Can musty smells after water damage make you sick?

Yes. Musty odors after water damage often indicate mold or mildew growth, which can affect indoor air quality. Exposure to mold spores and damp environments may cause or worsen symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, headaches, eye and throat irritation, sinus issues, and asthma flare-ups. Children, older adults, pets, and anyone with allergies or respiratory conditions are especially sensitive and should avoid long-term exposure until the moisture and mold issues are properly resolved.

How do I get rid of the musty smell after water damage?

To remove a musty smell after water damage, you must fully dry the affected area using dehumidifiers and air movers, inspect for hidden moisture, treat or remove mold, sanitize the area with antimicrobial solutions, and replace materials like carpet padding or drywall if they are too saturated. Surface drying alone will not remove the odor.

Can a musty smell make you sick?

Yes. A musty smell after water damage usually indicates mold growth, which can cause headaches, coughing, sneezing, sinus irritation, breathing issues, and allergy flare-ups. Children, older adults, pets, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems are especially sensitive to mold-related odors and spores.

Do I need a professional to remove musty smells from my home?

You may need a professional if the musty smell lasts more than 24 hours, you cannot find the source, you recently experienced water damage, your crawlspace has moisture issues, or humidity in your home remains high. Professionals can locate hidden moisture, remove mold, and fully dry the property using commercial equipment.

Why Is There a Musty Smell After Water Damage in Murfreesboro, TN?

Q: Why is there a musty smell after water damage in Murfreesboro, TN?

A musty smell after water damage in a Murfreesboro home usually means moisture is still trapped in building materials such as drywall, carpeting, padding, subfloors, or inside crawlspaces. In Middle Tennessee’s humid climate, mold can begin to grow within 24–48 hours of water exposure. Even if you cannot see visible mold yet, the musty odor often indicates early mold growth or damp organic materials that have not been fully dried.

What you need to know

If you’ve recently had a leak, overflow, storm issue, or unexpected water damage in your Murfreesboro home — and now you’re smelling a musty, damp odor — it’s a sign that moisture is still trapped somewhere. This smell often appears before visible damage shows up.

Quick Answer

A musty smell after water damage means moisture is still present inside your home. In Murfreesboro’s humid climate, mold can begin forming within 24–48 hours after water exposure — even if you can’t see it yet.

Why Your Murfreesboro Home Smells Musty After Water Damage

Common questions answered

Why Your Murfreesboro Home Smells Musty After Water Damage

Water can move into areas like drywall, insulation, carpets, and subfloors. Even when the surface feels dry, moisture underneath creates musty odors.

Mold Begins Growing Quickly

Middle Tennessee humidity accelerates mold growth. The odor often appears before visible mold shows up.

Carpets & Padding Absorb Odors

Carpet padding acts like a sponge, also it can hold odor-causing moisture deep within the material.

Crawlspace Moisture Issues

Many Murfreesboro homes, especially those in areas with high groundwater or storm run-off, experience crawlspace moisture that causes musty smells inside the home.

High Tennessee Humidity

Humidity above 60% intensifies musty odors and allows mold to spread faster.

How to Get Rid of Musty Smells After Water Damage

Helpful tips

Professional air movers and dehumidifiers are needed in Middle Tennessee’s humidity. Surface fans aren’t enough.

Thermal imaging helps locate moisture inside walls, flooring, or crawlspaces.

Even early mold growth will cause strong odors and must be professionally treated.

Odor removal requires antimicrobial cleaning and HEPA filtration.

Drywall, insulation, and carpet padding may need replacement if deeply soaked.

What NOT to Do

When Murfreesboro Homeowners Should Call a Professional

Can Musty Smells Make You Sick?

Musty smells often indicate mold, which may cause respiratory issues, headaches, allergies, or irritation — especially for children, older adults, and pets.

Fix leaks immediately
Use a dehumidifier in summer
Keep humidity below 50%
Inspect crawlspace annually
Maintain gutters & drainage
Check HVAC drainage

Final Thoughts

A musty smell in your Murfreesboro home is a sign of hidden moisture or early mold growth. Addressing it quickly prevents costly repairs and health risks.

If you suspect water damage, hidden moisture, or mold, our team at 24 Hour Flood Fighters can help restore your home safely and quickly.