Pulling baseboards is usually overkill unless you’ve got clear signs of water or mold. I get the urge to tear everything apart, but honestly, I’d start with the basics—sniff around, check behind the washing machine, and peek under boxes if you can. Moisture meters are handy, but sometimes your nose is just as good. I’ve found leaks hiding in the dumbest places, like under a stack of old magazines. Basements are sneaky, yeah, but no need to go full demolition unless you’ve got real evidence.
I get wanting to avoid unnecessary demo, but have you ever found mold tucked behind baseboards even when there weren’t obvious signs? Sometimes the musty smell is sneaky, especially with older homes. Wouldn’t it be worth popping off a section just to check?
I get where you’re coming from about wanting to check behind the baseboards, especially in an older house. I’ve definitely heard stories about folks finding nasty surprises back there. But honestly, I’m always a little hesitant to start pulling things apart unless I have a really good reason. Last year, we had a weird musty smell in our basement after a heavy rain, and I was convinced it was mold somewhere hidden. My first instinct was to start popping off trim and baseboards, but my partner talked me into trying some less invasive stuff first—like running a dehumidifier and checking for leaks around the windows.
Turned out, there was a tiny crack in one of the window wells letting water seep in. Once we sealed that up and kept the air moving down there, the smell faded after a week or so. Never did find any mold when we eventually did some minor repairs later on.
I guess my worry is that once you start demoing—even just a little—you might end up with more repairs than you bargained for, especially if you’re on a tight budget. But then again, if you ignore it and there *is* mold, that can get expensive too... Kind of feels like a lose-lose sometimes.
Has anyone tried those moisture meters or infrared cameras before tearing into walls or baseboards? I’ve seen them mentioned online but never used one myself. Wondering if they’re worth the investment or just another gadget collecting dust in the garage.
I actually bought a cheap moisture meter off Amazon last year when I had a similar issue. It’s not perfect, but it did help pinpoint where things were damp without tearing stuff apart. Definitely worth the $20 or so, at least for peace of mind. Haven’t tried an infrared camera though—those seem overkill unless you’ve got bigger problems.
- Used one of those cheap meters too—definitely better than nothing. Not super accurate, but at least it tells you where to start looking.
- I actually borrowed an infrared thermometer from a neighbor once. Not a full camera, but it helped spot cold spots near the baseboards where moisture might be creeping in. Didn’t cost me a dime.
- Before buying gadgets, I usually check for obvious stuff: leaks around windows, any weird stains, or if the sump pump’s acting up.
- Curious—did you find the source with just the meter, or did you end up having to tear into walls anyway? Sometimes I wonder if I’m just delaying the inevitable with these tools...
