Homeowners in Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni Home are particularly prone to old house smell, mold and mildew as a result of living on the west coast of British Columbia. Not every restoration company is thorough in their elimination, remediation, cleaning and decontamination techniques etc.
Old house smell is that musty odor that creeps up and greets you the instant you set foot inside an older home. What is this mysterious stench, anyway? And most importantly: Is there a way to get rid of it?
What causes that old home smell
Three things that musty old houses have in common: little ventilation, high humidity, and darkness,
How to remove old house smell:
Dry the place out. Opening up the windows and airing the place out.
Fix any leaks. If your house is humid and you’re sure you don’t have any leaks. Keep your air-conditioner or a dehumidifier running.
Light, especially sunlight with its ultraviolet component, is a good disinfectant.
Clean your furniture. Soft stuff absorbs ambient moisture, which can lead to mold growth.
Deep-clean the guts of your house. Example: Furnaces and air ducts can have a tremendous amount of mold that can grow in them when they’re not being used.
Declutter under every sink
Wash your walls
Neutralize all spores, bacteria and fungi utilizing the experts at Pacific Decontamination Services
Additional areas that Pacific Decontamination Services treat to remove old house smells and odors.
Water and pipes
The most common source of that old house smell is mold and mildew. Over the years, water eventually gets into a house, no matter how well-built it might be. Pipes leak. Roofs get damaged. Water gets splashed onto floors. It creeps into the soil underneath the house. Overall, it combines to create a musty smell.
Walls
Another common reason is right in front of you: the walls themselves. Over time, the walls absorb the odors that they are subject to on a regular basis. If anyone ever smoked in the house, the walls might be holding that smoky odor. Does your kitchen smell like old cooking oil? That’s probably just what it is, right there in the walls.
Floors
The floors have seen their share of everything, from dust to water to spills of completely indeterminate origin. They might have also seen their share of pets. And where there are pets, sometimes there are odorous accidents. When the scent of pet urine gets into the floors, almost nothing works to get it out.
The air itself
Don’t forget that ductwork is subject to the same odors the walls experience. It never fails: Old ductwork is a grimy, dusty mess on the inside. In some cases, filters haven’t been changed often enough, and registers have never had a good scrubbing. The scent might also be coming from the heating units in the home.
Ductwork and Furnace (HVAC).
Rodents – Rats and Mice – Those unwelcome visitors
One of the more unfortunate sources of old house smells is the death of a little critter or two. Old houses are notorious for small open areas that allow various wildlife and pests to roam as they please. They get up into the attic or enjoy the crawlspace for a while, and sometimes that’s where they die. When that happens, the unpleasant odors are quite evident.
Mold – Don’t Forget the Dangers and Warning Signs of Mold
How Can You Neutralize Mold In Your Crawl, Attic, Home or Vehicle?
We neutralize your mold by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical into your attic, crawlspace, or basement. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by spray, mist, foam, or fog. We do not use a tent. The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the premise for approximately 5 hours in total. Read more about how we work.
Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to 99.99999% of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.
What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?
Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us!
Serving All of Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.
