Is it possible to remove musty odors from a townhouse with a crawl space from 1970?
The inspector did not detect any mold.
The inspector did not detect any mold.
Know-It-All
· Västra götaland
· 10 938 posts
Moisture smells like nothing.
However, other things can smell in a damp crawl space, mold is one of them. There might be soil bacteria (in the ground under the house) that smell, but it usually isn't a big deal as long as you don't disturb them and introduce oxygen. You might also have pressure-treated wood in the foundation, and finally, there might be wood painted with some unpleasant-smelling paint.
In my case, with a house built in 1973, the entire subfloor was painted with cuprinol, which, in combination with moisture, created a really unpleasant chemical smell. I had to tear out all the subflooring and floor insulation to get rid of the worst of it. There's still a bit left in the wall insulation. After a few years of using a dehumidifier that vents air out of the foundation, the smell in the house was gone...
However, other things can smell in a damp crawl space, mold is one of them. There might be soil bacteria (in the ground under the house) that smell, but it usually isn't a big deal as long as you don't disturb them and introduce oxygen. You might also have pressure-treated wood in the foundation, and finally, there might be wood painted with some unpleasant-smelling paint.
In my case, with a house built in 1973, the entire subfloor was painted with cuprinol, which, in combination with moisture, created a really unpleasant chemical smell. I had to tear out all the subflooring and floor insulation to get rid of the worst of it. There's still a bit left in the wall insulation. After a few years of using a dehumidifier that vents air out of the foundation, the smell in the house was gone...
Thank you for the response. The question is how to locate where the smell is coming from. Before the purchase, we walked around with the inspector and he said that it was only a little ground moisture smell in the crawl space, which could be easily fixed with plastic sheeting and a dehumidifier. However, I noticed a strong smell in the house, and after two hours in the house, I felt that my clothes smelled when I left.
What should one start with upon taking possession? Which expert should we call? The inspector said he didn't smell anything in the house, but I am absolutely certain I smelled it, as I recognize that smell from the cottage in the countryside.
What should one start with upon taking possession? Which expert should we call? The inspector said he didn't smell anything in the house, but I am absolutely certain I smelled it, as I recognize that smell from the cottage in the countryside.
Know-It-All
· Västra götaland
· 10 938 posts
Have you already bought the kåken?
What type of smell did you notice?
What type of smell did you notice?
Yes, we have bought the house.
I am no expert, but the smell I sensed is exactly the same as the smell we have in the cottage in the countryside. It's like a damp/mildew/stuffy smell. Hard to describe. I have no idea how to locate and address the smell. They have natural ventilation in the house and I'm wondering if the smell will disappear if we install an FTX ventilation system. I really don't want to move in if the smell doesn't go away. We have access in 2.5 months.
I am no expert, but the smell I sensed is exactly the same as the smell we have in the cottage in the countryside. It's like a damp/mildew/stuffy smell. Hard to describe. I have no idea how to locate and address the smell. They have natural ventilation in the house and I'm wondering if the smell will disappear if we install an FTX ventilation system. I really don't want to move in if the smell doesn't go away. We have access in 2.5 months.
There are probably many ways to fix mold/trapped odor. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.
1. Does it seem like there is mold down by the edges?
2. Has the plaster come off anywhere in the basement?
3. Is there any other material in the basement?
If yes, then it might need to be drained?
If not, I feel like it might be air that isn't circulating well.
There are, as mentioned, several different solutions. One was as you mentioned, FTX.
Another could be ventilating floors and walls, like Jape's Ventgolv.
If it's mold or similar, I would consult a company that deals with mold, like JAPE. They have hundreds of different products for such cases.
Are there things on the basement floor?
If yes, it could be what's smelling.
But I agree that it can be good to try to fix such things before moving in. Otherwise, it can easily end up never getting done.
1. Does it seem like there is mold down by the edges?
2. Has the plaster come off anywhere in the basement?
3. Is there any other material in the basement?
If yes, then it might need to be drained?
If not, I feel like it might be air that isn't circulating well.
There are, as mentioned, several different solutions. One was as you mentioned, FTX.
Another could be ventilating floors and walls, like Jape's Ventgolv.
If it's mold or similar, I would consult a company that deals with mold, like JAPE. They have hundreds of different products for such cases.
Are there things on the basement floor?
If yes, it could be what's smelling.
But I agree that it can be good to try to fix such things before moving in. Otherwise, it can easily end up never getting done.
Know-It-All
· Västra götaland
· 10 938 posts
Are there many air inlets? If it's passive ventilation, and the house is relatively tight, a lack of air supply can pull air through the foundation, which might make it smell more than necessary...1 1Melina said:
Were you down in the foundation and did you look before purchasing? Are there any pictures from there?
FTX is a solution for ventilation, and of course, if you increase air exchange in all rooms the smell will be less, but on the other hand, the problem is still there...
Thanks for the answers! 
Yes, we were down in the foundation. According to the inspector, it smelled a bit earthy, but he said it was not a concern as long as it stayed cold. However, the hatch to the crawl space was not sufficiently sealed. I'm considering putting down a plastic sheet and a dehumidifier, as well as sealing the hatch better.
I also contacted the homeowners' association, and they said that most have had problems with treated wood in the joists, meaning the framework laid on top of the house foundation. The treated wood in the joists emits a weak gas that in turn gives a basement smell/damp smell. So the solution to the problem, which many homeowners have taken, is to replace the treated wood with new, healthy timber in the joists.
The question is whether we can save costs by doing all the demolition ourselves and then paying contractors to add new timber. We are, however, inexperienced in this area, but surely everyone can manage demolition, right?
Yes, we were down in the foundation. According to the inspector, it smelled a bit earthy, but he said it was not a concern as long as it stayed cold. However, the hatch to the crawl space was not sufficiently sealed. I'm considering putting down a plastic sheet and a dehumidifier, as well as sealing the hatch better.
I also contacted the homeowners' association, and they said that most have had problems with treated wood in the joists, meaning the framework laid on top of the house foundation. The treated wood in the joists emits a weak gas that in turn gives a basement smell/damp smell. So the solution to the problem, which many homeowners have taken, is to replace the treated wood with new, healthy timber in the joists.
The question is whether we can save costs by doing all the demolition ourselves and then paying contractors to add new timber. We are, however, inexperienced in this area, but surely everyone can manage demolition, right?
Know-It-All
· Västra götaland
· 10 938 posts
Ok, so there are more houses that are the same? Then the first step is to talk to them.
If the beam structure contains pressure-treated wood, it's usually the sill, which is quite a big project to replace.
Whether the hatch is sealed or not is probably irrelevant in this context, unless it smells more in the room where it is...
Placing plastic and installing a dehumidifier is never wrong, but the best thing is to start by logging temperature and humidity, so you know which actions yield the most cost-effective results...
Was it "your" inspector or did the seller pay for it?
If the beam structure contains pressure-treated wood, it's usually the sill, which is quite a big project to replace.
Whether the hatch is sealed or not is probably irrelevant in this context, unless it smells more in the room where it is...
Placing plastic and installing a dehumidifier is never wrong, but the best thing is to start by logging temperature and humidity, so you know which actions yield the most cost-effective results...
Was it "your" inspector or did the seller pay for it?
The seller, it felt like he was waving off and explaining away everything I asked about. He said he didn't smell any dampness in the house while I am absolutely sure I recognized it.
I should probably take a look at a moisture meter, should probably start with that.
I should probably take a look at a moisture meter, should probably start with that.
if they are impregnated sills, there is a big risk that they are the culprit. I have that problem in my vestibule, which is built around the same time period as your house. if, as you say, several neighbors have had similar problems and they replaced the sills, then that's probably what you should expect to do as well. contact the neighbors, ask how they did it and what it cost, and if they can recommend a company.
Know-It-All
· Västra götaland
· 10 938 posts
I assume you didn't do your own inspection?1 1Melina said:
There is no such thing as "damp smell", you need to find out what is causing the odor, as the issues have different solutions.
Hello,
Bought a house about 3 years ago and we had a classic 70s musty smell in the house. We repainted the whole house inside and changed the floors. Then we used one of those dehumidifiers in the crawl space. We put up a lot of supply and exhaust air because the house was sealed afterwards. Now there's good ventilation in the house and the smell is gone. However, I notice when I'm away for a long weekend that the smell comes back. But I think that's because I'm not using the stove and the bathroom doors are more closed. So it's definitely manageable.
Bought a house about 3 years ago and we had a classic 70s musty smell in the house. We repainted the whole house inside and changed the floors. Then we used one of those dehumidifiers in the crawl space. We put up a lot of supply and exhaust air because the house was sealed afterwards. Now there's good ventilation in the house and the smell is gone. However, I notice when I'm away for a long weekend that the smell comes back. But I think that's because I'm not using the stove and the bathroom doors are more closed. So it's definitely manageable.
Most likely, the old impregnated wooden beams in the floor structure are the cause of the smell.
In 1987, Pentachlorophenol was banned in treated wood. Through decomposition in moisture, it produces Pentachloroanisole, which is considered to smell "moldy" and is intrusive. Houses from the 70s with sills on damp slabs may have/get this problem.
//Note: Today's treated wood in the lower classes only has copper salts as the active substance, but the perception that it is dangerous indoors persists. However, it is of course unnecessary.
//Note: Today's treated wood in the lower classes only has copper salts as the active substance, but the perception that it is dangerous indoors persists. However, it is of course unnecessary.