If you’ve got insulation behind that drywall, it can hold moisture for ages and mold loves that stuff.
- Pulled a small section of drywall to check—fiberglass was damp but not soaked.
- Used a fan and dehumidifier for a few days, then checked again. Still slightly musty, so I yanked the worst bits out.
- Left the rest since it seemed dry enough (and I was tired of tearing stuff apart).
- Noticed the smell lingered longer than I’d hoped... turns out “dry enough” is pretty subjective.
Lesson learned: if there’s even a hint of wet insulation, better safe than sorry. Mold is way more expensive to fix than some new batts.
Noticed the smell lingered longer than I’d hoped... turns out “dry enough” is pretty subjective.
That’s the tricky part—what looks or feels “dry” can still be a mold magnet. I’ve seen jobs where folks left insulation in because it seemed fine, only to have to gut everything a month later when the musty smell got worse. Even with fans and dehumidifiers running nonstop, hidden moisture lingers in fiberglass and behind studs. Honestly, I’ve learned it’s less hassle long-term to just pull anything even slightly damp. It’s a pain up front, but way cheaper than remediation down the line.
