Humans are adaptable creatures, and we can get used to unpleasant conditions—like bad smells in the home—pretty quickly, especially when we’re around them all the time. But when a friend comes over and wrinkles up their nose as they step into your house, that stinky smell will come rushing back to you.
A bad-smelling home isn’t just embarrassing, though. It can also be bad for your health. Musty, mildewy smells are usually a sign of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and can mean that you have mold growing in your home.
What Causes Bad Smells in the Home?
Bad smells in the home can be caused by a lot of things, like dirty laundry, overflowing trashcans, and forgotten produce rotting in the back of your fridge. But smells that linger and permeate the entire home are usually caused by problems that can’t be solved just by doing a load of laundry or taking out the trash.
Mold and mildew growth are two of the most common causes of bad smells in the home, and their presence is a serious health concern for you and your family. Household mold can cause a number of symptoms, including:
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Coughing
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Wheezing
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Sneezing
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Headaches
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Sore throat
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Eye irritation
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Rashes
Inhaling mold spores can also make existing conditions, like asthma, allergies, and COPD worse, and long-term exposure can lead to serious illnesses, like chronic respiratory disease.
When you notice a bad smell in your home, it can be tempting to light a candle or spray some air freshener to cover it up. But doing so can actually make the symptoms of poor IAQ worse. Most candles, air fresheners, and even cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which you and your family then breathe in along with the mold spores already circulating your home.
How to Get Rid of Bad Smells in Your Home
The best way to get rid of musty, moldy smells in your house is to stop mold from growing in the first place. Mold needs three things to grow:
- Heat. Mold can live in temperatures between 40-100 degrees, and your home is sure to fall within that range
- Food source. Your home’s construction materials provide an adequate food source
- Water. Any excess moisture that gets inside gives mold a water source.
Moisture is the only one of these three factors that can be eliminated. Whole-home solutions, like air sealing and insulation for your Peoria, IL, home will keep outside air from infiltrating your house. This is important for moisture control because air carries moisture with it. So, by stopping air infiltration, you’re stopping moisture intrusion as well.
You can further reduce the risk of home mold growth by controlling humidity levels with a humidifier or dehumidifier and upgrading your ventilation systems. To keep your indoor air at its healthiest, you may want to think about installing an air purifier or air filter as well.
Solve Your IAQ Issues With an Energy Audit
With an energy audit from AAA Northgate, you can find out how air and moisture are getting into your home so that you can stop them at the source, preventing mold growth, improving air quality, and ridding your home of that awful moldy smell.
We’ve been serving homeowners in the Peoria, East Peoria, Bloomington, and Pekin, IL areas since our founding in 1948, and we’re proud to be a contractor that local homeowners can trust. Our expert team is ready to help make your home as healthy and comfortable as possible.