Why Does My Home Smell Musty?

The air in your home can directly affect your and your family’s health. There are a number of different reasons why your home may have a musty smell. The first step that you need to do is to identify why your home is smelling musty and then you can take the steps to address it.

Address Things That Are Causing the Smell

Your home may smell musty because it is holding onto old cooking odors or there may be issues with having a pet. If this is the case, you will need to address the issues by addressing the smells. Cleaning your home thoroughly can help. Be sure to wash your dishes right away and to wipe down the counters and stove food. Taking out the trash can help. If you have issues due to having pets in your home, you can address this in a few different ways. You may need to bathe your pet more often and be sure to wash any bedding they sleep in on a regular basis. You may want to have the carpets cleaned more regularly. If you are a smoker, you may be facing issues with this smell. Make sure your home can air out, and try to smoke next to an open window. Cleaning your furniture and your drapes can also help with this.

Look for Other Issues

 If you have a strong mildew or mold smell in your home, you will need to look for what may be causing this smell. You should begin by looking in your crawlspace or basement for issues. Check to see if there is moisture in this area. You should look for signs of mold growth on the wood or insulation. If the area is damp, you need to address this because it can lead to mold growing and the air in your crawlspace does affect the overall air quality of your home. This may need to be addressed by a professional that can encapsulate or seal off your crawlspace. This will address any mold issues and help with your heating and cooling bills too.

Find Trouble Spots

You may find that there is one room in your home where the smell is stronger than others.  If you have an issue with a bathroom that is always smelly, you may need to have the plumbing checked to make sure that the pipes are vented properly and that there isn’t anything trapped or any clogs. You should make sure that the ventilation system in your bathroom works properly as well as that there is no mold in the bathrooms. This should help overall.

Are Fire Ants an Issue in Virginia?

Fire ants are an invasive species of ant that are spreading throughout the United States. They do better in warmer climates, so they tend to be found in the southern parts of the United States more than the northern parts.  They can be found from California to Florida and are pushing a bit more north every year.

Fire Ants in Virginia Beach

Fire ants have been reported around Roanoke and Richmond and in areas near Virginia Beach. They are growing more each year and may be an issue in your yard. Fire ant colonies can be quite extensive with large tunneling systems. They have been an issue in Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area. It is important to understand the threats that fire ants can pose.

Dangers of Fire Ants

The biggest danger of fire ants is there bite, which stings. When fire ants bite, it will leave a large welt. Often people are bitten by several fire ants at nearly the same time, and when they are disturbed, many fire ants will attack at once. Fire ant bites can cause a serious allergic reaction in some people. They will also attack and eat small animals.  People who have been bitten by a fire ant never forget how strong the sting is. It can take a while for the stinging to go away and then bite can be painful for a while.

Spotting Fire Ants

Usually you will see the fire ant mounds before you see the ants themselves. The mounds can be quite large almost, a foot hide and about eighteen inches in diameter. They will start out smaller and look like sandy piles. Fire ant mounds do not have holes in the top of them. Fire ants are reddish brown and larger than most ants. If you see fire ants, you should steer clear. Be careful of stepping on the mounds. If find the mounds, you should keep your family members clear of the area until you can treat the area.

Treating Fire Ants

Fire ants can be difficult to treat because they will flee the mound you are treating through their extensive tunneling system. They will then build a new colony and mounds somewhere else in your yard. A professional can be sure to completely eliminate the fire ants for you. In order to eliminate the colony, you need to be sure to kill the queen and be sure that you treat all the possible mounds and tunnels that they have created.

5 Questions About Wood Rot

Wood rot is a common problem, especially in older homes. It can occur in almost any home, and there are certain things that make it easier for wood rot to occur. If you have an older home, or if you have had a flood in your home, it is important to keep an eye out for wood rot and to check periodically for signs of wood rot.

What Is Wood Rot?

Wood rot is caused by fungus that will grow on your wood and weaken it. It happens when the wood becomes wet and your home is warm. It is common in areas that are usually damp, and your crawlspace may be one area that has an issue with wood rot. You may also face issues in your bathroom or eve in your attic if you have had a leak in your ceiling. It is vital that if you have a burst pipe or flood from a rainstorm that you make sure everything dries out completely as quickly as possible to make sure that you do not end up with wood rot.

How Do I Identify Wood Rot?

You may see the fungus growing on the wood itself. You can also check the wood. If it is spongy or soft and darker than the other wood, this is a sign. If the wood has dried out completely, it will be crumbly and crack easily when you test it.

Where Can Wood Rot Occur?

Wood rot can occur anywhere in your home where wood is. The wood needs to become wet to allow the fungus to grow on it, so bathrooms and kitchen floors are common areas, as is your crawlspace or basement, but it can spread from those areas to other areas in your home.

How Do I Repair Wood Rot?

When dealing with repairing wood rot, you will need to replace the wood that has been affected by wood rot. There are treatments you can apply to the surrounding areas to stop it from spreading. The wood rot weakens the wood and can cause issues with structural integrity of your home, so you need to act quickly to address the issues of wood rot around your home.

How Can I Prevent Wood Rot?

Building with wood that is treated against wood rot can make a difference. The most important thing you can do is to keep the wood dry, which means making sure your crawlspace is dry and climate controlled. You also need to act quickly after a flood to clean up and make sure everything dries out completely.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a growing problem throughout the United States. Since they were eradicated in the United States for nearly fifty years, many people are not sure on how to treat them and how to avoid getting them. With the increase in travel both in the country and internationally, bed bugs are spreading throughout the country. Here are five questions people ask about bed bugs.

Where Can I Catch Bed Bugs?

Many people will bring bed bugs home with them after a trip. Bed bugs will camp in a hotel room and crawl into your luggage while you are sleeping. Do not put your luggage on the floor of the hotel or on furniture. You can also bring them home from the gym, from school or anywhere where you may put your bag down and they can crawl into it. They have invaded schools and public buildings in some areas.

Do Bed Bugs Make People Sick?

While bed bugs do bite you and drink your blood, they do not transmit diseases to people. They can carry some diseases, but there are no known cases of them spreading an illness to a person. Some people can have an allergic reaction to the bed bugs. The bites can be extremely itchy.

How Do You Treat Bed Bugs?

There are a few different ways to treat bed bugs. However, bed bugs are resistant to some treatments. They also need to have the treatment applied directly on them. This can make treating bed bugs on your own tricky because they will hide in very small cracks that you may not see. You will need to wash your sheets in hot water and seal your mattress in a mattress cover designed for bed bugs.

Can I Get Rid of Bed Bugs on My Own?

While you may try to treat bed bugs on your own, it is more effective to hire a professional that has been trained in where to look for bed bugs and the best way to treat for them. They can usually treat them in just one bed bug treatment. This can give you peace of mind and the protection from these pests. The professionals have access to more effective pest control products that are safer for your family.

How Do I Find Bed Bugs?

You may notice small bites in rows as one of the signs of bed bugs. You may also see bloodstains on your sheets. You can look for the bed bugs on your mattress and box springs. They will hide in your headboard, nearby furniture and cracks in your baseboards. They are very small and can fit in areas where you do not think that they could feet.

Why Is My Home So Humid?

Living in a humid home can be frustrating. It allows mold to grow on your walls. It can cause issues with your comfort level and make your heating or air conditioning systems to work harder. There are a few areas that you need to consider and possible solutions to address your home if it is humid.

Use Your Ventilation Fans

Turning on the fans in your bathroom and over your stove can help remove the humid air from your home. This will protect those rooms from possible mold growth. It is a simple solution for areas that are often temporarily humid from hot water running.

Examine Your Crawlspace

Your crawlspace may be contributing to your home’s humidity, especially if water is draining into it after a storm and it does not have a place to go. It is important to address this by encapsulating your crawlspace to prevent other complications like mold growth or wood rot. If you hate going into your crawlspace because it is also humid and hot, it is a sign that you need to address this.

Address Your Basement

If you have a basement instead of a crawlspace, it may also be an issue. You will need to make sure that the area is completely sealed off. The outside of your basement needs to be waterproofed. You will need to repair any cracks in your foundation. You may need to install a French drain or a sump pump to help with drainage during a bad rainstorm.

Consider a Dehumidifier

Another option to help with humidity is install a dehumidifier. This machine will take the moisture out of the air of your home. You may consider installing one that will help with your entire house. You may also consider putting one in your crawlspace if that is an area that seems to always be humid even after you have encapsulated your crawlspace.

Wrap Your Pipes

Wrapping your pipes can stop the air from condensing on colder pipes or air conditioning vents. This can make a big different in how much moisture collects in these areas which can also help prevent mold from growing in your home, as well as prevent wood rot. Wrapping your water heater can also help, and it can also help to lower your electric bill.

Run Your Air Conditioner

If you live in a naturally humid area, there may be days in the spring and fall where you do not need to run your HVAC system, but if you keep it on, it will work to draw the humidity out of the air. If you just have it cycle a few times during the day it should make a different in your home’s overall humidity level.

The Best Ways to Prevent Rodents

Rodents are a nightmare for any homeowner. It is a hassle to trap rodents if they get into your home, not to mention the extensive cleanup process that follows. They can also spread disease and may bite your family members. The best thing you can do is to take the steps to help prevent rodents from getting in your home. Here are some things you can do to prevent rodents from getting in your home.

Prevent Rodents by Keeping Your Home Clean

Rodents are attracted to smells and readily available food. If you have a teenager that loves to leave food in their room or in the family room, you may be attracting the rodents into your home without realizing it. Doing the dishes each night and taking out the trash can help. Keeping your food stored in airtight containers and keeping your home free from clutter will also help prevent rodents from setting up a nest in your home.

Prevent Rodents by Repairing Your Home

Rodents are opportunistic. They will take advantage of any weak areas in your home and work to find their way in. Be sure that you regularly check the areas where the pipes and drains come into your home, as this is often an easy access point. Your crawlspace and along your foundation can also give access as well as your roof and under the eaves. If you see weak wood or holes repair them to stop the rodents from coming in.

Prevent Rodents by Addressing Your Property

Taking care of your property can help prevent rodents from finding their way into your home. If you have a lot of junk on your property, there are more places for them to hide. If you allow your lawn to become overgrown, you can also increase the chances of rodents hiding in the grass and then moving into your home as the weather becomes cold. If you keep the trees and bushes trimmed away from your home, you make it more difficult for the rodents to get into your home.

Prevent Rodents by Covering Your Trash

It is important to make sure the trash stored outside of your home is covered and sealed tightly. Open trash cans or overflowing trash cans attract animals and rodents. Once they are on your property, they are more likely to move into your home and cause issues there. Keeping the cans closed tightly can make a big difference overall.

What Is Crawlspace Encapsulation?

What Happens During Crawlspace Encapsulation?

 Crawlspace encapsulation is the process that seals off your crawlspace from the elements. It is a process that can have a variety of benefits for your home including lowering your cooling and heating bills and it can make your home healthier as it can address issues with the cleanliness of the air.

The entire crawlspace is sealed off. The ground underneath the crawlspace is sealed off with a liner. It will go up to the wood of the home. If you have batting siding, it is usually replaced with board siding. This is helpful because it is more mold resistant. It can also do a better job of keeping your floorboards warm. The ductwork is changed so that the air from your air conditioner is now circulated throughout the crawlspace. This helps your air conditioner and furnace to work more efficiently since the outside air will not affect the system. The vents into the crawlspace are sealed off, and a special door is installed that will seal the space completely.

Why Should I Consider This?

There are many reasons why crawlspace encapsulation is a good option. It can improve your air quality. A crawlspace that is not sealed off can become humid and it can cause the wood to rot, it can also cause issues with allowing old to grow which will affect the air inside of your home. This can also give your home an extra layer of protection against insects like termites or other pests that may invade your home. It keeps the wood in your crawlspace dry and away from the insects.

Can I Do This Project on My Own?

There are a number of different steps that you will need to take and changes that you will need to make to a number of systems. It can take time, and if you miss one step or miss sealing one item, all your hard work may be for nothing. It is better to allow the professionals to take care of it for you. They can do it more quickly and make sure that everything is done correctly. They can address all the issues including possible drainage issues in the crawlspace that you may not recognize on your own. Although you may think that this is a costly project, it will save you money in your heating and cooling bills and in possible termite extermination and other repairs that can happen when your home is not properly cared for.