How to Fix Moisture Issues in Walls and Prevent Long-Term Damage

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Drywall By AMFA

Moisture in walls is more than just an annoying inconvenience. Left untreated, it can lead to damaging mold growth, unpleasant odors, and even compromise the structural integrity of your home. Whether you’ve spotted peeling paint or detected a musty odor, identifying and fixing the problem early is essential to maintaining the health of your property.

This guide will walk you through diagnosing moisture problems, tackling DIY fixes, knowing when to hire a professional, and taking steps to prevent future issues. By the end, you’ll not only have a better understanding of “moist walls” and their causes but also a clear action plan to fix and safeguard your home.

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How to Spot Moisture Problems in Your Walls

Unsure if your walls have a moisture issue? Here are the telltale signs to watch for in both visible and subtle forms:

Water Stains: Brown or yellow stains on walls or ceilings are classic indicators of water seepage.
Peeling Paint or Bubbling Wallpaper: Moisture causes paint and adhesives to lose their grip.
Musty Odors: A persistent stale smell in specific spaces can suggest trapped moisture or hidden mold.
Visible Mold or Mildew: Black, green, or white patches spreading on walls are red flags.
Soft or Damp Spots: If certain parts of your wall feel softer to the touch or damp, water may have seeped into the structure.
Condensation: “Sweating walls,” especially on poorly insulated surfaces during colder months, indicate high humidity levels inside.

If you’re seeing any of these signs, there’s likely more going on beneath the surface.

Common Causes of Wet Walls and Moisture Problems

Fixing moisture starts with understanding the root cause. Here are the most frequent culprits behind water-damaged walls:

Leaks: Plumbing leaks or roof damage can allow water to seep into wall cavities.
Condensation: High indoor humidity can lead to water droplets forming on cold surfaces, especially around windows or uninsulated spaces.
Poor Ventilation: Bathrooms and kitchens without proper ventilation trap moisture, fostering dampness and mold growth.
Cracks and Gaps: Small openings around windows, doors, or walls allow water to enter, especially during heavy rainfall.
Flooding or Burst Pipes: Severe incidents like floods or burst pipes can saturate walls, causing substantial water damage.

Recognizing the source of moisture is vital for choosing the correct method to address it.

DIY Solutions for Moisture Control

For minor issues, there are several homeowner-friendly fixes that can resolve or manage the problem. Give these remedies a try:

Improve Ventilation – Open windows and use exhaust fans, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, to reduce indoor humidity levels.
Seal Cracks and Gaps – Apply waterproof caulk or sealant around window frames, door edges, and visible cracks in walls to block water intrusion.
Clean Moldy Surfaces – Use a diluted bleach solution (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) to scrub moldy walls. Wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself during cleaning.
Use a Dehumidifier – Place a dehumidifier in damp areas to remove excess moisture from the air, reducing conditions for dampness and mold.
Redirect Water – Ensure gutters and downspouts are clear and directing water at least 3 feet away from your foundation to prevent seepage into walls.

Small steps can make a big difference, but be sure to evaluate the problem’s scale before proceeding with DIY fixes.

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When to Call in a Professional

Not every moisture issue can be handled alone. Here’s when it’s time to bring in the pros:

Extensive Mold Growth – When mold covers more than 10 square feet or keeps reappearing after cleaning, professional mold remediation is crucial.
Persistent Leaks – If a water leak isn’t easily identifiable or fixable, you’ll need experts to locate the source and repair it.
Structural Damage – If walls are crumbling, soft, or visibly warped, the damage is structural and requires immediate professional attention, likely including drywall repair or replacement.
Health Concerns – If anyone in the household suffers from allergies or respiratory issues linked to mold exposure, hire specialists to ensure a safe environment.

Expect professionals to provide a detailed inspection using moisture detection equipment, recommend solutions like sealing leaks or replacing drywall, and offer prevention tips to keep moisture from returning.

Tips to Prevent Future Moisture Problems

Prevention is the best cure, especially when it comes to moisture. Follow these tips to keep your walls dry and damage-free:

Maintain Good Ventilation – Use exhaust fans and open windows to promote airflow and reduce indoor moisture buildup.
Inspect and Maintain Plumbing – Regularly check pipes, faucets, and water heaters for leaks, addressing them promptly.
Control Indoor Humidity – Keep humidity levels below 50% using dehumidifiers and ensure proper insulation to prevent condensation issues.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts – Regular maintenance of gutters ensures water is directed away from your foundation, protecting your walls.
Ensure Proper Sealing – Inspect and repair cracks, gaps, or worn-out seals around your home’s foundation, windows, and doors.
Monitor Condensation – Pay attention to condensation forming around windows or walls and address it with insulation or moisture-control measures.

By adopting these habits, you can create a dry, safe, and comfortable living space for years to come.

Protect Your Home from Moisture Today

Fixing and preventing moisture issues is essential to maintaining your home’s structural integrity and indoor air quality. Whether it’s tackling minor problems with DIY solutions or calling a professional for larger-scale repairs, addressing moisture issues promptly will save you money and stress in the long run.

If you’re dealing with moldy walls, wet drywall, or water damage, don’t wait for the problem to grow worse. Get a free quote for drywall repair at Drywall By AMFA and take the first step toward a healthier, drier home.

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Common Wall Problems and Solutions

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Drywall By AMFA

Drywall, or gypsum board, is beneficial for several reasons. It is fire-resistant, economical, versatile, durable, noise-mitigating, easily decorated and painted, easy to repair and replace, and much more! For this reason, it is important to take good care of your walls, and keep up with routine cleaning and repairs. Although moderate to major drywall work should be performed by a trained and certified professional who is properly equipped with the right resources, there are some wall problems you can likely tackle yourself. This will save you both time and money.

Continue below to learn some of the most common wall issues, and how to solve them.

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Wall Odors

Lingering wall odors are not pleasant. Worst of all, homeowners can become nose-blind to these foul smells, which can put a delay on fixing the problem. To clean walls of odor, fill a bucket with warm water and a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Using a soft sponge, start at the top of the wall and then work side-to-side on your way down. Use a step ladder to reach the upper areas. As you finish each section, use a towel to dry up any excess moisture. Then when finished, open up some windows and doors to ventilate the room and dry the walls.

Missing Studs

The most common way to locate a wall stud is to use a stud finder. If you do not have one on hand, your best option for located wall studs is to simply use your own fist. Using your knuckles, tap the wall a few times, and then horizontally move over every couple of inches and tap some more. The wall should emit a sound that implies hollowness when you tap, until you tap on a stud. When working with plaster walls, rely on your light switches. Most often, light switch plates are installed inside the first wall stud by the nearest door frame since the box that holds all the electrical wiring needs to be connected to something sturdy.

Small Holes

Large holes in the wall will require professional service, however, small ones can easily be patched up yourself. There are some basic steps to patching up a small hole in drywall. First, use a blade knife to clean up the edges of the hole; try to cut at an angle so that the interior of the hole is narrower than the hole. Next, use painter’s putty and putty knife to fill the hole. Then use the same knife to smooth out the surface, making it level to the wall. After the putty dries completely, lightly sand the area until smooth and level to the rest of the wall. Now, do these same steps, but with your spackle. Once the spackle is finished, you can paint over the spot and enjoy your accomplishment!

Sweaty Walls

If your home or commercial property has wet walls, or walls that “sweat” with condensation, then you may have a mold problem on your hands. Wet walls can be caused by several things, but mostly poor plumbing or leaky pipes. It is important to have a plumbing contractor provide professional diagnostics to determine the cause of your wet walls. Moldy wet walls will require drywall removal, drywall replacement, mold removal, plumbing repairs, water leak diagnostics, and fresh paint. All of these tasks require you to hire a professional.

Where to Find Trusted Indianapolis Drywall Contractors

Call Drywall by AMFA at 317-269-7319 to request a free estimate for drywall repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of drywall services, for both residential and commercial properties, including new construction homes, remodels, repairs, metal stud framing, ceiling grids, and more. Request a free estimate, today.

What You Need to Know About Wet Walls and Mold Growth

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Drywall By AMFA

If your home or commercial property has wet walls, or walls that sweat with condensation, then you may have a mold problem on your hands sooner than later. Mold grows in dark and moist environments; and since the inside of a wall is dark, when it’s wet, the porous wall material turns into a mold incubator. Wall boards, plywood, drywall, and other wall surfaces are quite absorbent, and can grow mold any time of year if it retains enough moisture.

In the meantime, continue reading to learn what you need to know about the correlation between wet, sweaty walls and mold outbreaks.

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Black and Green Mold

One of the most common types of mold found growing in wet walls is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, or black mold, and has a greenish-black hue. This is not your typical harmless bathroom mold you’ve seen a time or two in your life; this mold is toxic, and can cause respiratory complications and illnesses after long-term exposure or inhalation. In the case of black mold, or any other mold growth in wet walls, it is crucial to outsource immediate mold removal and drywall replacement services.

Since mold is hazardous to our health, it is safer to have a professional company remove moldy walls and mold growth, rather than attempting to do it yourself. Remember, the mold is not the only problem with wet walls, the water leak is also an issue. Moldy wet walls will require drywall removal, drywall replacement, mold removal, plumbing repairs, water leak diagnostics, and fresh paint. This seems like a lot for fixing wet walls, but there is a solution for that too.

Drywall Repair Services for Moldy Walls

Wet walls can be caused by several things, but mostly poor plumbing or leaky pipes. Hiring a team of contractors is the best approach to fixing a wet wall mold problem. It is important to have a plumbing contractor provide professional diagnostics to determine the cause of your wet walls. From there, you need a professional drywall contractor to properly replace the damaged areas, and ensure they will withstand future humidity and moisture risks.

Indianapolis Drywall Repair Services at a Price You Can Afford

Call Drywall by AMFA at 317-269-7319 for professional drywall repair and installation in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are highly-trained and licensed drywall contractors that offer a wide range of drywall services for residential and commercial properties. Trust us for outstanding results at a competitive price! Call 317-269-7319 to request an estimate for Indianapolis drywall repair, today.