Help! Musty smell in living room, but no visible signs.

[Anonymous]

We noticed a musty smell in out living room starting about a week ago. There is no visible damage on windows or the floor (no carpet). I'm not sure if it's coming form the fireplace or if it's somewhere in the walls. How do I track it down?

[Anonymous]

Is the flue shut? Maybe something died in your chimney?

Also, is your living room above a basement? Could there have been water coming in down below? What's above?

Lastly, have you cleaned your gutters recently?

[Anonymous]

Get a uv infrared inspection

[Anonymous]

The living room is above the basement and it's dry. Above is the attic and it's dry. We just had the roof repaired last year. Our gutters were cleaned this summer. I think checking the flue is a good idea. We never use it, so I'm not sure how, but I guess I can google.

20:16 - Have you had this done? If so, who did you use?

[Anonymous]

Old wooden windows?

Happens in our house sometimes after it rains, depending on how the wind is blowing and whether the window sills get wet.

[Anonymous]

After checking all the other ^ good suggestions make sure its not in your upholstery. It could have gotten wet without you noticing. Especially if you have a pet.

[Anonymous]

Bay window? Just found out ours is leaking and the wood frame is turning to mulch.

[Anonymous]

Our fireplace gets that smell sometimes and I have no idea why

[Anonymous]

A dehumidifier will get rid of the smell.

[Anonymous]

Check your living room vents- any chance a kiddo stuck something through/down the vent? Or something crawled into the vent (gross bit it happens).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We noticed a musty smell in out living room starting about a week ago. There is no visible damage on windows or the floor (no carpet). I'm not sure if it's coming form the fireplace or if it's somewhere in the walls. How do I track it down?

It is electrical. I'm not kidding on this. When you smell it strongly, unscrew the outlet plates in the room and touch them to feel the heat. If an outlet is hot, that is the issue. The smell is the burning of a worn-out connector. Kinda smells like a dead animal/mold combo. Call an electrician today!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We noticed a musty smell in out living room starting about a week ago. There is no visible damage on windows or the floor (no carpet). I'm not sure if it's coming form the fireplace or if it's somewhere in the walls. How do I track it down?

It is electrical. I'm not kidding on this. When you smell it strongly, unscrew the outlet plates in the room and touch them to feel the heat. If an outlet is hot, that is the issue. The smell is the burning of a worn-out connector. Kinda smells like a dead animal/mold combo. Call an electrician today!

Wow, thanks. Cannot figure out what is wrong with our place and have had pest services and mold testing. Guess this is next.

If I can't find the source, will an electrician check all the outlets?

[Anonymous]

Isn't it simple to replace a worn-out outlet yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it simple to replace a worn-out outlet yourself?

Very

[Anonymous]

If you have central A/C, we had a musty smell earlier this cooling season...it was dirty a/c coil that had some mildew built up on it. Coils needed to be cleaned out by our HVAC company.