Crawl Space Odor and Smell Problem? Call (704) 989-8219
Crawl space odors eliminated – Charlotte NC and Monroe area homes
Have problems with crawlspace odors in your Charlotte NC home? There are in fact a variety of reasons and one good option that Charlotte Crawlspace Solutions, LLC has come up with that takes care of all the odor problems … Eliminate crawl space odors
What’s contained in the crawl space?
Whether you simply moved right into a new home or you have actually stayed in your home for several years, now is a great time to search in the crawl space to see what remains in there, if you haven’t currently you may want to inspect, even if you need to crawl. Some points will certainly be obvious like HVAC ductwork, water pipes, electrical wiring, insulation, etc. while others could require some investigative work. The trickiest problem with Charlotte NC crawl spaces was the pet cat pee odors which we resolved permanently.
Miscellaneous Items
Do you see items that builders left from the previous owners? It’s all right to store in your crawl space room, but you’ll want to make certain the crawl space is sealed, tidy, as well as smell-free before you start loading things. There could be old paint cans or garbage left behind by professionals or the previous house owners. The bottom line: Check for junk that shouldn’t be there and remove it. If the job is too demanding, call us because we have a crawl space cleaning service available.
Rodents – Rodent Droppings – Pests
See to it your crawlspace, sometimes incorrectly called a basement, is clear of rotting carcasses and also rodent feces. Both will certainly smell up your home! Feces and pee smell left by mice in the crawl space can enter the air vents leading into your living area which can make you as well as your family sick. Crawl spaces are perfect for mice, snakes, and various other rodents looking for a cozy, moist home. A crawl space supplies sanctuary from the cold and rainfall. Occasionally pests will die inside the crawl space, and when they do, the decomposing creates a foul smell.
Mold
Mold is only possible due to moisture and can clue you into underlying moisture problems in your Charlotte crawl space. While not all molds produce a smell, they can cause wooden structures (like floor joists), or other organic materials to decay, creating a nasty mildew odor. Also, if you store boxes or other things in your crawl space, it’s a good idea to inspect those items for mold, especially if the air feels humid or damp. If you do spot mold, it’s important to understand the potential health risks. Mold releases mycotoxins, which are harmful to your respiratory system and that’s why, if you identify mold, you should contact a contractor and take steps to remove all signs of it immediately. A musty smell inside your home could be caused by mold inside the crawl space. Crawl space moisture creates conditions that are ideal for mold and mildew. When air from the crawl space makes its way into the upper levels of the home, so do mold spores and other harmful bacteria. Exposure to mold spores can aggravate allergies and asthma. Don’t take chances with your family’s health, if you find mold in your basement or crawl space, call us for your mold remediation service free estimate.
Moisture and High Humidity
Like mold, humidity is also due to the presence of moisture, especially in Monroe and Charlotte, but all of the North Carolina Piedmont. High humidity is a common problem in unsealed crawl spaces, but it can also show up in spaces with a sealed floor or concrete slab. While a smooth concrete surface may give the appearance of a clean, dry space, it’s never safe to assume. Here’s why:
When concrete slabs are poured, moisture gets trapped beneath the slab as it dries. Eventually, this water vapor will make its way back up through the concrete slab and enter your crawl space due to a difference in pressure. Bacteria can form in the areas where the vapor collects and emits an odor. Likewise, if the vapor has anything to latch onto (fiberglass insulation, for example), mold can take root and create bad smells.
The Soil Beneath Your Home
If you’ve got a crawl space with unsealed floors and exposed dirt, the dirt may be the source of the bad smell. Soils are naturally full of small organic materials such as leaves, dead insects, and bugs, and as these materials decompose over time, this natural process of decay inevitably emits odors or even odorless radon gas, which can be dangerous. What’s more, moisture within the soil is bound to permeate upwards, causing the crawl space to become wet and damp. Water and moisture increase the decay of organic materials and therefore, the problem will persist. In extreme cases, where the soil beneath a crawl space is actually backfill brought from another location—say, a farm or other rural area—the soil could contain manure or compost, both of which will emit bad odors that will ultimately rise up into the rest of your house. The soil in a dirt crawl space contains organic matter, such as leaves and manure that decay and emit odors. If the crawl space is unsealed, this smell can eventually make its way into the upstairs living space.
The Products Used to “Fix” Your Crawl Space
Not all culprits are of organic composition, either. Another possible cause of bad crawl space smells? Products that have chemicals that off-gas into the crawl space area. I’ve listed this one last because it is difficult “My crawl space stinks” is a common complaint from homeowners who have an unsealed crawl space.
If you’ve noticed a musty smell in your home and can’t figure out where it’s coming from, the answer could lie underneath your home – inside the crawl space. A crawl space provides a perfect spot for unwanted critters to live and die (yikes!). It can also be a breeding ground for mold.
The first step in making your home smell better is identifying what’s inside the crawl space that’s causing the foul odor.
Sewage
A sewage backup in the crawl space will cause an extremely foul odor. When the main sewer line clogs, it can cause the water to back up in the pipe and spill into the crawl spaces. A sewage backup can lead to serious damage, such as mold growth and damage to wooden support posts. The contaminated soil can release toxic fumes into the air which can enter your upstairs living area and make you sick. If you’re dealing with a sewage leak, contact a disaster restoration company to handle the cleanup.
How does air (and smells) from the crawl space get inside my home?
Studies have proven that as much as half of the air you breathe on the first floor of your home comes from the crawl space. If you spray paint inside the crawl space you will smell it upstairs.
Crawl space air gets upstairs one of two ways:
The stack effect draws air from the crawl space upward into the upper floors of the home. As warm air rises, it leaks out of the upper levels and new air must replace the air that escaped. And some of this air comes from the crawl space – through holes around wires and pipes, joints in floorboards, and through duct chases.
Ducts in the crawl space provide a direct pathway for air from the crawl space to mix with the air upstairs. Leaky return ducts suck damp, smelly, mold air from the crawl space into the duct system and blow it back into the upper floors of the home.
Venting the Crawl Space
We’re all familiar with the idea of going outside and “getting fresh air.” But in a crawl space, letting fresh air in is a bad practice. Instead of “airing out” the crawl space and letting odors escape, ventilating a crawl space actually lets in warm, humid air in the summer and cold air in the winter. When warm air from outside comes in through the vents, it makes wood surfaces and fiberglass insulation damp. Mold loves to grow on damp organic materials.
Is your crawl space too small for you to do a detailed inventory of odor-causing culprits? Or maybe just the thought of coming nose-to-nose with an unidentified carcass makes you cringe. If either one of these scenarios is true, the best bet is to hire an expert who deals with crawl spaces to identify the problem – just use the form below or call .
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