Mouldy Smell....
 

We have a mud room, which is a small addition to the front of our property - added probably 10 - 15 years ago. It houses our coats and shoes and bags.

For the last two days it has smelled really moudly in there - I went through everything in there yesterday, doing the sniff test and nothing smells mouldy, just the room itself.

My plan tonight is to remove everything and see if the smell remains. Any ideas what it could be? Could it be water getting into the roof/wall space and making the insulation mouldy?

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

What's on the floor? Mats, rugs, or just bare floor? If mats or the like, turn them over, could be mold on the bottom.

Otherwise, you could be right, possibly in the insulation :(

Edited to add - are there gutters/eavestroughs on the mudroom? If the gutters are full of moldy, decaying leaves, the smell might be getting in.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

The floor is just a tiled floor - no mats of anything.

No gutters around that part of the house either - I am sure it is the insulation but him indoors says not...let's see who is right! :rofl:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

If the vapor barrier was not sealed properly when the addition was done it can also cause damp and mold problems behind the wallboard. It will also take some time for this to manifest itself.

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I think it may have something to do with the new roof that was put on after last years nightmare...may have to send hubs up into the loft to have a dig around.

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If so, have him check how many vents there are at the bottom of the roof, where it meets the vertical wall. There should be Styrofoam vents to allow air circulation in the attic or loft to the outside.
Is there an internal fan, in a bathroom for instance, that is vented into the attic ?
What is under the mud room ? Basement or concrete ?

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Looks like Google Ads have solved the problem:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Was the previous owner a serial killer ? Tiled floor and all that.

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Its funny to watch the people try and dance to this.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

There is one vent into/out of the mud room. This section does not have the styrofoam vents though the rest of the house does - it just has one large square vent at the front.

Under the mud room is concrete.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Uh-oh! We had a mouldy smell, turned out half the exterior walls were rotted through from poorly installed windows/doors and deck causing many leaks, plus the stud walls were about eight inches below grade!

Some options I can suggest are:

1) Pulling off some dry wall (the expensive & messy) and having a gander.

2) Get a moisture sensor and run it around the walls/ceiling of the offending room.

3) Get a home inspector in to do it for you (also expensive, but a good one "should" have the right equipment to trace the problem).

Whatever you do - don't ignore it.
Good luck.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

When we had the flood last year, the contractors ripped out all the drywall and insulation - except in this room - absolutely no idea why they left it - a brown spot appeared on the ceiling which I pointed out - they cut a hole and waved an arm into the hole and that was that.

They were paid to do the work in there but never did - I can only assume it is from the insulation not being removed - the rest of the attic space now has blown in insulation - the space above this room still has the old insulation that got soaking wet. Needless to say I am on to the insurance company today to see what they will do to help out.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Good idea...

Also, I noticed that our crappy tire flyer has moisture sensors much reduced (now $70 IIRC).. yours may have too.

Given the flooding and the brown spot, and the lack of remedial work in the mud room after the flood, it doesnt sound like the smell is going to go away on its own Im afraid....

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Yup I tend to agree. The insurance guy is currently ignorning my calls - I may have to step it up a notch to voicemails left every 10 mins..lol

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Well that worked - the Contractors who I despise will be out this afternoon with a machine (that probably means a torch) to see what is causing the stinky stench.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Make sure that you take pictures of the "inspection" and, if they pull things apart, do the same, particularly if you see mildew or mold. Don't give them an inch !! Good luck.:thumbup:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Oh I will - I have learned my lesson this time around!

Thank you!

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

That could be it, but Google ads had this interesting suggestion at the foot of the screen when I scrolled down.
"Treat Vagina Odour - UK
Remove vaginal smells & odours with Nirena hypoallergenic cleansing gel
www. ShytoBuy. co. uk/ Vagina-Smell":eek:
I think you might have realised by now if this was your problem:rofl:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

The contractors have been and gone. They bought an infra red device with them and scanned the whole room and apparantly there is nothing. They agree that there is a mouldy smell, but are saying there is no sign of dampness so they disagree that is anything to do with them...surprise surprise.

So, what next?

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Err. Did you ask them what this "infra red device" was supposed to reveal?

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

I sure did as I assumed they would have needed a moisture reader. Apparantly it would show a change in heat in a damp area. Though I really do not see how that would find the mould.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

A change in heat? Hmm.

If you can ask them for a better description of the "device" including a manufacturer's name and a product number or similar, I'd be happy to find out for you what it really detects.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

You could splash the $80 for the canadian tire meter (use it and take it back if you can?), but not sure exactly what you would be looking for with it?

Or else rip a bit of drywall off in a discreet area and see what lurks behind.

I suppose IR heat scanning might show a cool spot, which could be indicative of a damp spot where mould could lurk, but If it smells of mould the only way to ensure some peace of mind might be to rip out some drywall, even if you have to patch it up afterwards:(

What would Mike Holmes do:eek:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

He scanned the room from top to bottom and showed me that the temp was a steadyish 22/23 degrees. He said he would expect the temp to drop to show signs of dampness.

This looks just like the one he had - http://www.instrumart.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=31016

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Does it detect bulls**t?

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Ahh if only Mike Holmes was my Dad...!! I am currently waiting for David to put a ladder up in there so I can sniff at the ceiling..lol I have sniffed everywhere else and cannot smell the mouldy smell....! The contractor says he remembers taking out the old insulation but he thinks he put it back in again after..:blink:

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Anyone checked the attic area? Could be wet up there?

Where was this brown spot before? It must have been wet at some point, so it could be supporting mould as a result?

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

He tried but the gap through to this space is tiny - just enough to let the air through to circulate.

The brown spot was cut away and patched up. I think to be honest the only way we will know what it is, is to take a bit of the ceiling down and have a shufty.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

OK. So it measures temperature not heat. Fluke is a good manufacturer and I looked at the product specification linked in your link.

If the results are negative with that, then there's unlikely to be a "standing" wet spot. I don't know much about mould, but being Canada, it's a dry mould I'd expect. <sorry>

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Sorry - I am a girl and don't explain these toolly things very well...lol

We will see what happens when the ceiling comes down!

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Hopefully in a controlled manner :) :p

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That thermal imager is good for detecting air leaks/cold spots where there may be missing insulation etc - NOT moisture. I call BS on the contractor! You need a moisture sensor, not a thermal one. The mould is likely dry (at the moment), so there would be nothing showing.

TEST, please ignore
 

Yup I think your right - however the relationship we have with the contractor is beyond strained - they hate us, we hate them....we await their response to the visit tonight and we will see where we go from there!

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Just remember Amy, when you rip that ceiling out, I'll try and recommend a good taper...there must be one out there somewhere???

We've got a similar problem to you regarding smell, but I think it's mice living in our walls...we can hear them and smell them, so tonight i cut a hole in the wall and set some traps, so here's hoping:fingerscrossed:

Good luck with your findings:thumbup:

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Ooh yes if you don't mind..:rofl:

We had mice...and then got Horace the mouse/anything that moves eater...! I can arrange to hire him out to you, for a price :0)

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Does Horace do free estimates?????
If not, I'll need to get several quotes:rofl:

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Well he is kind of free - a saucer of milk usually = a free estimate :0)

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

The contractors have been today and taken the ceiling down. Some of the insulation had old wet spots on them though there was no mould on them.

Some of the wood that the drywall was attached to has black dotty marks on it and water marks - I asked what it was and was told it was just dirt - I am not so sure. So the contractor told me he was leaving the ceiling down until my OH can see it. After yet another argument with the tosser of a contractor I am now ready to strangle someone.

Gah

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

Like this?
http://www.nlcpr.com/images/mold_stud.jpg
Yeah, sure it is:rolleyes:

http://www.nlcpr.com/Mold.php

Did you get that cheapo mousture meter...that would be a good spot to use it.

Maybe post some pics if you want a 2nd, 3rd, 4th 5th etc opinion;)

Seriously, if it looks like that and he said it was "just dirt" I would report him to whatever contractors association he claims to be a member of, and take pictures, send them to the insurance company along with a report of his "just dirt" comments, and do my best to make sure he never works for them again. What a tosser.

Re: Mouldy Smell....
 

It does look like that! I shall take a couple of pics now.....