Odor removal and deodorization deals with the musty, damp smell that lingers after water damage – a smell that comes from moisture trapped in materials and, in a lot of cases, early mold growth that hasn't become visible yet. Air fresheners and surface cleaning don't get rid of it because the source is usually inside the material, not on top of it.
Homeowners in Chicago, IL call about this when a room still smells damp weeks after a leak was fixed, or when they're dealing with a property that had water damage before they moved in and the smell never fully went away.
We start by finding where the odor is actually coming from – often inside wall cavities, under flooring, or in insulation that stayed wet longer than it should have. Depending on the source, that might mean additional drying, removing and replacing contaminated material, or treating the area with an odor-neutralizing solution and running air scrubbers to clear the air itself.
Cost depends on how deep the odor source goes – a surface-level smell clears up quickly, while odor coming from inside wall cavities or subflooring takes more work to fully resolve.
Keep in mind, a lingering musty smell after water damage is almost always a sign that something didn't dry out completely the first time. Covering it up with air fresheners just delays dealing with the actual moisture problem.
Musty smell in your Chicago, IL home after water damage? Call (253) 289-3960 for a free estimate.
