5 Easy Steps to Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your House

Moldy walls in a basement creating musty odors.

Musty odors come from a number of things, like mold growth or damp carpet. One thing you can be certain of is that, if you’re smelling musty odors in your house, you’re likely dealing with a moisture problem.

Here, we’ll look at 5 easy steps to get rid of musty odors. If you have a basement or crawl space, these steps are particularly useful. Let’s dive in!

5 Steps to Address Musty Smells in Your House

When your house has musty smells, there are several solutions to the problem. You can keep musty odors at bay with a mix of professional help and DIY methods.

Eliminating moisture, the root cause of musty smells is the best way to create a permanent fix. Here are five ways to get rid of musty smells in your house:

1. Schedule a Professional Inspection

The first step in identifying the cause of mold and musty smells in your house is to contact a professional. A professional inspection reveals the source of the odors and moisture, allowing for a customized repair strategy.

2. Waterproof Your Basement

If you have a basement, this step applies to you. Basement waterproofing stops moisture and, by extension, musty odors. Waterproofing your basement means installing several water management tools to create one, cohesive system.

Keep in mind that this is a job for professionals. Here’s what they install:

AFS crew placing a vapor barrier on a basement wall to keep moisture out.

Basement Sump Pumps: These pumps remove excess water from the basement to prevent flooding and water accumulation.
Dehumidifiers: Dehumidifiers reduce basement humidity levels and minimize the condensation that contributes to mold and musty smells in your house.
Interior Drainage Systems: Adequate drainage systems, including French drains, channel water away from the basement’s interior to prevent seepage.
Vapor Barriers: These durable liners are installed to block moisture seepage through basement walls and floors.
Anti-freeze Discharge Attachments: Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to burst and flood your basement. Anti-freeze discharge line attachments ensure that your pipes function even in the coldest weather.

3. Install Crawl Space Encapsulation

For homes with a crawl space, encapsulation is a waterproofing method that keeps moisture out and controls the environment below your home.

Crawl space encapsulation also improves air quality inside the home, enhances energy efficiency, and often reduces energy bills. It’s best handled by professionals. Here are the tools used in encapsulation:

Crewmen placing a vapor barrier in a crawl space.

Crawl Space Vapor Barriers: These thick plastic sheets are placed on the crawl space floor to prevent ground moisture infiltration.
Crawl Space Insulation: Crawl space insulation is installed on the walls or floor joists to trap heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, prevent temperature fluctuations inside the home, and enhance energy efficiency.
Drainage Systems: Drainage systems utilize pipes and a sump pump to gather and expel standing water or excess moisture from the crawl space floor.
Sealing Vents and Doors: This approach traps conditioned air from your house inside the crawl space, potentially improving energy efficiency and reducing energy bills.
Beam Reinforcement: Crawl space beam reinforcement strengthens weakened or damaged beams, enhances structural integrity, and prevents sagging floors.

4. Get Professional Mold Removal

Person in protective gear soda blasting mold in a crawl space.

Professional mold removal is better rather than DIY mold removal for several reasons. DIY efforts often spread mold spores, resulting in growth in other areas. Mold can be toxic, causing health risks and worsening asthma and other conditions. Professional mold remediation, using chemical-free soda blasting techniques, is a permanent mold removal solution that ensures your home remains mold-free.

5. Use an Air Purifier

An air purifier is a powerful way to get rid of musty smells in your home. These odors often stem from mold and mildew, which thrive in damp, poorly ventilated-spaces. By cycling the air and filtering out particles, an air purifier helps to reduce the presence of mold spores that contribute to musty smells.

Many air purifiers are equipped with activated carbon filters, which effectively absorb odors and purify the air of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), substances that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Regular use of an air purifier in areas prone to moisture can freshen the air and create a healthier living environment.

What Causes Musty Smells in Your House?

Numerous factors contribute to musty smells in your house, including leaky windows and plumbing pipes, poor ventilation, condensation, and inadequate airflow. Basements and crawl spaces are particularly vulnerable to mold growth, mildew, and musty odors due to their dark, often damp environments, worsened by the stack effect.

The stack effect draws humid air from the foundation into the basement, releasing it through the upper floors and spreading musty smells throughout the home. Recognizing signs of mold and musty smells in your house prevents further damage and potential structural deterioration.

AFS Helps Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your House

AFS inspector using flashlight in a crawl space.

Addressing musty smells in your house is about more than just enhancing comfort. It creates a healthier environment for your family and improves energy efficiency throughout the home.

Removing mold, eliminating moisture, and installing waterproofing methods address the underlying causes of musty odors and ensure your home remains safe, healthy, and dry. Contact AFS today for a free inspection to create a healthier home.

Schedule Free Inspection

Related Resources

5 Ways to Get Rid of Musty Basement Smells

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5 Benefits of Waterproofing Basement Walls

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Why Every Basement Needs a Sump Pit

The sump pit is essential for keeping your basement in good condition and safe.

Ted Dryce

Content Writer

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.