Your nose can be an excellent tool for finding issues in your home. For example, if you find that there is a musty smell in your basement, it might be because there are problems brewing there. This is a case where leaving a few air fresheners around isn’t going to help. Instead, you should get to the bottom of the problem and find a solution.
Mold and Mildew
Musty basement odor commonly often comes from mold and mildew. These two fungi thrive in damp and dark places; they can even spread across your basement floor, walls and ceiling. Additionally, they may infect any items stored nearby. Mold will feed on whatever it can find to thrive. This includes materials like wood and fabric that are exposed in basements. If there is a lot of mold in your home it can lead to respiratory problems and allergic symptoms.
Dampness
Some basements develop mold and mildew from moisture. Key contributors include general dampness and leaks in the foundation, walls, pipes, and windows. You should check different areas of the basement during storms to ascertain where there might be cracks that allow moisture to seep in.
Sewage
Sewage problems in the kitchen or upstairs bathroom can cause a foul odor from the basement’s drain system. Alternatively, waste may be backing up in the drain pipes when there’s a plumbing issue further down the line.
Other Possible Sources
A basement that is dry but still has an unpleasant odor should be investigated further. Some possible reasons could be pets, drains, or rodents.
