You suddenly notice a very unpleasant odor in your home.
You try to pinpoint precisely what the smell reminds you of. It’s damp, earthy, musty—almost comparable to rotting vegetation.
If this scenario sounds familiar, you may have a severe problem on your hands—mold in your crawlspace!
Read on to discover what causes mold in crawlspaces and how to avoid the issue. As an expert company with over ten years of experience, Crawlspace Remediation encounters mold issues often and can offer practical solutions.
Why Is There Mold in My Crawlspace?
Don’t panic. Thousands of homes with unencapsulated crawlspaces will experience mold problems. Let’s discuss the most common causes.
Organic Matter
What type of floor is in your crawlspace? Crawlspaces with dirt floors pose more of a mold risk than others.
Soil contains moisture, a key ingredient for mold development. Additionally, wooden objects within the crawlspace, and other organic matter, could contribute to mold growth.
Drainage Issues
As mentioned above, moisture is the leading cause of mold and can find its way into your crawlspace in various ways.
Here are some of the most common culprits:
- Cracks in the foundation surrounding your crawlspace
- Moisture within soil if your crawlspace is not encapsulated
- Leaky pipes draining into your crawlspace
- Drainage issues around your home, such as gutter problems
Once moisture congregates in a high-humidity environment, the perfect breeding ground for mold is created.
Old Floor Joists
Floor joists usually run the length of crawlspaces and support your home. Unfortunately, floor joists are made of wood and can begin to decay after years of being exposed to moisture and other problematic culprits, such as pests.
As the floor joists begin to decay, mold will feed on these joists and spread throughout the support system, which could become a massive problem if left unchecked and untreated.
Leftover Storage
Remember those boxes of clothes you left in the crawlspace? What about those comic books that we’re supposed to be worth money someday?
Well, mold loves old and forgotten items.
In moist environments, like a crawlspace, mold can live on materials like leather, cloth, and paper. This is because mold emits chemicals that break down organic materials, which causes them to rot. As a result, the mold can spread quickly as the organic material is broken into more minor compounds.
It’s best practice to refrain from storing items in your crawlspace, especially without a protective barrier.
How Do I Get Rid of That Musty Crawlspace Smell?
Not only is the smell of mold a nuisance, but it can also cause serious health effects for you and your family. To tackle this issue, it’s best to contact a specialist.
At Crawlspace Remediation, we specialize in crawlspace encapsulation and mold remediation. Our team of experts will determine which types of mold are growing in your crawlspace and create a plan to remove the mold using our Continuous Infectious Microbial Reduction (CIMR) technology.
Once we have removed the mold, we can repair and encapsulate your crawlspace to reduce the risk of future mold issues.
For more information on our practices and how you can protect your home, call (248) 716-6166.