What Is Causing That Smell, Noise or Cold Floor?
Most attic and crawl space problems first show up somewhere else in the house: a musty hallway, scratching over the bedroom, a floor that is cold underfoot. Pick what you are noticing, answer two or three follow-up questions, and the checker points you to the likely cause, the space to check first and the usual fix.
What are you noticing?
A few follow-up questions
Common report findings
- Rodent activityRodent cleanup
- Inadequate attic insulationAttic insulation
- Bath fan vents into atticAttic ventilation
- Damaged/missing vapor barrierVapor barrier
- Moisture in crawl spaceWet crawl space guide
- Possible vermiculiteVermiculite guide
- Knob-and-tube in atticKnob-and-tube guide
- Microbial growth on sheathingAttic mold remediation
How to use the result
The checker gives you the most common cause for what you describe, based on what we find in houses like yours. Houses can have more than one problem at once — a damp crawl space and rodents often go together. An inspection confirms the cause and checks for the problems that do not have symptoms yet.
When to call right away
- You smell gas or see scorched wiring or chewed wires near insulation
- Water is standing near a furnace, water heater or electrical equipment in the crawl space
- A ceiling is sagging or bulging from water
- You suspect a dead animal and the smell is strong
For gas or electrical hazards, call the utility or an electrician first. We handle what comes after.
Symptom checker questions
Can a musty smell come from the attic?
It can, usually from rodent urine or mold on the sheathing. Musty smells that are strongest near the floor on the main level almost always come from the crawl space.
Why does the checker ask about downspouts?
Because a misdirected downspout is one of the most common causes of water in a crawl space in our area, and fixing it costs far less than a drainage system.