A musty smell in your crawl space can quickly become a problem for your entire house. The air in your crawl space feeds directly into your home, which means bad smells in your crawl space will quickly make their way into your living spaces.
Crawl space odors are almost always caused by the same problem—moisture. Moisture leads to mold growth, which is what creates that musty, earthy smell. Thankfully, the fix is straightforward. You can get rid of the smell by getting rid of the moisture.
Most crawl space companies know this. But you can’t just dry out your crawl space and move on. If you don’t put waterproofing measures in place, the moisture and mold will return. Total Home Performance solves the problem at the source to keep moisture and mold out of your house for good.
What Causes Crawl Space Smells?
If your crawl space smells musty, moisture is likely the culprit. Water doesn’t usually smell on its own, but it can cause odors to form.
- Mold and mildew growth give off a musty smell
- Stagnant standing water can develop an odor
- Groundwater can surface minerals that smell
In most cases, a smell in your crawl space is just a symptom of a larger moisture intrusion problem. So, removing the source of the smell by scrubbing away mold or mopping up water will only provide a temporary solution. To get rid of the smell for good, you have to eliminate the source of moisture intrusion.
How Moisture Gets Into a Crawl Space
There are several ways moisture can get into your crawl space, including:
- Unsealed Vents - Crawl space vents let heat, humidity, and moisture flow freely into your crawl space.
- Cracks and Openings - Any cracks or openings in your crawl space can let moisture enter. If your crawl space is not sealed shut, rainwater can easily flow in and pool or flood.
- Dirt Floor - Groundwater can seep up through a dirt or clay crawl space floor.
- Humidity & Condensation - When humid air gets into your crawl space, it will settle on cool surfaces and form condensation.
- Pipes - If you have pipes or plumbing in your crawl space, a leak will bring moisture into your crawl space.
Solutions for Crawl Space Moisture & Smells
The best way to get rid of crawl space smells is to find the root cause and eliminate it. Total Home Performance offers free assessments so we can find out how moisture is getting into your crawl space and recommend the best solution.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation is the ultimate solution to crawl space moisture and smells. Our encapsulation services include cleaning out your crawl space, sealing all openings with spray foam, and installing a thick vapor barrier that fully covers the floor and walls. The goal is to seal your crawl space off from the elements so it is fully protected, not only from moisture and smells, but also from heat, cold, and pests.
Crawl Space Dehumidifier
Installing a crawl space dehumidifier will keep humidity under control so your crawl space stays dry. If humidity is the main source of moisture in your crawl space, encapsulating your crawl space and installing a dehumidifier is likely the best solution.
Sump Pumps & Drainage
If your crawl space floods every time it rains, installing a drainage system is a good idea. We install sump pumps to actively remove water and French drains to reroute water away from your home.
Rebates & Incentives for Crawl Space Services
Total Home Performance can help you save on crawl space repair and encapsulation costs! We are a participating contractor in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) program, which offers huge rebates for crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing services. We are one of the only contractors in the area with access to these rebates—reach out today to find out how much you can save.