How do i get rid of moisture under my house?
Question:we have an older pier and beam house. there is a terrible smell that we think is caused by moisture. how do we get rid of the moisture, or at least some of it, or at least the stinky smell. we have checked under the house for leaks, dead animals, and the like. it is worse when it is rainy because of the moisture in the air. please help!
Answers:
fist off make sure the grade is sloped away from the house i.e. rain water / sprinklers must visibly drain away. Dont skimp on this one. Two remove all wood scraps and other debris that will rot / mold. installed the plastic over the dirt and then a powered vent fan could be used in addition. and have it checked for mold. mold usually has an odor associated with it
You probably have a leak in your pipes or an underground water problem.Lots of older homes get that musty smell when it rains without leaks!You can spray the walls,ceilings,floors, and furniture(don't forget to spray behind furniture!) liberally with Febreeze regularly until the smell gets better and then just when the smell seems to come back.Open the windows and doors everytime you get the chance to help with the "old musty" smell also.If you have old wallpaper you probably need to take it down and spray the walls well with Febreeze before painting or replacing paper.If the carpet is older it could do with a change also and don't forget to change the padding.It sounds like a lot of work and expense but it helps to get rid of the smell.I buy Febreeze at Big Lots for $2.50! It is $5 most places.You can also get coupons on their site!Been there and done that!Best wishes!
Hi,I am probably not the best to answer this as it sounds as if you are American!!.Myself i am British, it's not my fault is it .O.K so you have checked under house! Check for the not so obvious for waste leak/s, maybe a bit of a drip somewhere, this will give off a dank sort of smell could be a little acrid/stale maybe. You say pier and beam! this sound's as if "the underbuild is open to air if not make sure of good ventilation" which can solve a multitude of problem's. So think damp patches, pipes underground! other pipes running through from someone else, talk to someone if you have neigbours do they have same problem. Sorry cannot be of more help. Remember check the least obvious!! Give load's of thought to VENTILATION.
I'm assuming that you have a "closed" foundation, an access panel to get under the house, and a crawlspace. To begin, install a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is nothing more than heavy clear plastic laid direction on top of the ground beneath the house. Overlap all seams at least a foot and carefully cut the plastic around any obstructions like piers. As someone else suggested, determine that all gutters and downspouts are not leaking water, and that the rainwater is being directed away from the house. Concrete or plastic splashblocks will help with directing the water away. By the way, once you have the vapor barrier installed, any possible plumbing leaks etc. will be very easy to spot because the water will be ON TOP of the vapor barrier.
do you have any block vents. they are aluminum vents that slide to open and close. they also make a fan vent that will come on automatically when the humidity reaches a certain level...so add a vapor barrier and increase the airflow...
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