Smell something funny in your house, but you just can’t tell where it’s coming from? Did you know that your crawl space is the first stop for about 50% of the air you breathe in your home? So, if you’re smelling something funky with no detectable source in your home, the answer could be beneath your feet.
Here, we’ll discover what could be causing that nasty smell, how it travels up to your living space, and how you can fight back against nasty smells.
Where Do Bad Crawl Space Smells Come From?
Standing Water
In the 1960s through the 1990s, home builders widely believed that crawl spaces should be installed with openings to allow a healthy airflow. Over time, it was discovered that crawl space vents were the source of crawl space related issues, as the openings allowed for humidity, water, pests, and other debris an entry point into the crawl space. If your crawl space has a vent or lacks any sort of protection, water is likely to creep in and stagnate, creating a humid environment that attracts pests and perpetuates mold.
Mold
Since humidity and even standing water can find its way into your crawl space, mold will surely follow if the moisture is unchecked. Mold reproduction is airborne, meaning that it can easy spread and latch on to other areas in your crawl space, and that it gives off a particular smell. By the time you’re smelling the mold in your home, it will have progressed to a severe level. But even before it gave off a potent scent, the toxins in the mold may already be affecting your home’s inhabitants through allergies and asthma.
Garbage & Stray Items
Whether it’s from you, home contractors, or previous owners of your home, trash located in your crawl space should be safely cleaned out. Just like any other unsavory problem sign lurking in your crawl space, trash can fester and stink over time. Not to mention, it can be just another area of your crawl space to acquire mold.
Backed Up Sewage Lines
Sewer lines that run under your home are susceptible to clogging and backing up over time. If you have an old home, your pipes may be vulnerable to cracking, corrosion, and leakage. This type of crawl space contamination can be dangerous, so it’s best to call an emergency plumber as soon as you discover sewage leaks in your crawl space.
Pests, Both Alive & Deceased
There are many different types of pests that can slither their way into your open crawl space. In Virginia, the most common and the most smelly are roaches, cave and camel crickets, snakes, rodents, and even raccoons. When these pests take root in your crawl space, you may be able to hear some of them; and you’ll definitely smell them. As the circle of life plays out, you may end up with the rotten remains of these pests causing a stink beneath your home.
How Does the Air Travel into Your Living Space?
So, you’ve figured out what might be causing the stench. But if your crawl space is separate from the rest of your home, how do the smells find your nose in the comfort of your living area? Here are the two basic ways that happens.
Air Ducts
As you might already know, crawl spaces are primarily built for the purpose of concealing the “guts” of your home, like piping, ductwork, and various compact appliances. Namely it’s the location of your home’s air ducts. With a nasty crawl space that attracts pests and allows mold to thrive, these air ducts are at risk of acquiring damage. Termites or other hungry pests can chew holes in these air ducts, allowing an easy passageway for mold spores and scents from animal excrement to fill the rooms in your home.
The Stack Effect
You’ve heard the common saying that hot air rises—well that’s true, especially when it comes to your home. In houses, this phenomenon is called the Stack Effect. Its’ the idea that the air in your crawl space will eventually rise in through your home and out through your roof. With this air comes the toxins festering in your crawl space from all the sources we explained above. That’s why crawl space health is so important. While it’s understandable to have an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to your crawl space, it can be detrimental to the structure of your home and most importantly, the health and safety of your family. A happy crawl space makes a happy home.
How You Can Combat These Issues
As a homeowner, you have a lot to manage. Add a nasty smell coming from down below and things can start to feel overwhelming. JES is here to help you with simple solutions that can prevent crawl space stenches from infecting your home again.
- Remove the Source of the Smell. Our team of experts will provide a free assessment of your crawl space to: identify the source of the stench; and recommend a pest control or mold remediation company that can clean up the area. However, only having the source of the smell removed won’t protect your crawl space in the long run. You’ll want to fortify your crawl space with solutions that can protect you for years to come.
- Dehumidifier. As we discussed, humidity and excess moisture is the main culprit of many crawl space issues. With regulated humidity levels in your crawl space, it becomes a less attractive place for pests and mold. Dehumidifiers also act as a form of purification, by filtering out the excess humidity. It can make a drastic difference on your family’s asthma or allergy symptoms.
- Crawl Space Vent Cover or Door. The crawl space door is the source of many crawl space issues, but we have a solution for that. A crawl space vent cover can completely seal off your home from the outside elements. By sealing off your crawl space, you can create a clean, cool, and dry space that supports you for years to come.
- Vapor Barrier. For added muscle, a crawl space vapor barrier helps not only regulate temperature, but prevents water from getting in. It also protects your appliances, like your dehumidifier and even sump pump from being flooded or being ruined by water. At JES, we only use the best materials. That’s why our vapor barriers are as thick as they come, at 20-mil at its thinnest portions.
Find your service area
Washington DC & Northern Virginia
Is your beautiful Northern Virginia home cursed by a cracking, leaking, or settling foundation? High humidity and expansive clay soil may be the culprit.
Charlottesville, VA
Whether your home is old or new, the expansive clay potent in Charlottesville can impair your home’s foundation. Cracks, leaks, and sagging floors are common here.
Hampton Roads, VA
Heavy precipitation year-round in coastal areas of Virginia can be a pain for any homeowner. Is your crawl space, basement, or concrete slab prepared?
Northeast North Carolina
Between hurricane season and sandy soil, homes in the Outer Banks and greater Northeast NC are subject to structural damage from erosion and poor water management.
Lynchburg, VA
The hard red clay predominant in Lynchburg is great for agriculture, but destructive for crawl spaces and basements. Experts can help you find a long-lasting solution.
Roanoke, VA
Settled in the valley and ridge region, Roanoke homeowners know flooding all too well. JES has the solutions you need to fortify your home against the elements.
Danville, VA
Expansive soils in Danville may be the cause for leaking basements, moldy crawl spaces, and cracked foundations. Local experts can help you fight back.
Richmond-Petersburg, VA
Sandy soils in Richmond are prone to eroding in the face of heavy rainfall and storms. Crawl space encapsulation and moisture management can help you fight back.
Baltimore, MD
Thick humidity spans across DC in the summer, and it won’t spare your basement or crawl space. Waterproofing solutions may be your best line of defense.
JES Has What You Need for A Smell-Free Crawl Space
We understand it can be stressful and even embarrassing to have smells permeating from your crawl space. You may hold off on inviting people to your house. And you may worry about the health of your spouse or children.
At JES, we’re eager to provide a free inspection of your crawl space where we can find the true source of the smell, and work with you on a plan to make it better. We won’t pressure you into signing with us. We provide free, no-obligation quotes for our repairs so you can take time to figure out what’s right for you. It’s easy to start your crawl space journey with us. Get started by filling out this form or calling us today!
