Saturday, July 30, 2005
What is that Smell?
Question: "I keep noticing a musty smell and traces of mildew in the basement of our ranch home. We've tried a dehumidifier, only to have the problem increase. What is causing the smell and how can we get rid of it?”
Thanks so much for your question. The most probable cause for the musty smell and the mildew is the presence of elevated moisture levels in your basement. And even though you may not have water in the area, it is not uncommon for moisture to seep through the walls and accelerate the problem. There are a couple of solutions that you can try that will make a real difference over the course of time. Because the area isn't air conditioned, it will match the humidity levels outside of your home.
The first thing you can do is condition the air in your basement space. This can be accomplished by installing a central heating and cooling system inside of the area. The conditioned air will regulate the moisture levels that would otherwise build up in your basement space. The only problem with this solution is that it can be fairly expensive. So this route may not be the most practical solution for your problem. Adding vents drawing air from your main heating and cooling system is a consideration here.
The second method of ridding your basement of the smell and the mildew is to use a dehumidifier. You stated in your question that you've used a dehumidifier in the past, but your lack of success leads me to believe that you chose a unit that is too small for the area. Dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes and capacities, depending upon your specific needs. You should choose a unit that is proper for your square footage. Also, you should drain your dehumidifier frequently to avoid the water sitting in the tank for too long.
Thanks so much for your question. The most probable cause for the musty smell and the mildew is the presence of elevated moisture levels in your basement. And even though you may not have water in the area, it is not uncommon for moisture to seep through the walls and accelerate the problem. There are a couple of solutions that you can try that will make a real difference over the course of time. Because the area isn't air conditioned, it will match the humidity levels outside of your home.
The first thing you can do is condition the air in your basement space. This can be accomplished by installing a central heating and cooling system inside of the area. The conditioned air will regulate the moisture levels that would otherwise build up in your basement space. The only problem with this solution is that it can be fairly expensive. So this route may not be the most practical solution for your problem. Adding vents drawing air from your main heating and cooling system is a consideration here.
The second method of ridding your basement of the smell and the mildew is to use a dehumidifier. You stated in your question that you've used a dehumidifier in the past, but your lack of success leads me to believe that you chose a unit that is too small for the area. Dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes and capacities, depending upon your specific needs. You should choose a unit that is proper for your square footage. Also, you should drain your dehumidifier frequently to avoid the water sitting in the tank for too long.
