My house is 30 years old. The sumps have allowed an inch or so of water to intrude a couple of times over the years. I got tired of the musty stale cardboard and basement smell recently and removed everything that was permeable; cardboard, fabric, carpets. I aired it out for a couple of days and it seemed better but you can smell it in the air coming out of the vents. I scrubbed the spots where cardboard boxes got wet with bleach, but no help. Any ideas?

One thing you absolutely need is a dehumidifier for the basement. I bet companies like Servicemaster have protocols for this sort of thing. I am sure others will be here with better ideas.

Dehumidifier, you need to get rid of the humidity. I'm going to guess there's still framing within the basement? If so, is it wet still?

Don't use bleach either, I would recommend a product called Concrobium. It can be found at Lowes, Home Depot or the likes.

Dehumidifier? I’ve found the higher the humidity, the greater the smells.
Or you could buy/rent an ozone generator. But I wouldn’t stick around while it was running. They can cause breathing problems. House would need aired out after using.

The house has central air and the Mrs keeps it on 68. Not much humidity in the house. I have to keep moisture diffusers in my guitar cases. Should I divert more air into the basement? It’s already cooler down there.

I'll echo the requirement for a properly sized dehumidifier - don't get one too small or it won't do you much good.

In our basement we used to run one 70 pint dehumidifier which kept humidity levels in the closest rooms at around 45%, but the rooms farthest away would be between 55-65% and those rooms always had a slightly musty smell to them. I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, but I got a second dehumidifier and, with proper positioning of both, all areas of the basement now stay between 40-45% and I cannot detect any trace of mustiness.

Also, for years now, I've been running a TRACS air filter in the basement and I believe that has also helped with mitigating any smells. I know it's made a tremendous difference in air quality.

Edit to add:

Got my reply in after your post about not having a lot of humidity.

My recommendation is to get one or more humidity meters and place them at various spots in your basement to know what the actual levels are. My understanding is 50% is the ideal level.

Any way to get a bunch of air moving aka fans and then vent the air out of the area outside.
Seems stagnant air and humidity is causing the problem.

Get rid of the dead hookers

I think my circulation is pretty good. You can smell the basement air on the second floor any time the furnace kicks on. I put a new HVAC system in a couple weeks ago and no change. I guess I will have to get a dehumidifier.

But does that mean the smell is there all the time and the dehumidifier just makes it less noticeable? So I am not really getting rid of it? Like with a disinfectant?

The dead hookers were the first thing to go.

Concrete is a porous material, you mentioned sump pumps, so I'm assuming you have groundwater issues. Even if you don't notice visible moisture, there will still be water vapor coming through your slab and walls. Hence the constant musty odor. A dehumidifier will help significantly, assuming there is no hidden damage to framing/drywall from previous water intrusions causing a whole other issue.


A simple way to calculate the size of dehumidifier you need you'll first need to know the cubic footage of your basement then divide you CF by 100. This will be your PPD (Pints Per Day) that will need to be removed. Next you'll need to know the AHAM rating for the dehumidifier you're looking at (AHAM is different that what the manufacture states, it will be in the specs). Then divide your PPD number by the AHAM rating of the dehumidifier.

For example, if your needed PPD to remove is 120 and the AHAM rating for the dehumidifier you're looking at is 60, you'll need 2 of those dehumidifiers. Or find one that is rated at 120 PPD according to AHAM.

Disclaimer - that method is really for an active water loss/mitigation. You can more than likely error on the side of not meeting the required PPD to remove in your scenario.

Looks like I will be buying a dehumidifier soon. The problem is not as severe in winter. Here in Michigan all houses I have seen (with the exception of those built pre WW1) all have sumps and sump pumps, whether on a hill top or next to a lake.

This is not a new issue here. I have some spare time, and think it’s time to end this. It effects everyone’s allergies.

Mattw,.I will look for some Croncrobium.

Try to identify the area(s) whence the smell is emitting and treating it with OdoBan. That stuff can sometimes perform miracles. We use the version that comes in a green bottle/jug.

Do you have something to measure the humidity down there?

I use a wireless indoor outdoor temp and humidity monitor. You can put the sender in the basement and the receiver anywhere it is convenient to see upstairs.

After I determined my crawl space was OK I now have it outside as intended.

I got one like this at Lowes on sale a few years ago for ~8 bucks.

https://smile.amazon.com/AcuRi...dExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Odor ban!?! I got some for the dog already. I’ll do it.

Humidity Meter. Just ordered

Thanks guys.

Have you thought of painting the concrete with the proper concrete paint.
That would be the first thing to look at.

You need to get the moisture out of the air. Dehumidifier.

quote:

You need to get the moisture out of the air. Dehumidifier.

^^^^^^^^^^
Suggested at least twice in above posts.

I'll echo the requirement for a properly sized dehumidifier - don't get one too small or it won't do you much good.

Dehumidifier, you need to get rid of the humidity. I'm going to guess there's still framing within the basement? If so, is it wet still?

One thing you absolutely need is a dehumidifier for the basement. I bet companies like Servicemaster have protocols for this sort of thing. I am sure others will be here with better ideas.

ZSMICHAEL is maaaaaaaaaad??





Someone needs to make a meme with this..."One does not simply say DEHUMIDIFIER"

Not mad. Just irritated at redundancy and laziness in reading previous posts. Just repeat your meme five or six times for me. Not all of us have dementia. {Joking}.

Some of us are surrounded by others who do not listen. If I am mad you will know.

How to rid the basement of odor? Trap the skunk and let him go five miles from the house.