Mold & Musty Smell diagnosis & cure questions & answers:

Frequently asked questions (and answers) about how to find and get rid of the stink of mold or MVOCs in buildings.

This article series describes the common sources and causes of moldy and musty odors in buildings. We explain the causes & cures of moldy smells & odors in buildings. This website provides articles on to diagnose, test, identify, and cure moldy musty odors in buildings.

Moldy Musty Odor Questions & Answers

These questions & answers about moldy odors or smells or MVOCs were posted originally at MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS - be sure to review the advice given there.

On 2018-05-04 by (mod) - how do I find mold in my building?

Using the search box above to look for "how to find mold" returns the best article on that topic

HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND

On 2017-09-09 by Anonymous

How to find mold

On 2017-05-30 by (mod) -

Anon,

Please try the search box just above, and search for the phrase

How to find mold

And you will see a series of articles on visual inspection and techniques for deciding where hidden mold is most likely - such as where there may have been leaks into a ceiling or wall cavity

On 2017-05-29 by Anonymous

How to locate mold source.

Question: mold smells like wood

(Nov 30, 2011) Please help! said:

I don't find any info anywhere else, so I ask my question here:

Is there some mold that smells like wood? We have a lot wood (floor, roof, doors...) in here... Our apartment is 20 years old, so those should not smell so much anymore? The smell has been bothering me since we moved in.

If I've been somewhere for a day or more, when I get back home I can clearly smell something weird "woody" smell in the air. I cannot find the actual source of the smell and my nose gets used to it in 5-10 minutes.

We have sauna(a real sauna! :D) here, and smells a bit the same, but the bathroom door stays closed most of the day, so it cannot come from there... What can it be? Is not "musty" or "wet" smell.

Thank you for answering

Reply:

(Dec 13, 2011) Trudy Duffman said:

Just a comment. Ensure that you do not have Boxwood shrubs outside under the windows. Those bushes smell just like cat urine and especially if trimmed or when it rains or the wind blows.

Question: odors when it snows

(Dec 29, 2011) Jane said:

I have a question: I live in Southeast Michigan. This fall myself and several people I know have had strange allergic reactions. From hives to rashes, especially on the face, eyes and neck, or severe sinus issues with asthma like breathing difficulties. When it gets cold or snows it goes away, when we get warm temps 40 and above it comes back. I suspect allergic reaction mold but never had reactions like this.I also notice a smell of something like "burnt-dirt". Especially in wooded areas. When I smell this smell I usually start having reaction shortly after.

It is only outside. This smell I have also smelled in the past when passing an auto industrial plant. Could this be mold? What type might it be? I don't live near an auto plant but do have wooded like area behind my house. Recently I have been noticing it now coming when the heat comes on too. This is new and up till Dec. did not smell it in the house. Any help???

Reply:

CHeck first for blocked plumbing vents

Question: moldy christmas decorations smell

(Dec 30, 2011) debbie said:

I have a new house and moved in 6 months ago. Christmas decorations smelled moldy when opening the plastic containers. Upon looking further I noticed white moldy looking spots on the concrete garage floor under the metal shelving where these containers are stored. These same containers were used in the old garage where I lived for 22 years and never had this smell. Do I have a problem?

Reply:

Debbie, paper boxes and some similarly mold-friendly materials can of course support mold growth. The white spots on the garage floor may be effloresence, not mold - search InspectApedia for "effloresence" to see photos to identify that material. But since efflorescence indicates moisture, that supports mold growth on other organic surfaces like paper or wood.

I can't say if you have a problem. But I'd clean up moldy stuff or throw it away, and I'd fix the water entry problem.

Question: terrible mildew odor

(June 21, 2012) Sue said:

I am renting a ranch home. I have been there 3 months, after the first month there was a terrible mildew odor in the air as well as from bathtub faucets. I called landlord, they poured some sort of bacterial cleaner down drain. The odor is much better, but every so often I smell it. I decided to perform a mold test and have it sent to a laboratory. These are the results, cladosoporium 12, rhoboturula 2, non-sporulating fungi 1, yeast 7. Do you think there would be any problems staying here until year lease over or recommend to move?

Reply:

Sue, since true mildew only grows on living plants, what you smell, indoors, is certainly a moldy odor in the air. Your mold test is basically unreliable since it relies on mold cultures - only 10% of molds will grow on culture, so in using a mold test kit alone, without an inspection, to screen a building for mold contamination, you risk being 90% wrong the moment you opened the box.

No one who is informed, competent, and honest, would try to guess at whether or not your home is safe, much less if you should move, based on such incomplete evidence. Take a look at
"MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE" for help in deciding if a proper investigation is cost justified in this case.

Question: old people smell

(Sept 20, 2012) jamie said:

I have lived in my house for over 25 years. We noticed a smell right away, but my ex thought it was the smell of "old people and their belongings." We painted before we moved in, but, unfortunately, after moving in, we "lost" the smell. Others never wanted to hurt our feelings and didn't say anything. It wasn't until about 10 years ago, I realized that the smell was still there. I have been trying to figure the source out, but am losing the battle. The smell is still there. What can I do?

Reply:

Jamie, try the odor diagnostic suggestions starting at

ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home

There could be a moisture-mold problem but just From what you have said I don't assume the odor is a mold issue.

Question: how to find hidden mold

(Dec 27, 2012) John said:

I'm working for a lady who bought a wooden hutch from China. It has a musty smell. The owner is allergic to the smell, so she asked if there was anything I could do. She also asked if this would just be a coverup for the smell. I mixed 1/2 white wine vinegar and 1/2 water and misted the piece. I'm wondering if this will only mask the problem or should it take care of the problem. I was thinking it may have been a tongue oil that they put on the piece to ship it. Anything you can help me out with would be much appreciated. Thank You!

(Mar 11, 2014) SteveB said:

I work in an industrial building, in 2012 we, all the employees started to notice a smell like, mold or mildew. The management in charge has had many companies in to try to tract down what the odor could be through air quality tests and mold tests without any luck. The odor is so bad that after being in the building for 5 to 10 minutes your clothing smells like mold, leather belts, shoes, wallets, and cell phone cases seem to pick up he smell the worst.

I have gone to work for an hour then left to a doctors appointment, when I walk into the doctors office the others in the office can smell me as aoon as I walk in the door. Whats funny is the people and staff say "it smells like there is mold here".

Another issue is that you can smell the mold smell when you walk in the building at work, but after about 10 seconds of being in the enviroment you cannot smell it anymore, you have to be out of the building for about 30 to 60 minutes before you can smell it. The building we are in does leak water whenever it rains or there is a snow melt, but we have been told they cannot find mold. Many symptoms have shown, fatigue, hives, mood swings, upper respitory problems, problem with throat. Some people seem more sensitive then others.

Reply:

Steve, if at the top of this article you click on "Click to Show or Hide Related Topics" you can find a link to our article titled

HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND

that should be helpful. Usually if you smell mold there is a mold reservoir somewhere; not all molds make notable odors but many do; so absence of odor is not proof of absence of mold; but the reverse, that if you smell mold there is mold, is usually reliable.

Air tests for mold, performed alone without a competent inspection and history taking are junk science.

Question: carpet smells like yeast

(Apr 27, 2014) Jan said:

I have a light patch on a carpet that smells like yeast. Can it be mould? How should I treat it?

Reply:

Jan I don't think one can say what a yeasty-smelling light patch on carpet is from just that description. Sure it could be mold, or a spill, or food or something else.

Clean the stained area.
Dry the carpet.
If you can do so without damaging the carpet, lift it and look at the back-side, paneling, subfloor for more information on what's going on.
Look for leaks or moisture that might be a source of mold growth.

Question: leaky roof, mold smells

(July 11, 2014) Brandie said:

Ive been renting my house for about a yr now the landlord said she would fix the roof from leaking about 3mths ago she hasnt so when it rains my roof leaks real bad on the insulation ive been smell mold in my room for awhile (its on the top floor) there is black spots on the ceiling in my living room and the basement really smells bad like mold i have childern in the home and i suffer from a cough that just wont go away i not for sure what to do the landlord knows the roof leaks but wont fix it any suggetion

Reply:

Brandie,

You might point out to the landlord that a leaky roof is

- likely to lead to more costly repairs from leak damage and mold

- failing to deliver a habitable rental space (probably violating your lease)

In writing

see HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS

Question: house leaves moldy smell on clothes

9/26/2014 Cynthia Klein said:

My home leaves a musty smell on all my clothes. Really notice it when I am away from home traveling and open my suitcase . . . strong musty smell.

I have not found any signs of mold or mildew. I have inspected outside the home, inside the home, and underneath the house. The smell is persistent in all weather, wet and dry.

I do not know who to hire to come out. One company wanted me to spend $18,000 to install a barrier that sealed under the house. Having never seen water under the house and have inspected it during all seasons, I felt like they were trying to sell me their product without it being the cure.

Is there someone out there that just "inspects only" without a product they are trying to sell?

Reply:

Cynthia

While indeed if there is a dirt crawl space below a home that can be a source of moisture and mold. Mold is not necessarily visually obvious, but is probably present if you smell mold. In any event certainly I would not pay thousands of dollars to "solve" what may be the wrong problem. First we need a reliable diagnosis of the problem.

Try the EXPERTS DIRECTORY at page top links, but also be sure to discuss your needs, concerns, and the experience of the inspector before hiring someone. Don't hire someone who just does an "air test" - what's needed is a careful interview, history of the building, and visual inspection, possibly supplemented by a test or two.

I agree that you should not hire an inspector who will also sell you the cure. Ask that question too.

See MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ?

Question: removed mold but smells remain

(July 27, 2015) Mike m said:
I have a brick & block 3/4" wood furing strip w/ 3/4"Fiberglas ,poly film ,drywall ,wood paneling . I removed all because I could smell mold. Now it smells more but I see no signs of mold the house was built in 1972

Reply:

No surprise as you've opened up walls and perhaps left exposed surfaces that absorbed MVOCs. You'll want to use fresh air, ventilation, cleaning, and perhaps a fungicidal sealant.

Question: get rid of moldy smell

(Aug 16, 2015) Marisol said:
The closet room bellow the steps smells moldy, what can be done to stop that

Reply: 3 steps to getting rid of a mold odor

Marisol you need to:

1. find the mold (possibly within wall cavities or on stored contents)

2. remove it

3. fix the moisture or leak source that caused the mold to grow there in the first place

External approaches such as deodorants or treatments are not going to accomplish those three steps.

Question: damp, musty smelling, concrete air ducts

(Aug 23, 2015) Richard Campbell said:
What can I do about damp, musty smelling, concrete ducts in my 60 year old rancher in North Vancouver? We had the ducts cleaned yesterday, but the smell is still there.

Reply:

Richard

If you refer to ducts in a concrete slab, see

SLAB DUCTWORK

If you are referring to "cement-asbestos transite ductwork" see

ASBESTOS TRANSITE DUCTWORK

If yo mean some other type of concrete duct I'd need more details about what is installed. Bascally you'll need to remove moisture, prevent moisture and leaks into the ductwork, and possibly to abandon such ductwork.

See more at: MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS

Question: wind pressure on walls causes mold smells to enter the living area

(Oct 8, 2015) alyson said:
So what can be done in the case where wind is pressurizing walls, causing moldy odors to leak into the living area from the wall? We are renters, living on the first floor, above a closed storage room in the basement. The storage area smells, and we believe the odor is coming up through the walls. Smell is definitely worse in windy weather (which we get a lot of).

So much so, that when we unscrewed a closed electrical panel (located in the living room, on an outside wall), gusts of stinky cold air blew inside. We've tried sealing holes in the storage room with gaps & cracks, but can't seem to solve the problem of the air in the wall cavity. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

The smell of mold in my south west facing rooms intensifies when I open the windows or door on that side even on a sunny day. There has been a chimney flashing leak but this smell developed after roof was reshingled . The chimney crown is flat and there is no rain cap but the landlord disagrees with me that this might be a source of any problem.

The mold smell along with an faint oil smell is also occurs when it is foggy. Why would it be worse when the windows are open. Is it something outside or to do with releasing spores you mention above. There is not visible mold in this room but the chimney is located here. We have hot water heating so it is not a duct issue. thank you so much, this site is very helpful.

Reply: find and remove the mold

Alyson:

Good but tough question.

Adding an air barrier requiring removing siding is very costly. Finding specific and bad air leaks might help.

The right repair is to find and remove the mold. In my OPINION, cover-up approaches might r4educe the apparent odor but might leave the building unsafe, particularly if there is a large mold reservoir and if there are vulnerable occupants such as asthmatic, infant, elderly, immune compromised.

You could try the experiment of putting the home interior under positive pressure with fresh outdoor air (fans blowing in); that will push air in the walls "out" rather than "in".

Or short of that you might at least stop chimney effects and updrafts (close upper floor windows) to reduce negative air pressure on lower floors. But none of such steps address the problem properly. Sorry.

It's odd to think that opening windows and doors increases a mold smell indoors; I speculate that either there is an outdoor mold source nearby or opening the windows is feeding an updraft or chimney effect that's increasing the mold odor by drawing it from lower areas in the building.

We need to find and remove the mold source. I don't think a missing rain cap would explain the whole mold problem, though it might contribute to moisture lower in the building and it might contribute to chimney draft issues (safety concern possibility).

Question: mold odors from ductwork

(May 27, 2016) Peggy said:
We are experiencing mold, musty smell coming thru duct work especially when fan is on to blow thru cool/heat air. We leave in a farm house that has a crawlspace, feel the proble is coming from there!! A newHeating/Air system was but in 4 years ago w/some duct work being replaced, later had all duct work professionally cleaned.

Also think it's coming from crawlspace bc water pipe broke. We thought if duct work was sealed we wouldn't have this problem. Have noticed some water in the return vent duct. Appreciate your help pretty sure that the illness that we are having is due to this problem

Reply:

The fly in the muck of that musty moldy smell problem, Peggy, is that if we don't clean up and dry out the crawl area we have a mold reservoir in the building that is going to travel upwards into the occupied space. Even if the ducts themselves are apparently sealed, the HVAC system may be drawing moldy air into a return air inlet or into an opening in a return duct. Ick.

Question: bad mold smell in house that sat empty

(June 26, 2016) Joel said:
I bought a house its a high ranch only half of the basement is not completely above grade, the house was empty for 10 years and it had a very bad smell, I stripped the house of all drywall, piping etc. Right now there is only wood framing. I called a company to check for mold and clean it out, they found mold and cleaned twice and treated the house with chemicals. My problem is that the smell is still there, I had 2 dehumidifiers running for a week and the smell does not go away. Please help.

Reply:

I'd bet a dollar that "they" haven't found all of the mold.

MAKING UP an example: if water entered an insulated/drywall-covered wall in a half -basement and over a decade produced a stunning mold reservoir therein, both the mold species growing in the building and MVOCs (that's what you smell) could certainly have invaded other wall or ceiling cavities nearby. Some judicious inspecting is needed, perhaps test cuts into nearby ceilings and walls.

(June 26, 2016) Joel said:
There are no walls un the entire house, its all gutted out, I only have outside wall framing and bo drywall so all is exposed.

Joel:

If no finish materials such as drywall nor insulation remain, that is the house was entirely gutted, and if odors remain, I suspect that either cleaning was incomplete or sealing of the cleaned surfaces was incomplete. In a very costly job such as the one you describe, typically AFTER gutting and cleaning, the contractor sprays all surfaces with a pigmented or clear fungicidal sealant.

Once those sealants have dried and the building is aired out with fresh air, when I've inspected such jobs, there was not a remaining odor.

Search InspectApedia.com for SMELL PATCH TEST KIT to see an inexpensive and very effective way to see which surfaces are continuing to omit mold odor. Start with any un-sealed concrete slabs or foundation walls;

Keep me posted.

Question: smelly water heater closet

(July 9, 2016) Mike said:
empty closet with nothing but a water heater, no visible sign of mold, but strong smell and metallic taste, what should I do?

Reply:

Mike I'm a little confused: you offer visual clues but then cite a taste. What are we investigating: water and leaks and mold into a building or its wall, ceiling, floor cavities or odors and tastes in the water supply?

If the latter, have the water tested, and try flushing and sanitizing the system.

Question: basement sprayed, mold smells remain

x(Aug 3, 2016) Faye said:
Hi. We're currently renovating a house. The basement had mold but everything was treated and there is no more mold at all, but there's still a mold smell. We had professionals coming down and trying to figure out what the smell is from. So far we've got no answers. Any clue?

Reply:

Treating by sprays etc. is not an effective mold remediation; you need to clean off or remove the mold, throw out stuff that can't be cleaned (such as drywall), and find and fix the leaks that caused the mold.

If you smell mold then the job was incomplete. Sounds as if your advisers are perhaps not up to the task?

Some suggestions on finding and removing mold are in this article series.

MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS

Comment:

(mod) said:
Re-posting without the advertisement that Annie included:

Annie rand said:
I have read every where that the Toxic black mold symptoms are really dangerous for humans to survive and also they can cause cancer as well.

Reply:

Unfortunately, Annie, "Everywhere" that you read may not have included unbiased, informed, objective data. There are harmless dark colored molds (Search InspectApedia.com for COSMETIC MOLD to read details) And among the millions of mold genera/species there are many that might be found growing on various materials in buildings in just about every color of the rainbow, some of which are potentially quite harmful.

So "Toxic black mold" is sometimes an accurate label but too often that term serves to scare people into spending money unwisely and worse, into improper procedures that do not find and fix the real problems in buildings.

Question: mold smell after leaky dishwasher

(Sept 20, 2016) Anonymous said:
Skirting board black

(Oct 19, 2016) lynn said:

The dishwasher in our rented home has been leaking for quite some time. it was replaced with a new one. The mildew/mold smell is so bad the cabinets and drawers sink disposal all smell. They came out and said the new dw was leaking as well. They disconnected it and turned off water to dw. The smell is still strong, the floor under linoleum is buckled and walking on it one can tell it sinks in around the dw.

They have been out to fix it however when I ran it once not only did the meter outside go crazy fast, but the smell came back with a vengeance. Another man just came out to try to fix it again, but I am scared to run it for fear the smell is going to be so bad, it is obvious to me there is a leak somewhere in the water pvc pipes. I want to make sure this is not danger to my family who should I call to make sure?

Reply:

Lynn,

Basically one needs to follow the water, find what got wet, and investigate those areas to see what materials need to be removed and disposed-of and what others can be cleaned and dried. From what you describe it sounds as if the subfloor has been badly water damaged.

Most rental contracts require the landlord to provide safe habitable housing with working appliances. Leaks, damaged subfloor, mold contamination need to be investigated and fixed.

Question: 15 tons of sand added under house, sprayed, found mold

(Nov 1, 2016) Helen said:

We have put 15 tons of sand under the house in the crawl space, had the wood inspected and treated. We then started to lay water vapor barrier under house. Then we found mold under the sub floor in the den that had been converted from a garage by a previous owner. We ripped out all flooring and the sheet rock. Then treated the room with mold remover.

We still have a mold smell and you can smell it on the outside of the house as well. We have sunk much money into the home and are at a loss as what to do. Very frustrating and considering selling the house as is, but would prefer to make it a home again. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Reply:

You'll need to find and physically remove mold by cleaning, or remove and dispose of soft items like insulation or drywall that can't be cleaned. Sprays alone are not likely to be effective.

MVOCs and thus moldy odors can also penetrate and persist in nearby soft goods including drywall.

On 2015-05-10 by (mod) - I had a home inspection and was told that there was mold in some parts of the basement. I dispute that claim.

JOhn

See

https://inspectapedia.com/mold/Mold_Recognition.htm for examples of what mold looks like.

Your description of reasons you don't expect to find mold is reasonable but incomplete.

A single leak event that wets some building materials, particularly insulation or drywall or other mold-friendly materials, if not dried completely in less than 48 hours, invites mold growth and contamination. Odors may or may not be present when there is a mold problem.

And mold may be present in significant quantity but be hard to find as it can be hidden in building cavities, insulation, behind paneling, on the cavity side of drywall, etc.

On the other hand, some home inspectors, either out of a wish to protect all parties concerned (you may not enjoy it but accurate disclosure also protects you), or out of a desire to be very cautious to protect themselves, may call out a mold problem for which the evidence is scanty or even mistaken.

Before forming an opinion about the findings and recommendations of the inspector, ask for a more detailed report on just what was seen where. it's trivial to perform further visual inspection of exposed surfaces or even to test a surface material sample. Keep in mind that to really understand the mold risk one may need to follow the water path (even from an old leak) more carefully.

On 2015-05-10 by John F

I had a home inspection and was told that there was mold in some parts of the basement. I dispute that claim.

We have been in the home for over 20 years and have noticed no small or any health problems arising from being in the basement at any time. I had a leak from a water heater many years ago which was cleaned up and thoroughly dried at watched over the following months - no mold noticed or smelled.

All areas where they said there was mold have been completely dry and nothing noticed or smelled over the past 20 years. Could it just be dirt on the drywall from being a workshop area or baseboard became dirty from using a sponge mop to clean the floor? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

On 2015-05-09 15:22:50.680040 by (mod) - Hi, I have a smell in my house

Tricia

I'm confused by "vinyl offcuts" - perhaps I don't know what those are in your thoughts but in mine if you refer to placing scraps of vinyl trim or siding inside cabinets that will not remove odors and it may add to them.

You might want to search InspectApedia also for FORMALDEHYDE ODORS

On 2015-05-09 by Tricia

Hi, I have a smell in my house most noticeable in the hall as you open front door. Not sure if it is a mold smell or not.

The house has particle board floors. It does seem to smell more in hot weather. I have got down on the carpeted floors on my hands and knees and sniffed the carpet! It can be smelt in corners of rooms, wardrobes and cupboards.

I have put vinyl offcuts on the floor of cupboards to stop smell permeating anything stored in plastic bags on that floor such as duvets and blankets. However I would really love to know if you have any information other than what you have on your excellent website to shed some light on this.

There is no sign of mould or moisture in the house (other than condensation on windows after very cold nights which I wipe off)and it has an HRV system.

On 2015-03-05 by (mod) -

Claudia,
I'd start by looking for slime or bacterial vintage inaction in the water system, a condition more likely if your water supply contains high levels of iron or magnesium or organics.

On 2015-03-04 by Claudia T

The air circulating from my water to air system smells like a swamp or mud. What's happening and how do I correct the problem? Serviceman doesn't know.

On 2015-01-27 by (mod) - Killing mold or bleaching it is not an effective mold remedy.

Killing mold or bleaching it is not an effective mold remedy. The proper approach is to clean hard surfaces, remove soft goods that are moldy such as insulation or drywall, then fix the cause of mold: find and fix the leaks.

Help in deciding to call a mold expert or test person is at

https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/IAQ_Investigation.php

On 2015-01-24 by LaurieL

We moved into our apartment in June of 2014. Within a month, while having cable installed we discovered mold in the drywall. It took several weeks for the apartments to fix the problem. Their idea of "fixing" the problem is to hire a normal painting contractor to come in and cut a 12 inch hold in the wall, patch it and paint it.

Fast forward to December, I look under the bathroom sink and countertop for something and notice the entire underneath is consumed in black growth. The apartments again come spray it with bleach and paint it white. When it rains my apartment has an odor, mostly in the living room.

I have 6 months left of my lease. I am a stay at home mom who doesn't drive, therefore my 2 year old and myself are in this apartment all day every day for the most part. I have called a lawyer, they never called me back. Do I hire a company to test? I live in Northern Florida.

These apartments (Avesta Seaside) were built in the 70s, and did not have air conditioning installed until about 2 to 3 years ago. I know that Florida humidity with no AC is the perfect environment for growth. When they "renovated" they did not replace drywall or cabinets, so everything is original.

On 2014-10-22 by Vickie

We purchased a condo where mold remediation was completed , when inspecting the condo we were told the smell was from the unit sitting empty and would go away

. It has not gone away, we have had 3 different companies come in and try to determine what the odor is and where it is coming from. Four independent air analyses test have come back show no mold. We don't know where to turn or who can help determine what this odor may be? suggestions?

On 2014-09-26 by (mod) -

Cynthia

While indeed if there is a dirt crawl space below a home that can be a source of moisture and mold. Mold is not necessarily visually obvious, but is probably present if you smell mold. In any event certainly I would not pay thousands of dollars to "solve" what may be the wrong problem. First we need a reliable diagnosis of the problem.

Try the EXPERTS DIRECTORY at page top links, but also be sure to discuss your needs, concerns, and the experience of the inspector before hiring someone. Don't hire someone who just does an "air test" - what's needed is a careful interview, history of the building, and visual inspection, possibly supplemented by a test or two.

I agree that you should not hire an inspector who will also sell you the cure. Ask that question too.

On 2014-09-25 by Cynthia Klein

My home leaves a musty smell on all my clothes. Really notice it when I am away from home traveling and open my suitcase . . . strong musty smell.

I have not found any signs of mold or mildew. I have inspected outside the home, inside the home, and underneath the house. The smell is persistent in all weather, wet and dry.

I do not know who to hire to come out. One company wanted me to spend $18,000 to install a barrier that sealed under the house. Having never seen water under the house and have inspected it during all seasons, I felt like they were trying to sell me their product without it being the cure.

Is there someone out there that just "inspects only" without a product they are trying to sell?

...

Continue reading at MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD: What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens an environmental testing guidance website explaining what to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens or see the key article links found just below.
• MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS - MVOC odor testing
• ODOR DIAGNOSIS SIX STEPS
• SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE

Suggested citation for this web page

MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELL FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ENVIRONMENT

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---