Help! Musty Smell in Front Rooms of House - What's Causing It?
Asked by CuriousCat89
I'm dealing with a persistent musty smell that's mainly noticeable in the front rooms of my house, specifically in the family room and one bedroom that face the street. We initially thought it might be due to rodent droppings, and we spent quite a bit getting the attic cleaned up, but the smell still lingers. One thing that's raised my eyebrows is that the front of our house has old 47-year-old redwood siding above a reclaimed brick fascia. I've heard suggestions that there might be rot or mold hiding beneath the siding, so I'm reaching out to see if anyone has insights on this issue.
Answers
Got any trees nearby? If they're dropping leaves into your gutters, it could lead to water issues. I had mold folks come in to check for smells, and it turned out the smell was coming from a magnolia tree next to the house. Moldy leaves in the gutters can really put off some serious odors.
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Do you have a fireplace in one of those rooms? I remember having musty smells from a window AC unit that was creating negative pressure by pulling air from an old chimney. Might be worth checking how air is circulating in your house, especially if you've got a gas fireplace.
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Have you checked your basement? Sometimes, odors can come from crawl spaces, especially if there's organic matter or exposed dirt. I had a similar issue due to some rubble in my basement, and encapsulating that area helped a lot. Just a thought!
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