Why Your Basement Smells Musty

Tuesday, May 27th, 2014

Each and every one of us knows what a basement smells like. My childhood home was built in the mountains of rural New York over 130 years ago with a stone-walled basement. The second that basement door was opened the signature smell filled the area.

Some might call it “musty” or “stuffy”, others would say “stale”, and still some just go with “nasty”. It is one of the most memorable smells a home can possess and is caused by things that would turn a homeowner’s stomach. That basement smell that brings me back to my joyful childhood years is caused by mold!

Mold needs nothing but organic material and humidity to grow and flourish, and the North Carolina summer weather brings us both. Even if a basement is completely waterproofed, mold spores can still find a way in, make themselves at home and ruin your day.

Some mold specialists or contractors may suggest covering the walls and floors with anti-mold paint, but what about storage boxes, furniture, carpets or entertainment systems? Finished basements may also be susceptible to mold growth.

Tar Heel Basement Systems suggests a completely different approach: professional dehumidifying, an area where the saying “you get what you pay for” directly applies.

Home improvement stores sell cheaper, less reliable models that might work for a short time, but also require the homeowner to empty it on a regular basis. If there are 168 hours in a week, and the average amount of time a cheap dehumidifier takes to fill up and shut off is 12 hours, a homeowner would have to empty it FOURTEEN times every week!

Tar Heel Basement System’s Tar Heel self-draining dehumidifying system takes all of the work out of that process and is extremely energy efficient.

Along with making the basement an unsuitable environment for mold, the Tar Heel Dehumidifier system cools the air below the main floors, lowering total energy costs and making the home a more comfortable and healthy area. The system also prevents the nesting of dust mites, one of the most common indoor allergens.

If your basement has that signature “musty” smell, your home cooling costs are through the roof or your indoor allergies are getting out of hand, the experts at Tar Heel Basement Systems are ready to lend you a hand.

Summer’s end is nowhere in sight but your mold or humidity problem can be stopped in its tracks with our help. Call us for more information and a free, no obligation estimate today!