3 Reasons You Might Smell Mold in Your Home

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

Black mold and other fungi can create foul odors, but when you know where they might be hiding, you can find and destroy them quickly.

Catching a whiff of foul odors in your Bethlehem, PA, home can be distressing. Certain odors can be caused by wet weather, old carpeting, and pet accidents that were not cleaned up properly. However, one common cause is mold growing somewhere in your home, out of sight. Black mold can give off a particularly strong odor because it can spread quickly where moisture is present. There might be several reasons that mold is growing inside your home and understanding why can help you target and destroy it.

1. A Leaky Roof

Small leaks in your roof may be difficult to detect. However, when it rains and water gets into your attic, the humidity there makes for a fine mold breeding ground. If you continuously find mold in the attic, you may want to have your roof inspected by a contractor who can find the source of the leak. The moisture problem may be something as simple as a missing shingle or damaged flashing.

2. Cracks in the Basement Walls

If you have an older home, your basement walls may be suffering from minute cracks that are letting in moisture each time it rains. This problem may be compounded by poor drainage around the perimeter of your home. The basement may be breeding black mold because instead of draining away from your home, rainwater seeps in, finds its way into the cracks, then puddles in corners where you do not notice it. You may want to call in a mold cleanup and remediation service to dry out your basement and remove the existing mold before you address the drainage issue.

3. A Dirty Washing Machine

Wet, musty smells can emanate from your washing machine over time as moisture allows mold to grow inside the drum. Run a mixture of baking soda and vinegar through a cycle to break up hidden mold.

A fresh-smelling home is probably a priority for you as a Bethlehem homeowner. Black mold and other fungi can create foul odors, but when you know where they might be hiding, you can find and destroy them quickly.