Virginia Foundation Solutions
4.9 stars - 290 reviews
My Crawl Space Smells Musty — How Do I Fix It?

A crawl space is a wonderful utility in many homes. However, it is also an area prone to certain issues. Tucked away and rarely visited, problems tend to grow and develop in these spaces.

One of the most common problems you may encounter with your crawl space is a musty smell. When this happens, it is critical to identify and tackle the culprit.

Why does my crawl space smell like sewer?

To address this problem, you can start by finding the cause, which is likely to be one of the following:

  • Groundwater: Occasionally, rancid groundwater will enter a crawl space.
  • Moisture build-up: Humidity often leads to moisture build-up. This is even more common in crawl spaces, as they often lack ventilation to handle this moisture.
  • Leaky pipes: A constant drip from a leaky pipe will slowly add water to a crawl space. The smell should be a dead giveaway if the source of the leak is a sewage pipe.
  • Stagnant water: Any stagnant standing water will produce a musty smell over time.
  • Mildew and mold: A dark, humid crawl space offers the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to take root and propagate.
  • Rodents: If rodents are loose in a crawl space, they contribute to the smell through droppings.
  • Dead animals: The smell of a dead animal is not something you want to pollute your crawl space.  

Additional Causes:

  • Poor Ventilation: Limited airflow can trap odors, causing the musty smell from the crawl space to permeate your home. Ensuring proper ventilation is crucial to mitigate this issue.
  • Decayed Wood: Wooden beams or supports in the crawl space can rot due to moisture, adding to the unpleasant odor.

How To Get Rid of a Musty Smell in Your Crawl Space

When your crawl space smells musty, you have plenty of options. You can take the following steps to address the issue while looking into professional services.

Clean the Space

You should thoroughly clean before tackling any other crawl space issues. Remove any animals or droppings you find, and clean out any mold or mildew growing there.

Additional Step: Consider using an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate persistent odors caused by organic materials. These cleaners break down odor-causing compounds at the molecular level.

Identify and Fix Drainage Issues

Sometimes, water in a crawl space is the result of other issues. A leaky pipe will directly contribute water to the space. Meanwhile, improper drainage around your home’s foundation may direct water into it.

In situations like these, you need to block the source of the offending water, seal up the leak, or address the drainage issue as best you can.

Enhanced Solutions: Install perimeter drains around the foundation to redirect water away from the crawl space. This additional step ensures long-term prevention of moisture build-up.

Seal the Crawl Space Against the Water

A crawl space often smells musty because of water and moisture. Sealing the space prevents moisture from entering.

A vapor barrier should do the trick. Installing one will stop humid air from getting into the space. You can even do this alongside other waterproofing methods.

Seal the Crawl Space Against Pests

They will get in if pests have a way into a crawl space. Animals can squeeze through small holes and may even chew out a hole themselves. You can block these passages while completing other general crawl space repair tasks.

In addition, look for factors that may draw animals to your crawl space. For example, avoid storing food there.

Install a Sump Pump

If the crawl space smells musty as a result of water, you must remove that water.

A sump pump collects water in your space and pumps it out. Installing a sump pump is particularly helpful for removing moderate or greater quantities of water.

Install a Dehumidifier

While a sump pump is great, a dehumidifier may be enough if you’re dealing with less water.

A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air itself. Doing so prevents moisture from condensing and creating standing water.

Upgrade: Opt for a crawl-space-specific dehumidifier that operates efficiently in small, enclosed spaces.

Addressing Persistent Crawl Space Odors

If you’ve tried the above and still notice a smell in your crawl space, consider additional measures:

  • Inspect HVAC Ducts: Crawl spaces often house HVAC ducts. If these ducts leak, they can distribute musty smells throughout your home.
  • Check for Hidden Contaminants: Some odors may be caused by hidden contaminants such as petroleum-based chemicals or pesticides. Professional testing can help identify these sources.

Fixing a Musty Crawl Space

If your crawl space smells musty, you don’t have to live with the issue forever. By identifying the problem and working toward a solution, you can eliminate the source of the smell in the future. Remember that Virginia Foundation Solutions is here to help with this process.

Are you wondering what might be causing a musty smell in your Virginia Beach, VA, crawl space? Call 757-340-0917 to schedule your free inspection with Virginia Foundation Solutions.

Pro Tip: Preventive maintenance is key to keeping your crawl space odor-free. Schedule routine inspections to ensure small problems don’t become major issues.

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Reviews

5/

Quality materials and workmanship. Matt answered all our questions, even after hours, and Miguel and his crew were efficient and resolved all issues immediately. A very satisfied customer.

Christopher
5/

Professional and courteous at all time. Crew was on site for 4 days in terrible weather and never missed a beat. Kept us informed, did what they planned and kept the areas near and clean. A really great crew.

Hal Luebke
5/

VFS crew did a wonderful job. They worked effectively together to complete our project. They used care in making sure our lawn was not ruined and they cleaned up their work area when completed.

Mary Routten
5/

Work was completed as promised. Purple crew was prompt, professional, and considerate of our home. Zero complaints

S House
5/

I highly recommend this company. They had the best price, quality work and it was completed on time, which is rare these days. It’s not easy so I commend the crew on their hard work!

Donald Marx
5/

Everything looks GREAT and the finished crawlspace was better than we expected. The RED crew did a great job and left the entire worksite cleaner than it was when they arrived.

Mike Shaffer
5/

We recently used VFS to install an interior french drain and sump pump in our finished lower level. The "purple crew" was assigned to our job and they were fabulous!!! They were timely, neat, respectful and hardworking. We are very happy with the job they did.

Howard Bloom
5/

The yellow crew (Willy, Marco, Oscar, and Patrick) were VERY professional and hard working. They kept us informed every step of the way. The clean up at end of the workday was exceptional. The best part is my foundation is fixed and our crawlspace is the cleanest crawlspace I have ever seen.

Scott Withdrew
5/

The workers were very professional, experienced and knowledgeable. They left the crawlspace with reinforced support beams. A supervisor checked their work in the afternoon.

Rick Ruscak
5/

VFS did a great job on our house’s foundation in double quick time and when they left our yard was cleaner and tidier than it was when they came! Thank you all. The masonry team also did a wonderful job. The damaged brickwork looks as good as new. Well done!

Alan Stephenson

Newport News

5/

We loved working with this company. All of the workers were friendly and helpful. They were very particular about their work and showed professionalism and organization. They did a great job; we are so thankful for their help.

Daphne Jonas

Poquoson

5/

Professional and kind staff, started on time, finished on time, good clean up, and next best bid was 40% higher using same materials. Highly recommend!

Ron Bianchi

Suffolk

5/

VFS was on time, clean, polite and thorough with good workmanship.

Lois Horton

Newport News

5/

Great customer service. Fantastic work under the house along with follow through to ensure everything was complete. Our Moisture and Termite inspector said it was the best "under house" inspection he'd done!

Larry Bianchi

Virginia Beach