How to Identify & Get Rid of Bad Basement Smells

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Guide to Bad Basement Smells

Do you open your basement door and immediately get confronted with a musty odor? Generally, if we are talking about a smell in your basement, it isn’t a pretty one.
What you smell may be mold, mildew, cat urine (or feces), dead mice, or sewer gas. If you have an older home, there's a good chance you battle with moisture in your basement, which leads to some of these problem smells. Even if you install a sump pump, it might not be enough to combat mold. You could also have blockages in plumbing, drains, vents, or HVAC systems.
Find out the major causes of bad basement smells and tips on how to get rid of them.

Mold and Mildew 

If you're dealing with a distinctly musty basement odor, it's more than likely you're dealing with a mold or mildew issue. Mold has an unforgettable musty smell of decomposition, which is what gives off that characteristic "basement smell" that most of us can recognize.

Where Do Mold and Mildew Come From?

Mold and mildew are caused by the growth of bacteria arising from unchecked, stagnant moisture. They can grow slowly over time, or rapidly if you have a major leak. A certain amount of mold spores are always in the air unless you live in an extremely arid region. The more excess moisture, the more mold growth you can expect to see. Basements, being underground, can easily become moist via cracks in walls, windows, plumbing, condensation, etc.

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Your Basement

The best way to deal with mold and mildew is to keep your basement as dry as possible. Invest in a dehumidifier, seal any leaks or cracks in the walls or floors, and invest in gutters so that rainfall drains away from your house. If you have a washing machine or water heater located below the house, be sure to check for any leaky pipes or other water leaks. 

Mildew and mold removal usually entails throwing out carpeting, furniture, and any absorbent materials such as fabrics and cardboard. Smaller items that have been only slightly contaminated will often lose both the smell and the mold when placed in bright sunshine for a couple of days. 

Next, clean thoroughly with a diluted bleach solution (10 parts water to 1 part bleach). You can also consider periodically treating problem areas with a vinegar solution in a spray bottle to help keep the bad smell at bay. 

Depending on the age of your home, and how well you and previous owners have maintained it, you may always have a slightly musty smell to contend with. Sometimes, if the problem is severe enough, you might need to look into professional remediation.

If your furnace and ducts haven’t been cleaned in a while, you may have a build-up of dust, debris, dead bugs and mice, and of course, mold, which can give your basement an unpleasant odor. Have your ductwork cleaned every one to two years.

Sewer Gas

If your basement smells like poop, rotten eggs, garbage, or any combination that produces a very foul odor, you have a big problem. Sewer gas has an overpowering smell and is also toxic --even explosive in large enough quantities. Sometimes the odor may be present only when the house is closed up and the heat or air conditioning is on.

Why does My Basement have a Sewer Smell?

This smell is created by a build-up of waste materials found in either a public sewer system or a septic system. Plumbing is meant to keep the gases inside the pipes, so if you are smelling sewer gas, you may have a clog or a crack in the system.

You may also have a clog or crack in your venting pipes. Most homes have venting pipes through the roof as part of the plumbing. These pipes are not for exhaust, but for intake of fresh air.

You may be smelling sewer gas as a result of plumbing fixtures whose traps have gone dry. That is why, if you are going to be away from home for several days or more, you should have someone flush your toilets for you occasionally. Water evaporates more quickly than you might think.

How to Get Rid of a Sewer Smell

Sewer gas problems can be very serious and will likely require you to hire a licensed plumber. Professionals are equipped to use a variety of specialized detection methods such as forcing smoke through your plumbing/septic system. 

Cat Urine 

Pungent and pervasive are the best words to describe the smell of cat urine. There are plenty of products out there that claim to kill the odor, but you will likely end up going through a similar process as with mold.

You will often need to tear out any wood or wallboard that has been sprayed. Throw out everything that has the smell attached to it. Liberally spread baking soda in the area and vacuum it up a few times. The use of Kilz or stain remover on well-cleaned walls or wood will also help.

Dead Animals

Lastly, you might detect the sickly-sweet smell of decomposition. You may have dead mice or bats in a basement wall or crevice. Unfortunately, unless you are remodeling anyway, time is the only cure for this particularly bad smell.

No homeowner wants to have a musty smelling basement, but to get rid of that smell, you're going to have to do some investigation as to the cause.

If it's a mold/mildew or cat urine issue, you'll likely be able to handle the problem yourself with the information provided. On the other hand, if you're dealing with a sewer smell issue or suspect that you have decomposing animals in inaccessible areas, you'll probably need professional help.

Use your best judgement and remember that Networx is always ready to help!

Updated February 23, 2021.

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