What Is Involved In An Odor Investigation Inspection?

Although it may sound too good to be true, you can use your nose to pretty much identify any dangers that may be present in your home before they turn into a bigger problem. This is why you should never ignore a bad smell, especially a persistent one. 

While some foul odors are sometimes harmless (maybe someone forgot to take out the trash), others may be indicative of a hidden danger in your home. 

A Certified Inspectors odor inspection involves checking for a variety of unpleasant odors, today we’ll focus primarily on one of the most common smells plaguing Florida homeowners - a musty smell indicative of mold growth.

Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

What’s Behind That Musty Smell?

A musty smell (often described as the smell of wet socks) is a dead giveaway there’s mold growth somewhere in your home. Unfortunately, this scent isn’t very strong, and since everyone has a different level of odor sensitivity it may be hard to pinpoint the source of the smell without working with odor control experts. 

Plus, the way the smell is perceived can also vary between different people. While the “wet socks” comparison is very common, many report the smell to be earthy, dusty, or similar to wet wood. 

If the odor you sense is light, there’s a possibility that the mold spores have just started forming. In that case, you should schedule an odor Investigation ASAP to identify the source and eliminate the issue before it goes out of hand. 

On the other hand, if the odor is consistent and pungent, the mold infestation has likely reached concerning levels. At this point, the mold is already damaging your home and possibly leading to severe health effects.

When performing odor testing, our odor control team generally encounters mold. While chemical and rodent odors are very common, due to the humid environment we live in, we often detect mold spores and find signs of bona fide infestations during our inspections.

What Causes Mold?

Mold spores are everywhere. They can easily enter your home via windows and doorways, or attach themselves to clothing. However, this generally isn’t an issue and you can go for years without experiencing any problems or health concerns as these spores may never transform into mold that infests the home. 

Yet, Florida is the most humid state where the air is always relatively clammy. This may not be enough to lead to mold, but it can happen after even the tiniest amount of water is left in your home. For instance, a leak, a sizable spill, or a burst pipe may all lead to standing water which creates a breeding ground for mold. 

The longer you leave this condition untreated, the mold will slowly but surely get out of control. 

Generally, this happens in areas that are relatively out of sight - in the basement, behind the toilet, or under the sink. Unfortunately, it can quickly start spreading throughout your home and reach other areas of the home within a few weeks. 

What Are The Most Common Spots Where Mold Growth Occurs?

By keeping these areas dry and clean, you can minimize the damage. This is especially true if you schedule an odor inspection right after you notice a hint of a musty smell. 

Mold-prone areas include:

• Bathtub or the shower
• Areas near the sink or the toilet
• Floors 
• Pantries
• Areas near refrigerators
• Windows or window sills
• Areas close to microwaves or stoves

What Are The Physical Symptoms Of Mold Growth?

As we previously mentioned, mold growth can go beyond just making your home smelly and can cause significant physical symptoms and health issues.

When humans inhale mold, it can lead to:

• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose and congestion
• Rashes
• Eye irritation
• Wheezing
• Headaches
• Sneezing
• Lung irritation

While a healthy person may be able to handle these symptoms, people with underlying respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, weakened immune systems, cystic fibrosis, and allergies will not fare as well. Their symptoms could worsen and cause secondary conditions that will drastically impede their health. 

In addition to health concerns, your home may also suffer extensive damage. Along with making your home look horrid, mold could damage walls and cause expensive structural issues. Similarly, mold could reach your ductwork, which won’t only make your indoor air quality worse, but could also cause damage to the expensive HVAC system. 

What Do Our Odor Control Services Include?

Along with detecting the presence of mold, our experts will also eliminate other concerns, such as toxic compounds. We’ll sample the vapors in your home and conduct extensive lab testing to identify if any of the smells are the result of hazardous materials. 

We can achieve this by using either sorbet tubes to quickly absorb the particles in your indoor air or stainless steel canisters to grab larger samples. This requires a great deal of expertise as conducting odor testing is no easy feat and dodgy sampling often leads to non-detects.

Moreover, we also use cutting-edge equipment to test for combustion gasses. These instruments are highly sensitive and allow us to conduct a quick examination of the odors in your home. 

Never Ignore An Unpleasant Smell

Regardless of whether you have rodent urine, a chemical, or a musty smell in your home, you must act quickly. By identifying the source of the odor early, you can eliminate health concerns and potentially minimize the damage your home suffers as a result. 

This ultimately saves you money, especially if you’re dealing with mold. 

But why call us? 

Certified Inspectors is a reputable company operating in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Treasure Coast, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter & Pasco Counties. With a spotless record and 30 years of experience in the business (along with all the required InterNACHI certifications), we can provide you with detailed odor control services, allowing you to resolve issues before they get out of hand.

Most importantly, our services can provide you with the peace of mind that your home is safe and your indoor air is as healthy as can be. 

Fill out our form to receive a quote and start addressing that unpleasant smell.