Had a similar thing happen at my aunt’s place—musty smell popped up overnight, and everyone assumed it was a leak in the wall. Turned out to be a floor drain that hadn’t been used in ages, so the trap dried out and sewer gas started creeping in. I always check drains and pipe joints first, just in case. Sometimes it’s the simple stuff that gets overlooked.
Funny how often folks jump to the worst-case scenario—leaks, mold, you name it—when sometimes it’s just a dried-out trap or something simple. I’ve seen tenants panic over a smell, only for it to be an old washing machine drain or even a forgotten mop bucket. Ever had a musty smell that ended up being something totally unexpected? Like, not plumbing related at all?
Had a weird one last year—musty smell in the basement, and I was convinced it had to be water intrusion or a busted pipe. Spent hours checking every corner, even pulled out the dehumidifier to see if it was working. Turns out, my kid had left a bag of potatoes behind the stairs... they’d basically liquefied. Wild how your brain jumps to complicated fixes when sometimes it’s just something rotting in a weird spot. I still say you should check the basics first, but don’t rule out the oddball stuff.
Had a weird one last year—musty smell in the basement, and I was convinced it had to be water intrusion or a busted pipe.
That’s hilarious about the potatoes, but also kind of gross. I always wonder if musty smells could be from stuff like old cardboard boxes or books too—those things just soak up moisture. Anyone ever found mold hiding in weird places, like inside walls or under carpets?
Mold can definitely pop up in some odd spots. I’ve seen it tucked behind baseboards, under old carpet pads, and even inside wall cavities where a tiny leak went unnoticed for months. Cardboard boxes are notorious for holding onto moisture, especially if they’re sitting right on concrete. Sometimes, people overlook HVAC ducts too—if there’s condensation, you might get a musty smell blowing through the vents.
One thing I always check first is whether there’s any sign of water staining or peeling paint on the walls or floors. That usually points to a hidden leak or seepage. But you’re right, sometimes it’s just forgotten stuff like old books or even furniture absorbing humidity. Have you noticed any spots where the smell is stronger? That can help narrow down the search, since mold usually clusters near its moisture source. If you pull up a corner of carpet and see black or greenish patches, that’s a dead giveaway. Sometimes it’s not obvious until you start moving things around, though...
