How To Get Rid of Musty Smell in House?

Written By Leah LeitowPublished on 11/29/2021Updated on 11/3/2025

closeup of mold on wood plank in crawl space

If your home has a lingering musty smell, the culprit might be your crawl space.

Dark, humid, and often overlooked, crawl spaces are prime spots for mold and mildew growth, which can send unpleasant odors wafting through your home. If you’ve wondered, “Why does my house smell musty?” or “How to get rid of musty smell in house,” your crawl space is likely to blame.

Keeping your crawl space dry not only resolves odors but also protects your foundation from damage. Pests, another common issue in crawl spaces, can also contribute to unpleasant smells, so sealing the space and keeping it pest-free is essential. Act quickly to tackle the root causes and enjoy a fresher, healthier home.

Get Your Free Estimate

Why Does My House Smell Musty?

Before we dive into how to get rid of musty smells in your house, let’s first address why you’re smelling something under your home. The short answer? The stack effect. This natural airflow pulls air from your crawl space or basement up into your living spaces, bringing those unpleasant musty crawl space smells along with it.

If your crawl space has musty smells, this rising warm air can draw these unpleasant odors up into the main areas of your home. It’s like having an invisible elevator for smells, where the crawl space is the ground floor, and your living spaces are the upper levels.

To keep your home smelling fresh, it’s important to manage this air movement and address any issues in the crawl space where these musty smells start.

What Are The Health Concerns Of Crawl Space Smell?

Humid and smelly air from the crawl space isn’t just a nuisance; it’s also a health issue. That air is usually contaminated with whatever is culminating in the crawl space. For the most part, that will be mold spores, which may end up causing respiratory problems, headaches, and eye irritation.

Other spores and toxins may be present in the air as well. Even if there are small amounts of toxins, extended exposure can cause serious health problems.

First Steps to Take If Your Crawl Space Smells Musty

If your house smells musty, and you suspect the odor is coming from your crawl space, there are some first steps you can take if you’re comfortable getting into this tight space. However, keep in mind that crawl spaces can be dangerous to work in due to their confined nature and the possibility of breathing in mold spores. Make sure to wear proper protective gear before entering.

First, identify the source of the musty smell in your crawl space. It could stem from:

Groundwater accumulation
A leaking foundation crack
A dripping pipe
Pest droppings
A sewage issue

Once you’ve pinpointed the source, resolve the underlying problem, which may require the help of a professional. After addressing the root cause, consider how to get rid of moisture under your house by implementing preventive measures. Without these additional steps, you might find yourself dealing with musty smells and mold problems again.

What to Do When Your Crawl Space Smells Musty: Solutions

Now that you’ve tackled the tough part of addressing the source, it’s time to focus on preventing those musty smells from returning. If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of musty smell in house or why does my house smell musty, the key is to focus on keeping moisture out.

By learning how to get rid of moisture under house, you’ll prevent that musty smell in crawl space from coming back.

1. Encapsulate the Crawl Space

To eliminate odors, you can first have your crawl space encapsulated using a vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is easily installed by attaching to the walls and the crawl space floor. With encapsulation, you can be at ease knowing that your crawl space is clean and dry and, most importantly, preventing mold. A vapor barrier will also help keep the pests away since they are attracted to the water. A dead rodent in your crawl space can stink up the whole place, so this is a great additional benefit.

2. Add a Drainage System

An interior drainage system is essential for keeping the crawl space dry and, therefore, your ally in the battle against the unpleasant smell. It removes the water from the crawl space through a series of drains.

3. Install a Sump Pump

A sump pump removed water that enters the crawl space. The pit will be located in the lowest part of the home, and therefore, water will naturally flow toward it. A sump pump has a floating switch that activates when the sump pit fills with enough water. The pump will then move the water through a series of pipes and eject it outside the home, where it can cause damage to the property. It’s also useful for the pit to be large enough to accommodate a backup pump since it may be needed during the blackouts when there’s no power for the main pump.

4. Install a Crawl Space Dehumidifier

Another part of the waterproofing system you can install to prevent odors from contaminating your home is a dehumidifier. This appliance is used to keep the humidity levels under control. Since mold thrives in damp spaces, it won’t grow in your dry crawl space that is properly encapsulated. All the water the dehumidifier collects is drawn to the drainage system and removed from the house. This appliance is especially useful during the rainy and humid months of the year.

Contact FSM for Crawl Space Repair to Get Rid of Musty Smell Under House

Foundation Systems of Michigan is your go-to expert for eliminating unpleasant odors in your crawl space with proven, effective solutions.

With more than 16 years of experience in the field, we have encountered and successfully remedied a wide range of crawl space issues. Our deep understanding and expertise mean that no problem is too complex for us to handle.

Trust us to restore the health and comfort of your home.

Don’t let crawl space issues linger – contact us to schedule your free inspection today and take the first step towards a fresher, safer home environment.

Get Your Free Estimate

Crawl Space Smells Musty FAQs

What’s the cost for crawl space repair?

The price for crawl space repairs can vary based on damage severity, the size of the crawl space, and the specifics of the repair work required. Foundation Systems of Michigan will offer a detailed price breakdown during a free inspection. We pride ourselves on providing obligation-free repair quotes, straightforward pricing, and various payment plans.

Do crawl space sump pumps come in different varieties?

Foundation Systems of Michigan offers submersible sump pumps with various pumping capacities to handle different water flow situations. Our sump pump solutions also include battery backup options, providing an added layer of protection in case of power outages. Our experts will complete a thorough, free crawl space inspection to determine which sump pump system is right for your home.

Are open crawl space vents problematic?

Historically, open crawl space vents were thought to enhance airflow under homes to prevent moisture and mold. However, experts have discovered that these vents often contribute to these issues instead.

Open vents allow unregulated air, water, and pests into the crawl space, causing high humidity, odors, infestations, unhealthy conditions, and structural challenges. Foundation Systems of Michigan addresses these issues by sealing vents and incorporating other encapsulation essentials like waterproofing, dehumidification, and vapor barriers. Get in touch for more information and to schedule a free inspection.

Leah Leitow

Content Writer

Leah is a Content Writer for Groundworks with more than ten years of experience working in the foundation repair industry. Her experience ranges from working with homeowners to find the right solution to training inspectors and staff. In her background as a Michigan journalist, she gained invaluable insight into people's lives throughout our state. Leah lives in metro Detroit with her husband and two sons.