When you work hard to maintain a great-looking home but a strange smell wafts around, you must be wondering why your house smells stale.
Home is the place that you look forward to every day, and most homeowners work hard to keep their homes looking their best.
But sometimes, a strange stale smell wafts around and can throw off the welcoming feeling you look forward to. In some cases, it may also pose a health risk to you and your family.
So it is natural to wonder why your house smells stale.
Many factors can cause your house to smell stale. Excess moisture, cigarette smoke, mold and mildew growth, and inadequate airflow could all cause your home to have a stale smell.
Moreover, cigarette smoke, dirt and debris in your HVAC system, pet odor, and soiled carpets could all cause your house to smell stale as well.
Certain smells are more noticeable because they are overtly unpleasant such as cat’s pee and rotten eggs.
But what about the stale smell? It’s not overwhelming, but even subtle staleness can continue to build up and make your home an unwelcoming place.
Based on extensive research, we have compiled this guide so you can know all the potential causes of stale smell in your home.
So let’s delve in deep and understand why your house smells stale.
Why Does My House Smell Stale?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons why your house smells stale.
The Presence of Moisture in Your Home
One of the most common causes of stale smell in homes is the presence of moisture and water in places where it shouldn’t be.
Whether it is a leaky pipe hidden inside the wall or a humid basement, these can all contribute to a stale smell in the house.
Moreover, even a pile of wet towels in the bathroom can cause your home to have a stale smell.
Another possible cause is also related to the presence of moisture is mold and mildew.
The presence of water and moisture is a major contributor to mold and mildew growth, and the growth of mold and mildew can create an unpleasant smell in your home.
In some cases, the presence of mold due to excessive moisture can also pose several health risks.
If the presence of moisture in places where it shouldn’t be is the cause of a stale smell in your home, you should get in touch with a professional plumber as soon as possible, and they can guide you on how to get rid of the stale smell in your home as soon as possible.
Moreover, you should also ensure that you run a dehumidifier in your home and clean all wet items.
Inadequate Airflow in Your Home
Another possible cause of stale, musty smell in your home is inadequate airflow in your home.
When the air inside your home is stagnant, it can lead to contaminants getting trapped indoors, which results in this scent.
If inadequate airflow is the culprit, you need to improve the air circulation in your home by taking measures such as keeping windows open or running ceiling fans which promote airflow inside your home and bring fresh air from the outdoors.
Cigarette Smoke
If you have a smoker in your home, cigarette smoke may also be a possible culprit for a stale, musty smell in the home.
In that case, improving the airflow in your home will help you get more fresh air from the outside indoors, which will improve the air quality and the smell in your home.
Dirt and Debris in Your HVAC System
It is not uncommon for dirt and debris to accumulate over time in equipment such as HVAC systems.
Moreover, even moisture can get trapped in the HVAC system, which can cause the home to smell stale.
If the dirty HVAC system is the cause of a stale smell in your home, you should go for professional cleaning of your HVAC system at least twice a year to ensure fresh air in your home.
Pet Odor and Soiled Carpets
If you have pets at home that urinates or defecates on the carpet, your carpet can easily absorb the liquid.
Even when you clean it, the presence of moisture absorbed in the carpet can attract bacteria and result in a smelly home.
If you have soiled carpets with lingering odors, it’s best to get your carpets professionally cleaned at least twice a year,
How Do I Fix the Stale Smell in My Home?
The first step to fixing the stale smell in your home is to identify the cause of the unpleasant smell of your home.
Depending upon the cause of the unpleasant smell, you can take adequate measures to fix the stale smell in your home. From consulting the professional for the HVAC system or simply doing a deep clean, fixing stale smells in your home is relatively easy in most cases.
Summing Up Your Home Smelling Stale
There are a few causes as to why your home could smell stale, but thankfully they’re all pretty easy to fix. Make sure you investigate these areas we’ve talked about to get to the bottom of the stale smell in your home and get it fixed in no time!
