Why Does My Drywall Have Mildew?
Musty basement smells signal mildew caused by excess humidity, but controlling moisture protects your home.
Why Mildew Shows Up in Your Home
Mildew is simply a more polite name for mold, and it appears in homes with moisture or humidity problems. Like all mold, it needs moisture and organic materials to survive. That includes common household materials such as drywall, wood, carpeting, fabric, and paper.
Even when moisture isn’t visible, mildew often makes itself known through a musty odor. Homeowners typically notice this smell in basements, crawl spaces, or rarely used areas like cottages when opening them in the spring.
Because air naturally moves upward through a home, those odors and mold particles don’t stay confined below. They circulate into upper living areas, affecting indoor air quality and contributing to discomfort and health concerns like aggravated allergies and asthma.
Common Signs of Mildew and Moisture Problems
- Persistent musty odors in basements, crawl spaces, or lower levels
- Increased allergy or asthma symptoms
- Damp-feeling air even without visible water
Why Controlling Humidity Is the Key
Mildew cannot survive in dry conditions. When the air in your home is dry, your belongings stay dry, and mold loses the environment it needs to grow.
Most homeowners wouldn’t tolerate mildew on bathroom walls or shower curtains, yet moisture problems beneath the home are often ignored. Unfortunately, those below-ground areas impact the entire house.
The Right Solution for Mold and Mildew
Standard household dehumidifiers are not designed to work effectively in cooler basement and crawl space environments. High-performance dehumidification systems built specifically for these spaces are far more effective at removing moisture from the air.
Systems like SaniDry™ or Sedona™ are engineered to remove up to twice the moisture of typical dehumidifiers, helping dry out building materials, eliminate musty odors, and prevent mildew from returning.