Musty Odor in Utica, MS

Monday, November 17th, 2025 by Isaiah Yates

Challenge

This homeowner in Utica, MS began noticing musty odors inside their home, soft spots in their floors, and higher humidity levels than normal. These are all typical signs of crawl space moisture issues. They had installed a standard vapor barrier a good while back, but clearly this was not doing its job. Wanting to protect their crawl space and their living spaces above it, they decided to reach out to us to see what could be done. After explaining their situation to one of our customer care representatives, Isaiah, they promptly got themselves scheduled for a free estimate. Scottie, one of our system design specialists, was sent out to take a look and create that estimate. Once there, he did discover what we were expecting, that the crawlspace still had exposed soil despite the old barrier, entrances for outdoor air and humidity, and years of moisture intrusion from rain and ground vapor. Over time, this environment encouraged mold growth, wood rot, and even stirred up pests, putting the home's structural integrity at risk and creating that nasty musty smell up above. If this was left as is, the damage would continue to scale and lead to much more costly repairs.

Solution

Scottie sat down with the homeowners and discussed out ultimate moisture proofing solution, the Encapsulation System. They loved the idea of fully protecting their crawl space and not having to worry about future effects of moisture damage, and decided to move forward with us. The crew we sent out, led by foreman Ronald, did a fantastic job putting it all together. They removed the old barrier and replaced it with our CleanSpace Liner, lining the entire crawl space, including the floors, supports, and walls. Along with this, they sealed all vents and openings, installed our crawl space dehumidifier, an ensured proper drainage with our drainage matting and TripleSafe Sump Pump for long term protection. This now air-tight, dry, and clean environment will operate much different from the exposed and moist crawl space they once knew. Moisture will be stopped in any form it may come in, creating a healthier and more energy efficient home. Since then, we have actually encapsulated another crawl space for this homeowner, meaning in both, they can enjoy stable floors, better air quality, and a long-lasting feeling of security!