That “Musty” Smell Could Have Been Your First Clue
In Sacramento, a common spot for water to leak and create rot is under the kitchen sink; we see this in many apartments and homes. The trouble is that many store a lot of things under the sink and getting a good visual look is impossible without emptying the contents of the cabinet.
So how could I possibly know that there was a slow leak under the sink? One of the first clues should be the smell; moist wood will begin to have a “musty” smell to it. Don’t ignore the problem. If it has gotten to the point of giving off an odor, the problem is usually pretty serious.
In the photo, this cabinet base shelf was replaced by the maintenance staff about a year ago. The leak returned and went undetected again for a while. When I walked into the unit, I could smell that odor and knew there was a problem somewhere – it smelled like wood rot. Sure enough the shelf was once again destroyed.
Being aware of changes in the odors in your home or apartment may be your first clue that something is wrong. Don’t ignore the problem, go find the source. It is likely that the damage has already started. If you are not sure, contact your apartment management staff or contact a contractor with experience in this sort of rot repair.
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