smelly room under porch

[dianediane]

we are looking at a nice house, had a cistern at one time. There is a room under a porch that is now a screened in nice porch. This room has a door to the outside and the room smells really bad. Mildew smell to me, my husband thinks that is where the old cister was. The whole house has a sump pump so no water issue except maybe under that part of the porch. Its closed off to the rest of the house but just knowing something that gross is there. Anyway to deal with this. The door does not have a window, so we assume a screen door would help.
thanks

 

[Chud]

You really ought to address the source of the smell rather than just try and get rid of the smell...it could be mould or rot in which case it will need to be treated - ventilation via a screen door may let it dry our but you could then get dry rot in your timberwork.

 

[dianediane]

Hi thanks its all concrete, I think its probably block, has cracks, probablyt he water getting in,

the porch above is also a concrete slab above the room