Do I Smell Mold? The Secret Behind That Musty Odor

A musty odor is not a good sign. It means that something is not right. A musty odor is often attributed to the presence of mold.

Mold is everywhere and there’s literally some mold in every building, everywhere across the country. While there are some levels that are normal and not concerning, there are also some contamination levels that can be detrimental to your health.

Mold can enter your home through open doorways, vents, windows, HVAC systems and carriers like shoes and clothes. Mold is not always visible, or perceptible through odors, but if you can smell a musty odor, there are great chances that there’s mold at your workplace or home. 

In the case of suspicions, mold testing is the best way to determine the type of mold contamination and its severity. 

So, if you smell a musty odor in your home or workspace, read on.

Why That Musty Smell?

Mold is microbial contamination growing in buildings and houses across the country. One of the easiest ways to determine if a building has a microbial contamination problem is by odor.

This odor, released by microbial growth, represented by those musty or earthy odors, are referred to as Microbiological Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOC.).

The musty odor is triggered during mold growth and indicates the presence of an uncontrolled moisture source. 

Usually, when you can distinctively smell that musty odor, it means that the microbial activity has already happened.

The bad thing about MVOC? 

They pass naturally through building material, such as concrete, drywall, and flooring.

Hence, if you can smell that musty odor it indicates that you may have a water damage problem that triggered a mold problem. 

As your mold problem may not be visible, it is recommended to promptly investigate and address the root cause. 

If mold testing will inform you of the type of mold and its severity, a thorough inspection will identify the area of concern.

Why Should I Worry About Mold?

Prolonged exposure to mold and damp environments may cause a variety of health issues, especially for people with conditions like asthma, or are more sensitive to upper respiratory tract infections, or are more vulnerable, like children.

Among the long list of symptoms, mold can cause:

• Skin irritations
• Nasal congestions
• Throat irritations
• Lingering coughs
• Eye irritations

Mold can cause structural damage to your property since it penetrates materials and plays a major role in the decomposition of organic materials. 

When mold spores land on organic materials, they absorb their nutrients by breaking them down into a digestible food source. 

How to Prevent Mold & Musty Smells?

Mold grows if specific conditions are reached in the environment. These conditions are:

• Uncontrolled moisture buildup that originates from water damage of any nature like flooding, leaks, condensation, ineffective drainage systems

 

• Lack of sufficient airflow - humidity control levels are essential to prevent mold growth. Improving the air circulation in your home can help combat mold

 

• Temperature control - 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal temperatures for mold growth, especially in places where relatively warm and moist air comes in contact with cooler surfaces. These conditions cause condensation

Identifying the moisture source is the first step to prevent mold and musty odors. If sources are not obvious, a thorough mold inspection will help determine what’s hidden behind the carpet and the walls.

Not only will the inspection report help determine the root cause, but it also indicates the remediation steps that you may need to consider going forward. 

What to Do in Case of Confirmed Mold Issues?

A restoration company specialized in mold and water remediations, can help execute the remediation plan established during the investigation process to fix the problem. 

Get in touch today to book your inspection or fix your mold issue.

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