 Building Odor Problems
Find & Remove Odors Gases & Smells in or around Buildings
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
These articles explain how to diagnose, test, identify, and cure or remove a wide range of obnoxious or even toxic
odors in buildings, in building air, in building materials, or in the building water supply. We discuss odors from a variety of sources including
animals including pets, dogs, cats, or unwanted animals or dead animals, formaldehyde odors in buildings from building products or furnishings, plumbing drains, plastic or vinyl odors from building products, flue gases, indoor mold odors, oil tanks or oil spills, pesticides,
septic odors, sewer gases, and even abandoned chemicals at properties. Our page top photo shows our local skunk rummaging on a nearby golf course. This is about as close as you want to be, especially if you see a skunk meandfering in daylight. This skunk was found dead two days after this photo was taken, most likely due to rabies. .
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Building Odor Guide: How to Find, Test, & Remove Odors, Odor Detection and Methods to Remove Smells, & Gases in Buildings
Readers should also see our ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE for a quick check that can help identify the source of smells in buildings and see SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors. For smells or odors in New Orleans, possibly associated with the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, readers can use the odor diagnosis advice hear to distinguish between gulf oil spill odors and other building odor sources. Readers should also see Gulf Oil Spill & Air Quality.
The photo at page top shows steel chemical drums that we discovered on a residential property during a home inspection.
Not only did these steel drums raise a question of possible environmental contamination of this site, even worse,
they were uphill and close to a stream, raising a still more broad question of area contamination.
At left the author demonstrates a smell-patch test that can be used to track down odors to their source in buildings.
- ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE provides a checklist of places to look and things to do to track down the source of an odor or smell in building air, water, mechanical systems, heating, cooling, or other locations.
- Adhesives or glues used in buildings: many adhesives use a solvent that can produce very strong odors, especially when the adhesive is recently applied. We suspect that adhesives used over wide areas are more likely to be noticeable in buildings, such as carpet or flooring adhesives. Also see GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION.
- Air conditioning & heat pump system odors & smells: air conditioning refrigerant gases are generally inert and odorless. If you smell burning such as from overheating electrical components you should turn off the equipment immediately. Fujitsu has pointed out that at least in some cases, odors perceived as coming out of the split system air handler of a wall-mounted A/C or heat pump system may simply be existing room odors moving through the unit (such as from tobacco smoke, fireplaces, cooking, animals).[13]
- Animal Smells may be due to current or prior pets in a building, pet urine or fecal waste, cat boxes, animal hair, dog dander, cat dander (are allergens and are indicators of the level of prior pet activity), dust tracked in by dogs. But animal odors in buildings can also occur
when an animal such as a mouse or rat has died in a building cavity.
A dead animal smell has been described by our clients with a wide variety of terms ranging from a vague noxious stink that seemed to vary with humidity to a sweet sickly smell. Dead animals or even insect nests
in building plumbing, especially building vents, can also produce unexpected sewer odors - see SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS links discussed below.
- Bathroom odors & smells, other than normal ones produced by humans, most often involve sewer or septic gas complaints that are traced to plumbing system problems. Examples of plumbing problems that you should investigate in tracking down a bathroom odor are
- A loose toilet - sewer gases, even sewage leaks around the toilet base, or even at a toilet that seems securely mounted, an improperly installed wax-ring seal can permit odor leaks into the room; in this case the odor is usually apparent only at one bathroom, though if the same worker installed all toilets, the same defect could be present in multiple baths. See Loose Toilet Repairs or see TOILET REPAIR GUIDE
- Plumbing vent system defects - missing, incomplete, or clogged plumbing vents can result in siphonage loss of the water in fixture traps. In turn an open or "dry" sink, tub, or shower trap can permit sewer gases to back-vent into the building. The extent of sewer gas odor backdrafting up through drains may vary further by site conditions, plumbing system use, other sewer or septic system failures, blockages, leaks, and even by wind and snow conditions. Drain odors may also be traced to cracked or leaky drain piping itself.
See these articles for help tracking down and fixing odors and smells traced to bathrooms other plumbing fixtures
- BOAT & CAR SMELLS & ODORS discusses the cause and removal of common smells that are found in cars and similar vehicles.
- CAR SMELL - Mold DEODORIZING discusses in detail the problem of finding and removing a moldy, musty, or mildew smell from cars, trucks, campers, and boats.
- Carbon Dioxide Gas Toxicity hazard level, poisoning symptoms, & testing - you won't smell CO2 (carbon dioxide) in a building, but if combustion gases from a heating or hot water system or possibly a wood stove or coal stove are not being safely vented to outdoors you may smell other telltale products of combustion.
- Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity hazard levels, poisoning symptoms, & testing - you won't smell CO (carbon monoxide) in a building, but if combustion gases from a heating or hot water system or possibly a wood stove or coal stove are not being safely vented to outdoors you may smell other telltale products of combustion. Be certain that you have working CO detectors as well as smoke detectors in your building.
- Carpeting odors: diagnose & cure carpet smells due to mold, mildew, pet urine, and carpet stains - thermal tracking, and carpet testing advice
- CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS - odors in carpeting or carpet cushions and padding may be from mold or other sources. Also see CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION and see CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY for a discussion of chemical like odors associated with certain carpets or carpet pads.
- Chimney odors: creosote - may be caused by moisture in a creosote-lined chimney. See CREOSOTE DEPOSITS, FIRE HAZARD
- Condensate pump reservoirs [photo at left] - can be a source of smells and odors and may need to be disassembled and cleaned seasonally. This is especially true for condensate pumps that are used only seasonally.
- CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS discusses Chinese drywall odors, sulphur smells, and corrosive outgassing hazards in buildings. Major costs to remove this product, repair or replace electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC components may be involved, and there may be immediate safety hazards due to damaged smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors in buildings where Chinese drywall outgassing has caused damage.
- Dehumidifiers and also portable or permanently installed humidifiers can both be a source of bacterial and algal growth, even fungal growth that can result in indoor odors and possible health concerns.
Periodic cleaning and possibly use of special products intended to prevent algae, bacteria or mold from growing in a dehumidifier or humidifier can avoid this problem. Also see HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD and see CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES
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- Drain Waste Vent Piping Odors: Plumbing Drain Noises - Diagnosis & Repair guide. This article discusses the cause, diagnosis, and cure of plumbing drain noises. A drain noise can also be a clue to plumbing drain odor sources.
That "blub blub" or "glug glug" noise you hear from a building drain might mean that there is a problem with the drain system itself, such as a partial drain blockage, a drain venting problem, a drain odor problem, or even a failing septic system. This article explains the causes and cures for plumbing drain noises, and we refer to key companion articles that assist in that diagnosis.
Our photo (left) shows a hidden sewer gas leak found in a building wall: a new plastic vent line was just jammed into an older broken cast iron vent pipe. Our pen points to the source of sewer gas odors in this area.
- FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS - how to diagnose and cure odors from floor drains and under-floor drain piping
- Formaldehyde odors and outgassing from UFFI, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, odor diagnosis and cure are discussed further within our articles on ozone and ozone generators.
- Formaldehyde: US EPA. UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) was previously considered a hazard (formaldehyde outgassing). Original source: epa.gov/iedweb00/formalde.html. Subsequent research virtually closed concern regarding this material; however formaldehyde appears to remain a health concern for sensitive individuals. Original source carsondunlop.com/OBS/pdf/uffi.pdf .
- Gas Odors: A Toxic Gas Testing Sampling Plan for Residential Indoor Air Investigations. This document outlines gas toxicity levels and gas testing procedures we use in field IAQ and environmental health investigations for a range of indoor gases which may be produced by building product outgassing, mold and MVOCs, mechanical systems, fire damage, or contamination from nearby industrial, beauty parlor, dry cleaning, or other activities which often produce noxious or toxic odors and gases.
- Gas Exposure Hazard Levels: for Toxic Gas Exposure to Ammonia, Arsine, Arsenic, Bromine, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Hydride, Ozone - allowable exposure levels and hazard levels
- Gas Measurement Tools recommendations for selection and use of gas detection equipment and descriptions of how gas testing equipment is used
- Gas Testing methods of screening for various odors, gases, and chemicals in the indoor environment
- GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION - may be sources of odors in buildings, especially during and shortly after new construction or remodeling, countertop resurfacing, floor tile installation, etc.
- Hazardous Material Waste Site Maps from ATSDR - U.S. CDC Gather - "Geographic Analysis Tool for Health and Environmental Research" online public access to data pertinent to public health
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- Heating System Odors: odors of combustion gases or heating oil or natural or LP gas can all be indicators of serious safety hazards as well as malfunctioning building heating or water heating equipment. See these detailed articles describing possible causes of or sources of heating system odor or noise complaints:
- Insulation Odors: may be caused by contamination of the insulation by rodents or other animals (urine, feces, nesting materials), or mold (INSULATION MOLD). Some cellulose insulation may emit an odd odor if the cellulose manufacturer used an ammonium sulfate/borate mix. Details are at Cellulose Insulation Odors, Smells.
- Mold Odors and Moldy or Musty Smells:
Here are articles on diagnosing moldy or musty building odors
- Mold Odors, Musty Smells in Buildings: this article summarizes the common sources and causes of moldy and musty odors in buildings.
- Mold Odors - MVOCs: If we smell mold, is mold present and is that a problem? Most people have a pretty good idea of moldy or musty smell as associated with mold. If you smell mold or find it at important levels in screening samples of air, dust, or vacuumed surfaces, (by quantity or by particle type in samples) it is probably there. Testing and ASTM Test Standards for MVOCs are also cited below.
- Mold Odors FAQs: Why do mold odors occur in our home following rain? Odors at exterior outlets sure sound as if there has been leakage into the wall and a probable mold colony. We need an expert visual inspection and possibly invasive sampling, combined with building history, to find and follow leak paths and high humidity cavities in order to inspect the most-likely mold reservoir targets in a building. The odors may be MVOC's which may be produced by some mold genera/species at varying levels as humidity, temperature, air pressure, and other variables change.
- Mold Information Website: This website provides information and procedures for finding, testing, cleaning and preventing indoor mold, toxic black mold, green mold, testing building indoor air quality, and other sick house / sick building investigations. Here are research articles, inspection and testing procedures, and contact information for expert services.
We give in-depth information about indoor air quality problems: causes of respiratory illness, asthma, or other symptoms such as neurological or psychological problems, air quality investigation methods, and remediation procedures such as mold cleanup, handling toxic mold contamination, and building or mechanical system repairs. We offer advice on mold prevention and mold-resistant construction resistant to indoor problem molds such as the Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Stachybotrys chartarum groups.
- MOTHBALL ODORS - what are the potential health hazards of exposure to the chemicals in or odors from mothballs? How best to get rid of bothersome mothball odors or smells in buildings, furnishings, clothing.
- Odor Diagnosis Log Sheet: Use this Odor Log Spreadsheet or this Odor Log printer-friendly file to record your observations for further analysis. Also see ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE
- OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING at the oil storage tank filler or vent piping or leaks in the oil piping line and fittings (OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS), or leaks at the heating oil filter canister (OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT) can be diagnosed and repaired.
Watch out: leaks in heating oil appliance piping or filters can be much more serious than just a drip spot on the floor. An air leak into the oil piping system results in improper oil burner operation, soot clogging, and even a loud bang at oil burner start-up or worse, a dangerous puffback. Details are at OIL LINE LEAKS - Oil Line leaks found.
- Oil Tank Leaks and Smells are discussed at our website on handling above ground or buried heating oil storage tanks.
These online articles answer most questions about above ground or buried oil storage tanks. Extensive free un-biased oil storage tank inspection and testing advice for property buyers and owners.
This document lets you know what to ask about oil storage tanks, what oil tank leak tests to order, how to interpret oil tank testing results, what to do if there is a buried fuel or petroleum storage tank at a property, what to do if there is or was a leaky oil storage tank or petroleum storage tank, and how to reduce the chances of an oil leak or oil spill in the future.
We include detailed information about underground (buried) oil storage tanks (USTs), aboveground oil storage tanks (ASTs), above ground fuel storage tanks, reporting and cleaning up oil tank leaks, and choosing among oil tank leak testing methods. We discuss how to find buried oil tanks, how to remove or abandon oil tanks and how to recognize evidence that there was a previous oil tank at a property even if the oil tank may have been removed (or
perhaps left buried in place). We discuss what to do if an oil tank has already been removed or abandoned. We provide links to every U.S. state regulatory agency concerned with oil and other storage tanks and to regulatory agencies in Canada and other countries.
Environmental damage from oil leaks, oil spill cleanup, are also discussed. We discuss oil spill cleanup, oil spill and odor remediation, and bioremediation, for fuel oil or heating oil. LP Gas tanks are also addressed. Home heating oil tank leak and environmental contamination risks are important concerns for building owners and home buyers as major cleanup and tank replacement costs can be involved.
- Oxygen - O2 hazards and toxicity levels
- Ozone Odors & Ozone "deodorizers": The Use of Ozone Generators Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims.
Ozone is widely promoted by ozone generating equipment companies and cleaning services for use in indoor building environments to deodorize, disinfect, "kill" mold, and for "general health".
Ozone generators are also promoted for use to reduce the level of airborne particles, pollen, animal dander, and allergens, ostensibly to improve indoor air quality for asthmatics and people with allergies. While there are some important uses of ozone (such as for medical disinfection under controlled conditions), in general this is an idea which ranges from bad to dangerous in the home. This article explains the effects of using ozone in buildings for these purposes and warns consumers about misapplication of and health risks from ozone in buildings. Because at least some of these claims are based on marketing desire, not good science, and because ozone exposure can be both dangerous and ineffective indoors, we have collected some information and references on this topic.
- Ozone generators: The Hazards of Ozone & Ozone Gas Generators. This article gives an overview of the hazards associated with use of ozone indoors as a "mold remedy" or as an "air purifier". Ozone is widely promoted by ozone generating equipment companies and cleaning services for use in indoor building environments to deodorize, disinfect, "kill" mold, and for "general health".
- Ozone Toxicity & Ozone Gas Exposure Hazards This article discusses Ozone Toxicity in Buildings - A Summary of Hazards of Indoor Ozone, Ozone Generators, and Use of Ozone for Mold Remediation. While there are some important uses of ozone (such as for medical disinfection under controlled conditions), in general this is an idea which ranges from bad to dangerous in the home. This article explains the effects of using ozone in buildings for these purposes and warns consumers about misapplication of and health risks from ozone in buildings. Because at least some of these claims are based on marketing desire, not good science, and because ozone exposure can be both dangerous and ineffective indoors, we have collected some information and references on this topic.
- Ozone Gas Hazards Description
- Paint Failures & Odors: How to Diagnose, Correct, & Prevent Paint Failure on Buildings. Paint odors: solvents and other chemicals in building paints or coatings are often a source of odor or paint smell complaints, even where low-VOC paints are in use. Odors from paints and low-VOC or zero-VOC paints are also discussed at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE. Also see Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs.
- Pesticide Odors U.S. EPA advice on pesticides and possible pesticide contamination
- Pet Odors: from dogs, cats, or other pets, source identification, testing, removal, are discussed in detail at ANIMAL ODORS IN BUILDINGS, with special focus on cat odors and allergens beginning at Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens" . Also see Pet Allergens.
- Plastic odors: Plastic Odors, including Siding Odors. This discussion also pertains to other vinyl or plastic materials used in buildings such as diagnosing odors from plastic trim, plastic or vinyl windows, window screens, doors, or similar materials. This article includes a plastic odor diagnosis checklist and it lists common sources of plastic-like smells in buildings. Also see VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
- Plumbing System Odors: problems with open sewer lines, plumbing vent systems, plumbing fixtures, plumbing drain traps, and septic systems can produce troublesome indoor or outdoor sewage smells that are sometimes dangerous or unhealthy. Here is our guide to tracking down and curing building odors due to plumbing drain, waste, vent, fixture, or septic systems: ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER
- Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps
- Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants.
MVOC Testing Standard: As of 3 March 2009 the ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and
Corrective Action
released ASTM E2600-08 Standard Practice for Assessment of
Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate
Transactions.
If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings. We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro™ bellows pump, the Gastec™ cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other
toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's TIF 8850 and TIF 8800.
All of these gas testing instruments, their applications, and their sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
- Septic or Sewer Odors: Diagnosing and Curing Sewer Gas Smells and Septic Tank Odors. This series of detailed diagnostic procedure articles describes how to diagnose, find, and cure odors in buildings including septic or sewage or sewer gas smells or "gas odors" in buildings with a focus on homes with a private onsite septic tank but including tips for owners whose home is connected to a sewer system as well.
Sewer gases are more than an obnoxious odor. Because sewer gas contains
methane gas (CH4) there is a risk of an explosion hazard or even fatal asphyxiation.
Sewer gases also probably contain hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) In addition some writers opine that there are possible
health hazards from sewer gas exposure, such as a bacterial infection of the sinuses (which can occur due to any sinus irritation).
- Septic or Sewer Odors: Wet Weather or Cold Weather Sewage or Septic Odors: Diagnosis and Repair Guide. This article discusses the diagnosis and correction of sewer gas or septic odors with focus on diagnosing odor sources and causes in cold weather. Some of the diagnostic steps pertain to all seasons.
- Sewer Gas Odors from drains: Diagnosing Clogged Drains & Septic System Backups: Is it a blocked drain or the septic system? - A First Step for Homeowners. This website explains how to investigate slow or blocked drains and septic system backups to distinguish between a probable septic system failure versus a probable blocked building drain. When a building drain is clogged or slow, or when there is a septic system backup, it's important to determine where the problem lies, since the repair steps can be quite different and costs can vary widely.
- Siding Odors: Vinyl Siding Failures, Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation: Siding, window, screen, & other "plastic" odors: We've investigated a number of reports of strange odors in residential buildings that were ultimately traced to vinyl or plastic which was outgassing. we have observed this
phenomenon with vinyl siding, plastic or vinyl window or door screens, and plastic or vinyl windows. A key diagnostic step was the observation that the odors
were strongest when the material under investigation was exposed to sunlight or other sources of heat. [This article is under development, September 2007, and we welcome content suggestions or questions].\
- SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors - a simple procedure using paper towels and aluminum foil can help track down a building odor to a specific surface indoors.
- Sulphur gases and odors in buildings: We provide a detailed list of sewer and sulphur gas odor sources at Sources of Sulphur Odors in Buildings. Also see CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS.
- Home Buyer's Detailed Guide to Septic Systems - Buying a Home With a Septic Tank. This article discusses septic tank care and maintenance and addresses some causes and cures of septic odors indoors or outside.
- VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO - article series on dioxin and HCL hazards associated with vinyl building products: vinyl siding, trim, windows
Vinyl Chloride Health Hazards US ATSDR
Vinyl Chloride Health Hazards US EPA
Vinyl Chloride Exposure, Acute & Chronic
Physical Properties of vinyl chloride
Inhalation Exposure to Vinyl Chloride
Standards for Exposure to Vinyl Chloride
Health Effects of Exposure to "Plastic or Vinyl" Odors
Vinyl Chloride Exposure - Opinions
Vinyl Chloride Exposure Questionnaire
Emission Standard for Vinyl Chloride
- Water Odors: How to Identify Odors in Drinking Water. This article discusses how to identify, diagnose, and cure common odors that may be present in drinking water. We also discuss which of these odors may warn of unsanitary conditions.
- WELL WATER CONTAMINANT SOURCES - Sources of Well Water Contamination, from an US EPA Guide to Water Quality
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about tracking down and curing odors in buildings
Question: Odor Traced to HVAC Condensate Pump
[We] had a very bad smell in basement some days worse than others changed seal on toilet at the top basement steps re caulked the lead seals on the two cast iron stacks . The days we washed clothes [the smell] seemed worse so we washed one day and didn't dry until the next day. When we ran the dryer the smell really was bad.
So I got on the floor started smelling every thing I could find. I finally got by furnace and got close condensate pump [on the floor next to] the air handler [heating and air conditioning equipment]. And there it was [the source of the horrible odor].
I had installed [the condensate pump] about five years ago and I had never cleaned it. What a mistake. I [removed and thoroughly cleaned the condensate pump] AND NO MORE SMELLS! - Gene Lovasz
Comment: Odors coming from dirty condensate pump reservoir
Thanks Gene for pointing out that a dirty condensate pump can be a source of unexpected odors and smells.
I suppose that on an HVAC system whose condensate pump runs only seasonally, water left in the pump body may support both algae and bacterial growth that could smell horrible. Cleaning the pump with household cleaner or even a dilute bleach solution was a smart step. I'd take a look at the condensate pump tubing as well; sometimes crud can collect in a low spot in the plastic drain tubing that ultimately blocks drainage.
Question: Chemical odors, air fresheners, ozone, secondary air pollutant hazards: I can't pin down the source of a chemical odor in my house. Any suggestions?
I was just looking at your web site hoping to find some answers for my problem and didn't really see what I was looking for. I'm hoping you can make a suggestion or point me in the right direction.
I've been chasing an odor around my house for almost a year now and can't seem to pin it down. What it is or where it is coming from.
I've had a plumber come to my house, HVAC person, local gas company, city sewer people, and talked to a "mold" guy although I didn't have him come to my house. I bought my house new eight years ago and it's only 1100 sq. ft. and I don't find any evidence of water damage that would precipitate a mold situation.
The smell has a chemical nature to it that I think is now starting to cause some health concerns for me. Since I've pretty much weeded out all of the obvious things about all that is left is....my next door neighbor cooking drugs of some type. I've filed several reports with the local police department and done several other things as well. Law enforcement may or may not be investigating the situation. They don't really say anything one way or the other.
It seems to me that I need some way to determine exactly what the odor in my house is; but I don't know how to go about it. Everyone that I've spoken to can check for things like sewer gas or mold spores but trying to ferret out the ingredients that might be used for cooking drugs is a whole different ball game. Not really that easy as far as I can tell. I've seen some electronic equipment on-line that is for sampling for residue inside houses where drugs have been cooked but that's like a first-hand situation. My situation is more like a second-hand smoke deal.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions. I'm pretty desperate at this point.
- R.E.
I have an office attached to my home which is outgassing from an unknown source. Possible culprits are formaldehyde from an air freshener concentrate spill or perhaps hard foam ceiling insulation. Any suggestions on how to identify the nature of the gas and what to do about it - Lawrence Jackson 3/28/12
Reply: Visual inspection of materials and building condition and a series of smell patch tests might help; secondary air pollutants from air fresheners & ozone generators
Lawrence:
Since tests to capture a gas and then identify it can be costly to arrange, it makes sense first to trace the odor to its source - often what you see there will be diagnostic. But I and experts agree that an indoor "air freshener" (such as the plug-in type) can in fact be a source of secondary pollutants, and we agree that some indoor air fresheners include a small amount of formaldehyde, typically 0.1%, to keep the air freshener from growing organisms.[8] Also see Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold"
remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Too often an air freshener is not really removing anything from the air to make it more "fresh" - rather it is adding chemicals that cover up the original odor (leaving it in place) and/or chemicals that deaden your sense of smell so you just don't notice the original odor. These concerns for secondary air pollutants can be even more severe if people try using ozone generators in the same location. [6][7][8][9][10]
A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem and in this particular case s/he might quickly spot something known to be a common source of problem odors but that had remained unfamiliar to you and some of the others who've looked. With no specific information about your building, I can only suggest a general approach to tracking down the odor problem.
That said, here are some things to consider:
Separate probable emergencies from other odor problems
Of course some odors are widely recognized by many people and some of these (fuel gas odors, methane, sewer gases, even flue gases) can be indicators of very dangerous conditions that need prompt action.
Sophisticated tests to identify gases and chemicals in buildings
There are gas testing methods that can identify the chemical constituents of gases (or in other words odors) found in buildings and elsewhere using a combination of a vacuum canister to collect air samples and mass spectrometry and similar instruments. Industrial hygienists are equipped and familiar with these procedures, but I'd be careful: most of the hygienists in my association (AIHA) are industrial experts and only a smaller number are familiar with residential buildings and with the building science needed to understand and diagnose and cure odors in residential homes.
But for other smells in general I am reluctant to order gas and chemical tests to "identify" an odor
for several reasons
An odor or smell may be the mix of a number of chemicals produced by a particular building product or condition. Identifying the specific chemical constituents of the gas often fails to point to the actual source in a building.
I have found inconsistent results from test labs and on occasion even large expensive labs have returned poorly-developed and unreliable results. It seemed to depend on luck of the draw about which technician and supervisor actually handled the work.
A chemical signature that identifies odor components might suggest a direction of investigation but equally frequently in my experience tests of air or gases in buildings are not sufficiently diagnostic. The results may confirm an odor while taking very limited or no steps at all towards identifying the odor source and no steps whatsoever in guiding the building owner into a plan of action.
These tests tend to be specific in target and expensive in use.
Suggestions for tracking down smells in residential buildings
I have had best results in tracking down and eliminating odor problems in buildings by using various measures to pinpoint the actual physical odor source. When the source is recognized we usually will know quickly just what the material is or just why the odor is occurring.
There are other helpful variables to consider that also help track down an odor source such as the correlation of odors to weather, wind, moisture, temperature, sunlight, sun exposure to different building areas, time of day, operation of various equipment etc.
For sources more far afield it's sometimes important to make sure that the odor is originating inside the building not elsewhere.
For odor complaints that are not observed by everyone in the building, because individual sensitivity to odors and chemicals can vary widely I don't assume that the "non-smellers" are correct (that there is no problem) but I have encountered cases in which a medical or even neurological condition was involved.
Help in tracking down an odor source based on building conditions: ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE provides a checklist of places to look and things to do to track down the source of an odor or smell in building air, water, mechanical systems, heating, cooling, or other locations.
Help in tracking down an odor source based on actual strength of the smell:
Above and in a series of articles found beginning at ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE we provider a collection of articles that describe steps to track down an odor to its source and to correct the problem, and there we include a suggested SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors that might help track down odors.
Use a combination of people with a good sense of smell and the smell test to see if you can identify where, when, and under what conditions the problem odors are strongest.
Question: Sweet / Fume type smell in a two story house
For the past three weeks my father has had a sweet/fume type smell in his two story house. The odor is concentrated in his bedroom. Professionals have come out to clean the air vent/ducts, the carpet cleaned, home inspector etc. and have not been able to determine the source of the odor. He has open all the windows, run the heat any and everything suggested nothing has worked. He has had to throw furniture, bedding etc. away because of the odor. The odor has gotten so bad he is unable to live in the house.
The service people who have been to the house have no clue and also aren't able to direct us how to determine what the problem is and how to fix it. Environmental companies said they need to know specifically what they are testing for such as mold etc. There is no construction going on in the area. He is at his wits end. He lives in Houston, TX. Any assistance anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. - T. Wilson 8/7/11
Reply: distinguish between sweet fumes and mold odors
T.W.
I agree that it would be a poor use of money to order specific tests to try to identify a vague odor - there are just too many possible things to test for, and too much expense, and too little diagnosis.
When an odor seems pervasive and its source is hard to pinpoint, I suggest a variety of methods - in the article bullets above, see the article links titled:
# Odor Diagnosis Log Sheet: Use this Odor Log Spreadsheet or this Odor Log printer-friendly file to record your observations for further analysis. Also see ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
A combination of noting time of day, weather, temperature, wind, equipment operating or off, direction of sunlight, along with help from folks with a sensitive sense of smell, and perhaps the smell patch test procedure I describe above can help track down the odor by
- time of day
- weather
- house conditions: equipment on/off
- areas of the building where odor is strongest
Finally, regarding mold as a common odor source: mold usually smells "moldy" or "musty" but there might be some fungi that produce a sweet smell, a dirty socks smell, and other distinctive odors. A competent inspection for hidden mold (since you don't already see it in the home) requires a thorough visual inspection of the building for leaks and leak history, moisture traps, prior flood or leak events, and from that process, a list of most-suspect areas where further invasive inspecting and testing are justified.
Keep us posted.
Please see Six Steps in an Organized Approach to Finding & Curing an Indoor Chemical Odor below in this FAQ section.
Question: Burning or Electrical Heater Odors: tracking down a burning smell when the air conditioning is on
For the past 3-4 months, some of our employees are complaining about a burning smell ( like the smell when you turn on the heater after a very long time) in the building when the air conditioning is on. I had a couple of HVAC companies come and check out our system but they couldn't find anything wrong. Any ideas? - Fieldpiece 9/12/11
Reply:
Field:
If you believe people are really smelling something burning, it could be unsafe and certainly justifies a more expert onsite inspection. Some simple tests like turning off suspect equipment might help too.
Question: Mold or dead animal smells: smell in the master bedroom closet lingers even after some demolition; attic mold is supposedly "dormant"
I hope you can help me . We have a 7 year old home and we have a smell in the master bedroom and master closet. Both are on the same wall (south)we have a real bad odor that we have never encountered before.
We tore out the carpet with no good results. We have mold in the attic above attached garage but not
close to where the smell is. We were told this is dormant? dead? and not the cause of our odor problem.
I have put the smell patch on three walls and also put plastic insulation on the windows - Pat--Boo20@att.net
Reply: dead mold may not be; other places to look for mold as an odor source
Pat:
If the odor is a moldy musty smell, and considering that you found attic mold in the building, I'd look for a source of leaks or trapped moisture. Perhaps cut some small exploratory 2" x 4" openings in the drywall at the most-suspect areas to permit a visual inspection. Same if it's a dead animal.
I would not assume that "dead mold" is really "dead" - dormant mold, meaning mold growth on a surface that is not producing active growth, can become active seasonally with variations in humidity, temperature, light, and other conditions, and can outgas MVOCs at times - depending on the genera, species, and surface on which the mold is growing. Also the fact that someone saw a significant mold reservoir in one building location should make us alert for the possibility of other undiscovered leaks and reservoirs to be found.
Take a look at MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE to see if it seems justified to bring in an expert.Also see Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
Question: Plastic or chemical odors: awful odor coming from a new sliding screen door; washed, hosed down, odors continue; chemical smells only when the windows are open?
Help! Just installed a new screen sliding door and the smell is awful! Sprayed it with Simple Green and hosed it down and the "plastic" odor is still not tolerable. Any suggestions?
We just installed a new plastic/vinyl screen door and the smell from it is unbearable. We tried spraying it with Simple Green but it didn't help and the smell is overpowering now. What can we do to get rid of this stink other than returning the door? - Ruth 10/24/11 [paraphrased - Ed.]
New construction home (1yr), has a gas like/chemical smell that collects in certain areas of the house only when the windows are open ??? Pretty sure it's not natural gas. When we close windows it goes away.
Did not notice the smell in the first 6 months. Any ideas ?? - Jason 3/18/12
There is a very strong smell that comes from the corner of our sunroom as soon as it warms up. I think it is stronger when it rains. It's never there during winter. It is so strong you can smell it in the living room. My husband took off the siding and found no mold. I think it smells kinda like mold though. It is so strong it gives me a headache. How can I find out what it is and how to get rid of it? - Jennifer 3/27/12
Reply: check for plastic window or screen odors when some products are heated by sunlight
Ruth & Jason & Jennifer
Some plastic windows or window or door screens can exude a chemical odor, particularly when heated by the sun. You can often track down this chemical-like odor by observing that odors are strongest on the sunlit side of the home and during time when sun is cooking those surfaces.
Some plastic and vinyl building products including windows, doors, and some sidings and trim, outgas a plastic-like odor, especially when new, and in some cases even when not new. But most of these odors dissipate pretty quickly over just a few weeks, and faster if the item, such as your new screen door are exposed to warmth of sunlight.
Details are at VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in Buildings.
Question: Animal or pet feces or urine odors: tracking down a rancid sweet wet paint odor in one room - suspected pet odors from urine or feces
What could be the source of an odor that smells like rancid, sweet, wet paint? The smell is contained to one room of our house, it builds up when doors and windows are closed, is all the time and we can't pinpoint exactly where in the room. We moved in 4 months ago, and it smelled.
We thought it was wet paint (previous owners painted) even after weeks and weeks and no other room (that was painted) smelled. We wound up gutting the walls down to the studs, replaced insulation, drywalled, and painted. It smelled like fresh wet paint, and when that dried we were back to the same offensive odor. We've tested for mold with an IH, tests were negative. Please help!!!
We are desperate, it's my youngest daughters room and she has been sleeping in her sister's room until we can figure this out! Thank you. Wendy K. 11/6/11
Reader comment:
Unbelievable Wendy but we seem to have the same thing going on in one small area of our house, a slightly sweet paint, disinfectant or perfume smell. We aren't sure which. (We moved in 12 months ago and have looked behind the walls in the soffits and in the adjacent crawlspace and found nothing.) We have been ventilating the entire time but the smell is still there when we close the room up today. I am going to do the patch test next week. - Chris 11/18/11
Reader follow-up:
Hey Chris, did the patch test help you identify anything yet? Did the previous owner have pets? Ours had a big dog and after all our attempts, we are down to the floor. We are thinking (hoping) it just might be an abundance of dog urine that soaked through the wood floor. My husband found a product at PETCO that addresses this, something specific for dog urine removal. It is kind of perfume itself but we doused the floor twice and are crossing our fingers. Good luck! - Wendy 11/28/11
We had a dog defecating and peeing and leaving it on cement in garage and tile in basement entry, so it's not discovering the cause but curing it. One door frame and the door (as its' a set) was affected and will need to be replaced- but can the floors be cured of the odor? A company that was supposed to take away that smell came and failed to do so. I heard that putting pet product liquids for pet waste is another way to work on it. What would you recommend? - Elaine 3/8/12
Reply: pet odors in buildings and success with removing them: clean & seal surfaces or remove materials
Chris & Wendy:
Our experience is that dog urine can soak deeply into wood flooring, especially if the floor was covered by carpeting and the urine thus remained for a long time. Odors from dog feces are usually easier to cure if the feces were on a hard finished surface, but feces dropped on concrete (a garage floor) or tile (grout joints) can leave oils and fluids that soak into those surfaces.
While commercial deodorizers can reduce the complaint, and some enzymes can actually break down organic molecules that are part of an odor problem, it's often the case that sanding, re-finishing, sealing, or even flooring or drywall and trim replacement are needed.
Elaine:
Where a surface is to be left in place, such as a garage floor, try using a commercial concrete or tile cleaner followed by thorough rinsing (vacuum up the rinse water if it's in a basement or garage that can't be hosed to outdoors. Then when the surface has thoroughly dried, if odors remain you may need to try coating the floor with a sealant. Some of the fungicidal sealants used in mold remediation or odor-controlling sealants used in response to fire damage in buildings can cure the remaining problem.
Details about tracking down & removing animal odors (or human odors) in or on buildings are at ANIMAL ODORS IN BUILDINGS.
Details about sealants for these applications are at FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE.
Question: dead fish (dead animal? odors in the kitchen
There is an odor in my kitchen that is likely a dead small something. I have looked behind refrigerator and stove, and removed anything that can be looked under. But there are floors under cabinets that would require carpentry to remove the shelf....want to know that that is the spot before I begin. How can I identify the location of the odor? Is there any gadget for that? - Jane
Reply: try a borescope before destroying cabinets or walls
I'm not sure it'll work in this case, Jane, but try our
SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors (article link at Related Topics )
to see if that helps pin down the most smelly area.
I'd see if the odor can be traced to a drain line.
Also, look for a dead mouse or other dead animal under an appliance (fridge, dishwasher), or under a cabinet, or even in the walls;
Finally, you may find a local home inspector who has a flexible borescope that can peer into tight areas such as under cabinets either by snaking the scope through an existing gap or opening or by drilling a small unobtrusive hole such as i the top of kick plates below your cabinets or in walls where odors seem strongest. An example of using a borescope is provided at HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND.
Question: Chemical or Paint Odors: strong odor when heating furnace first kicks on, before the blower operates
We are experiencing a strong, very troublesome odor when our furnace first kicks on, before the fan begins blowing. The furnace company has come out several times and they are satisfied that it is NOT the furnace. They thought perhaps it could be in the ducts. We had them vacuumed today, but to no avail.
The smell, if anything, is getting worse. We first noticed a similar problem last year, but it is much worse this year, and coincidently? we noticed it strongly right after painting our basement with "Painter's Select Porch and Floor Coating." We painted it on Oct 10th of this year. We were fixing the house up to sell, and wanted to brighten up the basement, and put up a moisture seal on the field stone walls. It was painted when we moved into the house in 2005, and the paint had peeled off, probably due to moisture leaking through the field stone.
Before painting, we had it "pointed" in areas that clearly needing re-mortaring. The paint we used was supposedly a low-odor paint, good for poorly ventilated areas, and indeed, the basement does not seem to have a particularly strong smell.
But, when the furnace (oil) burner kicks on, about 1 minute later, a powerful odor wafts up out of all of the vents, which our furnace people think is a paint smell, and not an oil smell. It seems much stronger than just paint though, and is truly disturbing.
We are trying to sell this house (unsuccessfully so far) and we are also worried that this cannot be good for us. I personally am still not persuaded that this is a paint problem. It is SO strong! But, we cannot seem to solve this problem on our own and are truly desperate for help. We have thought about buying a dehumidifier. Would this be a good idea? - Susan 12/5/11
Reply:
Susan, you are quite right to focus on the heater start-up cycle when you notice the smell particularly at that time. You didn't mention the heater fuel but I'm guessing it's heating oil not gas. Odors coming from gas heating appliances are particularly dangerous because of the possibility of a chimney, draft, or combustion air problem that can be a telltale for conditions producing potentially fatal carbon monoxide.
If the smell were due to poor venting or a chimney problem or a startup problem with an oil fired heater I'd expect you to recognize the fuel oil odor. Because you think it's a paint-related odor, I too am led to focusing on the prior cleaning and painting history in the home.
But let's ask why that odor would be particularly severe when the heater starts and before the blower turns on. Foundation or stone wall sealants as well as paints (but not likely mortar) often outgas strong odors when new but it would be unusual for such an odor to persist. However if a nearby painted surface were being abnormally heated - say by a hot supply air plenum before the blower comes on to cool down that area in your heating system - that could be a factor.
I think that to get to the bottom of this you want to home in on exactly where you smell the odor (coming from air supply ducts?) in the home, and where the odor appears to be strongest, keeping in mind the possible role of heat from your heating system in increasing outgassing.
Question: musty odor through interior partition wall, worse in damp or rainy weather; high VOCs at kitchen drain; possible sewer gas odors
I have a musty odour coming from the wall that separates my kitchen and living room which worsens when it is damp, rainy, there is no heat on or the AC unit is running. An environmental inspector did an AQ test for mold from the electrical outlet on the living room side, where the odour was quite strong but the results showed very low concentrations of mold spores compared to outside. T
he inspector also used a PPB Rae to measure volatile organic compounds at the kitchen drain which showed extremely elevated levels of VOC's between 35000 to 83000 ppb when initially operating the water. The numbers dropped significantly after the water had been running. The conclusion of the inspector was that plumbing is likely to need repair in the wall cavity and potentially the main trap at the entrance to the building.
Would a camera inspection be able to show if there is a problem in the wall cavity or should the wall be opened up? I have concerns about the latter because of the possibility of contamination from whatever is causing the musty odour. I have smelled sewer gas on at least two occasions, first under the kitchen sink and the second time in the electrical outlet on the living room side. Thanks! - Denise 1/13/12
Recently my neighbor has done some extreme excavating, removing two home and making a parking lot. I have at times noticed an extremely awful smell in my basement(rotten sauerkraut), I think it is sewer gases, but how do i check. City sewer line I am the next to last home on the line. I have had severs head aces nausea, not all the time,I don't have much money for a lot of testing, who do I call? - Beth bannehix@yahoo.com 4/10/12
Reply:
Watch out: Beth, since you are describing possible damage to and potentially dangerous (explosive) leaks from a public sewer, you should call your city building department promptly to describe the odor, and construction, and worry about what might be a dangerous sewer gas leak.
Denise, running HVAC equipment, fans, or even changes in how windows or doors are open or shut, or changes in indoor or outdoor temperature and similar conditions or changes all affect how air moves in buildings. In cases of enough negative pressure indoors (rising air currents, running exhaust or whole house fans, for example), these can cause backdrafting out of building drains - a condition that is made worse if drains are not properly vented or if the vents are blocked.
I'm not sure what sense it makes to measure VOCs at a building sink drain. I have never measured a sink or tub drain in a building that had seen use that did not cause the instrument to respond - the contents of traps are often a bit smelly on close inspection. On the other hand, dry traps, or traps that are siphoned dry during plumbing system use, or defective or blocked building vent piping can be a serious, even dangerous source of sewer gases. Some odors traced to building walls were in fact traced to openings in a vent piping system in the wall.
Question: dirt floor smells over possible outhouse location
We live on a farm it has a double garage open front dirt floor. on the back is a small area which i think was a old drop hole toilet witch is filled in and open to shed . when you walk past or go in shed there is a very strong smell of sewage . what can be put on the dirt to get rid of smell thanks - Bernie 2/25/12
Reply: use an impermeable membrane below the soil to reduce odors in a shed over an old outhouse pit
Bernie, indeed the soil where an outhouse previously stood can continue to hold concentrations of waste for years because of the concentration of sewage with comparatively low water content, deep in the soil where there is a lack of aerobic bacteria, and probably because often lime was added to control odors, also preserving the waste from bacterial action. Usually, where the soil is open to the air outdoors it's not a source of complaints if it was buried with several feet or more of clean fill.
But in a shed or enclosure odors from gases passing out of the soil may indeed be a problem. I would not try treating the dirt itself with any chemical or deodorant - not only will it probably not work, it may simply be a new contaminant. You might find success by removing a top layer of soil, installing an impermeable membrane (rubber EPDM roofing would work, or a plastic intended for soil burial such as sold by geotextile and foundation waterproofing manufacturers), and burying that layer again with soil.
Question: We tried the obvious, now how can we track down the source of a smell in our home?
I have a 4 year old brick home, on basement, 1 story. I have smelled a faint odor in one area of the home which is around the master bedroom, master bath, and hallway leading to that area.
The smell tends to be stronger in the hallway area which is on the other side of the wall from the bathroom.
My husband does not smell it and thinks I am crazy. Some days is it stronger than others but I can't figure out why.
The smell is not in the basement, and not in the attic.
We replaced the toilet wax ring, with no results.
We put a vent cap on the roof vent of the toilet so that wind would not blow the gases back inside, with no results.
How can I track down the smell?
My only other ideas are that the roof has leaked and the wall has molded, or there is a problem with the bathroom fan leaking in foul air. Or a dead animal stuck somewhere in the wall.
Desperate for some fresh air,- J.H.
Reply:
See our odor diagnosis procedural checklist at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDUREor review the six-step approach to odor diagnosis described in the FAQ just below.
A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem or source of an odor.
That said,
It is an error for someone to assume that because they do not personally smell an odor that it is not present. Individual sense of smell varies widely among individuals. However on occasion there are medical or other sources of perceived odors that only the affected person will experience. Therefore in some cases it may be appropriate to also check in with a physician. But it makes sense to look for the obvious: an actual source of odors or smells in the building.
Question: How can we track down the source of a chemical smell in our condo?
I currently own and live in a condo and for several months now my wife and I have noticed a very strong smell in one of our bedrooms. The smell has been strong enough to make it impossible for us to be in that room without the window open and as the smell continued we finally reached out to have the air tested in the bedroom. We found (having tested 3 times) high level of various VOCs, most prevalently 1,4 dichlorobenzene.
Unfortunately, while we've established something is wrong, none of the air testing companies we used could figure out where it was coming from (not really their specialty). We'd hoped the building would get involved and spent months dealing with them but things have become more urgent as my wife is pregnant and due in 2 months.
We can't bring a newborn into this environment and so are looking for someone to help us find the source of the contamination (rather than just confirm that it exists). Is this something you can do? If so (or if not, if you don't mind) please get back to me ASAP. Between waiting too long and the frustration of dealing with various service providers and our own building we are really in a rush to have this resolved.
- Anon. 5/31/12
Reply:
Our suggestions for an organized approach to tracking an odor to its source and correcting the problem are summarized just below:
Six Steps in an Organized Approach to Finding & Curing an Indoor Chemical Odor
A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem such as this one. It is a frequent frustration to discuss with readers and clients the common experience of hiring a costly investigator or hygienist to help with a problem only to find that that expert does the easy part - conducting a few (sometimes unreliable) sample collections, sends them to a lab and gives you a report. Such tests alone, without a translation into sufficient diagnosis as to permit action, are of limited use.
Having had my own children and recalling some experiences that are best skipped over, I want to reassure you that while I don't claim the most expertise on this subject, I'll be glad to do what I can to assist. That said, after more than 30 years of field investigations, I have retired from most field work; also I am about to leave the country on a six-month project, so I'm not the best person to sort this out in your home. However I will (pro bono) offer a few suggestions that might be helpful, and I invite you to continue the discussion with me and to let me know how things progress, as that may enable me to be of further use to you and your wife and the baby. Certainly I take your concerns seriously and I'd like to do what I can to assist.
You may have already read that dichlorobenzene is often used in pesticides, mothballs (see Are mothballs an indoor air quality or health concern?) , disinfectants, and deodorants. If you are confident that your tests identifying this chemical were accurate AND that it is most likely the chief or only contaminant present, those uses may help suggest how to track down the actual odor source.
The fact that the odor is traced particularly to one bedroom will be helpful, but depending on what we think has happened in your home, I'd suggest being cautious in concluding that the risks are only in that area. For example, if the odor is due to use of a pesticide, it would more commonly have been applied in multiple areas.
Off the cuff, several directions of investigation suggest themselves:
1. Odor source tracking: try the SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors
method to see if you can isolate the odor to a particular surface. It's cheap, easy, and can sometimes give dramatic results. When I refined and field tested this method, first suggested to me by Jeff May (Cambridge MA), the person we used as the "smeller" was in fact a pregnant woman whose sense of smell was reported to be particularly sensitive.
2. Building and building condition factors causing odors: at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE we give a procedural checklist that can help track down the source of an odor by reviewing a laundry-list of types of odors, odor sources, and building and even weather conditions that can be diagnostic. For example we've tracked certain odors to plastic windows or window screens that emitted smells principally after some time in direct sunlight.
Add for your case
- where is the offending room in the floor plan of your condominium, and how does that location relate to
- sunlight
- HVAC equipment
- interior or exterior walls
- placement of elevators, air shafts, plumbing drains or utility shafts, chimneys
3. Building history factors in odor diagnosis: in the same checklist as item 2 I give some examples of building history that can point to a particular odor source. In the case you describe I'd want to add some more detailed considerations such as
building age, type, location, and construction materials of both the structure and in your individual condo
history of condo owners, length of occupancy, and activities in the condo - for example were there occupants with particular hobbies or activities that used chemicals?
history of treatment for insect pests: cockroaches, termites, other - by whom, when, what chemical was applied where and by what method; on Long Island years ago an idiot pesticide applicator sprayed pesticide into the building wall cavities leading to a very costly problem. If, for example, a prior owner filled a closet with mothballs (Are mothballs an indoor air quality or health concern?) and left it shut for a long time - months or years - the odor could have penetrated surface materials and may linger there.
history of renovations in your condo, when, what, where, what materials
4. Surface testing to confirm an odor source: best performed after we have some most-suspect surfaces in mind, it may be possible to collect and send a small physical sample to an appropriate test lab for confirmation of what we're looking at. For example, at a home where I suspected amateur application of pesticide (chlordane), I cut a small sliver of wood that we sent to an independent test lab (my lab specializes in particle forensics not chemicals) who confirmed that the wood had indeed been soaked with pesticide.
5. Containment of odors & smell-related risks: temporarily, I trust that you are keeping the offending room's door shut and are minimizing your wife's exposure to risk. I caution you that anyone who remains in an area where odor-producing substances are present, eventually becomes desensitized to the odors and can be thus fooled into thinking that the odor is not present or has been diminished. A good test is to consider how things "smell" to you or others on entering the condo just after you've spent hours or longer out in fresh air.
6. Remediation of odors or smells: as I infer from your message, and I agree, don't do anything expensive or disruptive towards a "cure" before we have a reasonably confident idea of what the problem is.
Comments or suggestions from other experts or readers are welcome and can be posted in the Q&A/Comment section below.
Here at ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE we list many sources of odors & smells in buildings - the list itself may suggest some candidates for you that can help tracking down your own complaint.
Separately at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE we offer a procedural checklist that can help in tracking down an odor
Question: desperate for help tracking down chemical drug smells in apartment
I am desperate for your help. On your web page there is mention of neighbors cooking drugs in a section titled "question:chemical odors,air fresheners, ozone,secondary air pollutant hazards; i can't pin down the source of a chemical odor in my house." this is a big problem in the apartments where i live too.
However my sister who is disabled with m.S. Has severe reactions to these smells. She moved from here to a house in a "nice" place. To make it short - her neighbors are probably cooking a drug called spice and the odors are making her extremely ill. (racing heart, nausea, burning eyes etc). The big problem is few people are there in the middle of the night when it happens.
Her aide called me and said she can smell it.
The fire dept and police want her to prove it before they will do anything.
Her landlord thinks she is nuts.
I know her to be on target with all of the terrible drug smells from this place and we tried to get her out of it. If you have any advice or devices please contact me. I am afraid she will end up in the hospital and no one will help her at all. My e-mail is [redacted] i am home in the am and work in the aft. & evening. Thank you for putting this info online. I look forward to talking to someone soon.
Oh i also bought her detectors recommended by the fire dept(riddick- i think) and they go off at 22 which is high and still nothing can be done until we prove something. - M.B.
Reply:
Dear M.B.
I'd like to assist you as much as possible but unfortunately, other than giving well-organized advice on odor tracking procedures, I'm not confident that an email or telephone consult is the best approach to tracking down an odor source in a remote building. I find that in just about 100% of the cases I've investigated, an expert, on-site, will always find important evidence that a less experience person doesn't notice and thus doesn't think to report to a remote consultant by phone or email.
I'm doubtful that the "detectors" you purchase are suitable for detecting chemical odors or odor sources. Typically the detectors recommended by a fire department will be smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors. Both of those are devices that you and family members should have properly installed and working wherever you live, for fire and carbon monoxide hazard safety, but these devoces are not intended for nor useful for tracking down chemical contaminants.
If your wish is to try tracking down the odor problem yourselves these two articles should be helpful
Your other options include
- ask your local health department for help
- hire an expert - if so make sure (by asking) it's someone who actually has expertise and experience in odor diagnosis and cure, not a general-practitioner hygienist or home inspector who may lack that expertise. Something I'd avoid is paying someone to just stop by to perform a specific chemical, gas, or air test - it's too much like shooting in the dark and is at too much risk of giving a false negative result.
...
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- [1] ASTM E2600 - 08 Standard Practice for Assessment of Vapor Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions is available from the ASTM at astm.org/Standards/E2600.htm .
"This practice is intended for use on a voluntary basis by parties who wish to conduct a VIA on a parcel of real estate, or more specifically conduct a screening evaluation to determine whether or not there is potential for a VIC, and if so, identify alternatives for further investigation."
The standard goes on to emphasize the uncertainty in testing any site for gases and vapor intrusion.
- [2] EMS Testing Laboratories (a nationwide chain in the U.S.) - see http://www.emsl.com
- [3] Chinese Drywall information hosted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, and supported by the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html
- [4] Chinese Drywall information from the Florida state department of Environmental Protection -
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/indoor-air/casedefinition.html#presence
- [5] Executive Summary, Chinese Drywall Hazards, published by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, and supported by the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control), the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - original source: http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/execsum0410.pdf
- [6] Brett C. Singer, Beverly K. Coleman, Hugo Destaillats, Alfred T. Hodgson, Melissa M. Lunden, Charles J. Weschler, William W Nazaroff, "Indoor secondary pollutants from cleaning product and air freshener use in the presence of ozone", Atmospheric Environment, Volume 40, Issue 35, November 2006, Pages 6696–6710
Abstract
This study investigated the formation of secondary pollutants resulting from household product use in the presence of ozone. Experiments were conducted in a 50-m3 chamber simulating a residential room. The chamber was operated at conditions relevant to US residences in polluted areas during warm-weather seasons: an air exchange rate of 1.0 h−1 and an inlet ozone concentration of approximately 120 ppb, when included. Three products were used in separate experiments. An orange oil-based degreaser and a pine oil-based general-purpose cleaner were used for surface cleaning applications. A plug-in scented-oil airfreshener (AFR) was operated for several days. Cleaning products were applied realistically with quantities scaled to simulate residential use rates. Concentrations of organic gases and secondary organic aerosol from the terpene-containing consumer products were measured with and without ozone introduction. In the absence of reactive chemicals, the chamber ozone level was approximately 60 ppb. Ozone was substantially consumed following cleaning product use, mainly by homogeneous reaction. For the AFR, ozone consumption was weaker and heterogeneous reaction with sorbed AFR-constituent VOCs was of similar magnitude to homogeneous reaction with continuously emitted constituents. Formaldehyde generation resulted from product use with ozone present, increasing indoor levels by the order of 10 ppb. Cleaning product use in the presence of ozone generated substantial fine particle concentrations (more than 100 μg m−3) in some experiments. Ozone consumption and elevated hydroxyl radical concentrations persisted for 10–12 h following brief cleaning events, indicating that secondary pollutant production can persist for extended periods.
Keywords
Air quality;
Formaldehyde;
Indoor air chemistry;
Secondary organic aerosol;
Terpenes
- [7] Xiaoyu Liu,*† Mark Mason, Kenneth Krebs, and Leslie Sparks, "Full-Scale Chamber Investigation and Simulation of Air Freshener Emissions in the Presence of Ozone:, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2004, 38 (10), pp 2802–2812
DOI: 10.1021/es030544b
Publication Date (Web): April 9, 2004,
Abstract: Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from one electrical plug-in type of pine-scented air freshener and their reactions with O3 were investigated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indoor air research large chamber facility. Ozone was generated from a device marketed as an ozone generator air cleaner. Ozone and oxides of nitrogen concentrations and chamber conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and air exchange rate were controlled and/or monitored. VOC emissions and some of the reaction products were identified and quantified. Source emission models were developed to predict the time/concentration profiles of the major VOCs (limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene, camphene, benzyl propionate, benzyl alcohol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, and benzaldehyde) emitted by the air freshener. Gas-phase reactions of VOCs from the air freshener with O3 were simulated by a photochemical kinetics simulation system using VOC reaction mechanisms and rate constants adopted from the literature. The concentration−time predictions were in good agreement with the data for O3 and VOCs emitted from the air freshener and with some of the primary reaction products. Systematic differences between the predictions and the experimental results were found for some species. Poor understanding of secondary reactions and heterogeneous chemistry in the chamber is the likely cause of these differences. The method has the potential to provide data to predict the impact of O3/VOC interactions on indoor air quality.
- [8] RI Vanhegan, R.G. Mitchell, "Pseudomonas Infection Associated with Contamination of Wick-Type Air Freshener", British Medical Journal, 20 Sept. 1975, pp. 685 [copy on file as Air_Fresh_Study_BMJ75.pdf]
Though unproved, the bottles may have been directly implicated in
cross-infection and they should not be used in intensive care units and
similar places. The practice of topping-up existing bottles from a
stock solution should be discouraged since the resulting weakened
mixture may eventually support the growth of organisms. Since an
increase in the formaldehyde concentration proved irritant we
recommend the use of safe non-volatile disinfectants. The possibility
that organisms may develop resistance to formaldehyde solutions was
not further investigated.
- [9] Salthammer, T. (ed) (2007) Subject Index, in Organic Indoor Air Pollutants: Occurrence - Measurement - Evaluation, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Germany. doi: 10.1002/9783527613663.indsub
- [10] Mihalis Lazaridis (Editor), Ian Colbeck (Editor), Human Exposure to Pollutants via Dermal Absorption and Inhalation (Environmental Pollution), Springer; 1st Edition. edition (April 1, 2010), ISBN-10: 9048186625
ISBN-13: 978-9048186624
Quoting: The human body is exposed to pollution on a daily basis via dermal exposure and inhalation. This book reviews the information necessary to address the steps in exposure assessment relevant to air pollution. The aim is to identify available information including data sources and models, and show that an integrated multi-route exposure model can be built, validated and used as part of an air quality management process. Many epidemiological studies have focused on inhalation exposure. Whilst this is appropriate for many substances, failure to consider the importance of exposure and uptake of material deposited on the skin may lead to an over/underestimation of the risk. Hence dermal exposure is also considered. Drinking water contamination by disinfection by-products is also discussed. Written by leading experts in the field, this book provides a comprehensive review of ambient particulate matter and will be of interest to graduate students, researchers and policymakers involved in air quality management, environmental health and related disciplines, as well as environmental consultants and ventilation engineers.
- [11] Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
- [12] Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
- [13] Troubleshooting Split System A/C or Heat Pump Noises, Fujitsu General America, Inc., 353 Route 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004, Tel: (888) 888-3424, Tel-Service hotline: (866) 952-8324, Email: hvac@fujitsugeneral.com, Email service: servicehvac@fujitsugeneral.com , retrieved 8/30/12, original source: http://www.fujitsugeneral.com/troubleshooting.htm [copy on file as Troubleshooting Fujitsu Ductless Mini-Splits.pdf]
- [14] Thomas M. Riddick, "Controlling Taste, Odor and Color With Free Residual Chlorination", Journal (American Water Works Association)
Vol. 43, No. 7 (JULY 1951), pp. 545-552, American Water Works Association, Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41236445
- [15] Douglas M. Baker, M.D., "Holiday Hazards", Pediatric Emergency Care, Vol. 1 No. 4, December 1985 Lippincott-Raven, retrieved 9/22/12
Abstract: Presented is a selective review of the toxicities of various plants, decorations, and miscellaneous items popularly used during the holiday season. Particularly hazardous agents include mistletoe, holly, bubble lights, fireplace flame colors, alkaline batteries, and mothballs. Specific questions regarding management of exposure to these items should be referred to regional poison control centers. Avoidance is the most effective treatment. ... [regarding mothballs, ... decontamination is advised for ingestions of greater than one half of a naphthalene mothball and more than two to three paradichlorobenzene mothballs ...]
- [16] Charles M. McGinley, P.E., Michael A. McGinley, MHS, Donna L. McGinley, " “Odor Basics”,
Understanding and Using Odor Testing", paper presentation, The 22nd Annual Hawaii Water Environment Association Conference.,
Honolulu, Hawaii: 6-7 June 2000, St. Croix Sensory Inc. / McGinley Associates, P.A.
13701 - 30th Street Circle North
Stillwater, MN 55082 U.S.A.
800-879-9231
stcroix@fivesenses.com, retrieved 9/22/12, original source http://www.fivesenses.com/Documents/Library/33%20
%20Odor%20Basics.pdf, [copy on file as Odor_Basics.pdf]
- [17] Jon H. Ruth, "Odor Thresholds and Irritation Levels of Several Chemical Substances: A Review", American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Volume 47, Issue 3, 1986, retrievedf 9/22/12, Abstract: A collation of odor threshold data for approximately 450 chemical substances is presented. The range of odor thresholds reported in the literature is shown along with any reported threshold of irritation to humans. These data can assist the industrial hygienist in determining when an “odor” may be in excess of the Threshold Limit Value®, when an organic vapor respirator is not acceptable due to the lack of an odor warning at the end of a cartridge life, and where odors may not indicate a hazard due to extremely low odor thresholds which may be well below the respective TLVs.
- [18] Edward Avila DO,
Paul Schraeder MD,
Ajit Belliappa MD,
Scott Faro MD, "Pica With Paradichlorobenzene Mothball Ingestion Associated With Toxic Leukoencephalopathy", Journal of Neuroimaging
Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 78–81, January 2006, retrieved 9/22/12,
Abstract: This is a case report of central nervous system toxicity associated with paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) ingestion. The patient had ingested mothballs composed of 99.99% PDCB for a period of 7 months. She was admitted for depression and had no neurologic symptoms. Later she developed an acute cerebellar syndrome followed by stupor and coma. An extensive workup was negative except for decreasing levels of PDCB in her serum. Imaging revealed a diffuse leukoencephalopathy. Her clinical picture was attributed to PDCB toxicity.
- [19] Stone, David L. (David Louis), Stock, T. (Tim), "Mothballs: proper use and alternative controls for clothes moths", PNW 606-E, May 2008, Oregon State University. Extension Service
Washington State University. Extension
University of Idaho. Extension, May, 2008, retrieved 9/22/12, original source: http://scholarsarchive.library.oregonstate.edu/
xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/20800/pnw606-e.pdf?sequence=1, citation: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/20800, Abstract: In some homes, clothes moths can damage garments and other belongings. There are two common species of clothes moths in the Pacific Northwest: the webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the casemaking clothes moth (Tinea pellionella). The larvae, or immature form, of the moths are responsible for the damage done to personal belongings. [copy on file as Mothballs_Guide_PNW.pdf]
Citing the following 2 sources on mothball chemistry, use, hazards:
- [20] Black, Judy. Fabric and Museum Pests. In
Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, 9th edition,
S.A. Hedges and D. Moreland, eds. GIE Media,
Cleveland, OH, 2004, pp. 581 –623.
- [21 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Illness Associated with Exposure to Naphthalene
in Mothballs—Indiana. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report, 1983, Vol. 32: 34–5.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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- Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
- "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home",
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
- US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [ copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
- "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
- "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens,"
Patricia Donald,
Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology,
Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
- US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [ copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
- ...
