Many Factors can cause your house or apartment to smell musty. Mold and Mildew are 2 of the worst causes since they can lead to respiratory problems such as coughing, sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes or skin.
What Causes Mold to Grow?
Mold can start growing within 24-48 hours and it is caused by humidity and water building up. When paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric and upholstery stay wet, they start to grow mold.
Different Types of Mold
Although mold exists inside and outside, most mold is not harmful unless you are allergic to it. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. However, there is also Toxic Mold which is usually black and caused by water damage. Mold can grow in many different colors and varieties.
Here is an example of Black Mold growing around a window. This is very common and can also be extremely harmful towards your health.
Below we will outline some ways you can try to get rid of the mold smell, however in a case like this you would need a licensed Mold Remediators help.
How to Alleviate Mold
By now, you should have identified where the smell of mold is coming from. If it is due to a leak, 1st things 1st, stop the leak.
Next, you can check to make sure that the odor is not coming from the HVAC system. If you haven’t cleaned your HVAC system in a long time, the smell of mold can be coming through there.
Stop any indoor smoking. Smoking indoors can lead to the smell being absorbed by drywall, carpet and even your furniture. The smell from cigarette smoke can linger for many years if it isn’t taken care of properly.
Promote air flow. A fan can help with air circulation which will help alleviate the smell.
Final Note
If your house or apartment still has a funky smell and you suspect it may be mold, don’t take a chance. Call a licensed professional for Mold Air sampling to ensure you aren’t breathing in any harmful toxins. Lead and Mold Detectives has Mold Assessors available for same day Mold Testing 24/7. Call us at 516-407-1111 for a quote.
