow water to enter your crawl space. When that happens, you shouldn’t wait around to let it dry out by itself. You need the help of a water restoration specialist at Dry Force.
Dry Force offers fast and reliable crawl space water restoration and repair services for homes and businesses in your local area. No matter what day or time you call, Dry Force specialists can help. Give our team a call by phone at (877) 589-7504 to book an appointment. Our priority is to help you recover, no matter the size of the loss. We will address the root of the problem and provide solutions that will get your crawl space back to its pre-loss condition.
