That unpleasant musty smell some people describe it as akin to a wet dog in is the calling card of mold and or mildew.
Attic smells musty.
The musty smell that you may be smelling inside of your home is an odor that is often described as having a stale moldy or damp odor and usually impaired by mold or mildew.
The spores of these ubiquitous fungi drift through the air until they.
Moisture feeds mold and mildew growth.
Microbial volatile organic compounds mvoc are stinky gasses produced by attic mold.
Unfortunately attic are a prime hot spot for mold and mildew as the dark poorly ventilated confines of an attic create an ideal environment for fungal growth.
Nothing beats proper ventilation so ensure that there are ways for sunlight to reach your basement plenty of windows should do the trick.
The musty mold odor can creep down from your attic and take up residence in other areas of your home.
Common sources of musty smells in homes and basements water leaks outside seeping in.
If you notice this type of odor coming from your attic there s a good chance the problem is caused by mold growth.
If you notice this type of odor coming from your attic avoid entering it unless you are wearing a proper respirator.
Such odors may even make the items or clothing you re storing in your attic smell as well.
Step 1 wear a pair of rubber gloves safety goggles a long sleeved shirt and pants to protect yourself from mold and its spores.
Little ventilation high humidity and darkness says bill carroll jr an adjunct professor of chemistry.
Depending on the particular type of mold its mvoc may exhibit a damp musky odor.
Rodent droppings urine.
What causes that old house smell three things that musty old houses have in common.
Musty dirty animal and moldy smells in an attic create an unpleasant surprise when you go up to this easily overlooked space in the house.
This odor takes time to develop inside of a home and is usually caused by dampness and moisture that is present within the environment.
What causes musty odors in the attic.
The first spots to check are the roof and attic but rain can seep into basements and crawlspaces too.
If your house smells musty after a rain and it s a significant difference rain is probably going where it shouldn t.
Musty mildewy smells are more than common in basements of houses especially old houses and one of the best ways to get rid of such smells is to control the ventilation in these areas.
Most likely it s the smell of mold and or mildew that s bad news because your ac is most likely distributing mold and or mildew spores throughout your home.