Set #2 of Q&A about finding and getting rid of chemical odors in or near residential buildings.

This article series describes clues, focused on common sources of building chemical smells or chemical-like odors, that any home owner, home inspector, or other investigator can follow in seeking to pinpoint the source of an annoying or obnoxious odor in buildings.

Q&A on Cheklists to Diagnos the Cause of Chemical Smells

These questions & answers about finding the source of chemical smells in & around buildings & getting rid of chemical odors were posted originally at CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCES where you will find a checklist of possible chemical odor sources or causes.

Be sure to check out that list of common "chemical" smell sources.

On 2019-02-21 by (mod) - daughter's room has a gassy headache breath taking odor after making slime

Catrina,

I don't know what materials your daughter used to make slime at home - that'd be a good place to start thinking about what may be spilled or jammed in a closet or under a bed.

The usual ingredients for home made "slime" are
School glue
Borax (Sodium tetraborate)
Food coloring (optional)
Water

None of those ought to be particularly smelly

I'm not sure how to characterize the odor from your description.

YOu might try the ARTICLE INDEX to find our procedure for SMELL PATCH TEST - that lets you track down an odor to an emittting surface

You might also ask if there were any spills that might have leaked into a floor or into the bottom of a wall cavity

On 2019-02-20 by Catrina

My daughter started making slime about a year ago but the new forms and kinds got a bit tricky. She used the school glue, baking soda, contact solution, air freshener, fabric softener but not all in combo.

I have cleaned her room from top to bottom. Only her room has a gassy headache breath taking odor. We have baking soda in a up to absorb the odor. Any ideas?

On 2018-04-06 by (mod) - mell of hops and there beer producing process

Provided that the brewery is in compliance with local building and plumbing codes, I'm doubtful that I can offer useful advice. I've encountered this complaint before in the U.K. Some neighbors lobbied for enforcement of improved chimney and venting by the brewery, with mixed success.

On 2018-04-05 by VAl

I am next door to a brewery and the smell of hops and there beer producing process has an extremely offensive smell. What should I do?

On 2017-11-18 by (mod) - Dangerous? chemical smells in our apartment.

Koa

I think you might be able to get some help by contacting your local Health Department and or law enforcement officials.

The health effects of exposure to chemicals varies enormously depending on at the very least

- the specific chemical odors or gases to which people are exposed

- the dose: duration and level of exposure

- individual health vulnerability such as asthmatic, elderly, infant, immune-impaired

Those are also questions to discuss with your doctor.

On 2017-11-18 by koa

We have Chemical smells in our apartment. They started right after the 3rd floor to a known (To the local PD and Landlord) drug dealer/manufacturer. We are on the 1st. With winter bearing down on us, we don't have our AC running or windows open.

The Landlord says he waiting for the Tenant to go to Jail, but his Sentencing keeps getting postpone. 30+ days at a time. I think the Landlord's getting... SOMETHING. Need I say more? I think he wants us to move out, because we're locked in on the rent.

My wife has asthma and I'm a heart patient.

What worries me more is, the young couple on the 2nd floor and their 3 kids. They've threatened to break their lease because of the Constant Foot Traffic, Noise (Fighting), Broken Railing on the Brand New Stairs, Window Screens Falling from the 3rd Floor, the 24 hours of people just "doing ??", the OD's, and etc..

I've spent the last 13/14 years cultivating a Bush to Block the Headlights from the 2nd and 3rd floor Parking lot and NOW I have to cut it all down to give the Security Cameras an unobstructed view of said same.

What effects are we all subject to from the smells?

On 2017-09-06 by Mod - vinyl odor complaint

Dave:

See VINYL SIDING

or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS

On 2017-09-06 by Dave Newman - odor from Eze Breeze vinyl windows

I have recently installed Eze Breeze vinyl windows in my covered patio. These are an aluminum framed vinyl window pane manufactured by PGT. I am experiencing a chemical "off gassing" odor in my patio. PGT denys thst their product off gasses. I am unable to find any VOC figures for their product.

The odor goes away shortly after opening a window but there a times we would prefer to not open a window.

But back to the original question with PGT claiming that their product does not off gass, shouldn't they be required to publish a MSDS sheet for their product?

This would show the VOC's, etc for their product. If it produces an odor, it's off gassing and how long will this process last?

On 2017-02-24 by (mod) - strong smell of acetone in one of our office buildings

I don't know, Jeanni. Perhaps a lubricant or cleaner or even an electrical problem may generate a chemical odor that some might describe as acetone, but more narrowly, acetone is a common solvent that as you know is used as a nail polish remover.

A connection between any odor and a building elevator that's worth exploring is that the elevator shaft and car act as a huge pump that can easily move odors between building floors. Such odor generation and movement may indeed be transitory, inconsistent over time and thus it is not reliable to simply "not find anything" on a reinspection.

Furthermore I'm doubtful that whoever your "hazmat" is could nor even should have tried such broad tests and inspections as to pronounce that there is no hazard in a building. For example if someone followed your lead and simply tested the air for acetone, even if they found none, that's not an explanation for what you observed nor a protection against its recurrence.

The salient question is: is there enough evidence or are there sufficient complaints or concerns as to justify more expensive and extensive investigation.

On 2017-02-24 by Jeanni

There was a strong smell of acetone in one of our office buildings and ironically at the same time we were experiencing issues with our elevator. The smell did seem to be coming from that area. Is there any connection between the elevator and the smell? We had hazmat come check and nothing toxic could be identified!

On 2017-02-15 by Sandra palmer

smell of pine sol cleaner near fireplace

On 2017-02-09 1 by (mod) - some pesticides can be dangerous for humans, particularly if they are not applied correctly.

James,

I agree that some pesticides can be dangerous for humans, particularly if they are not applied correctly. This is a question to take to both your landlord and your local Health Department. You will need to find out or your landlord or health department will need to find out what chemicals are being applied, how and where they're being applied, and whether they're appropriate.

On 2017-02-09 by James Someerville

Have an intense smell of bug spray from tenant below me every morning enough to make a person il, what to do?

On 2015-07-03 by (mod) - get some help finding the odor source by using people coming in from fresh air

Dolly

You'll want to get some help finding the odor source by using people coming in from fresh air to give an opinion of where odor is strongest; also see our smell patch test procedure as that may help you out.

On 2015-07-03 by Dolly

We have had this strange chemical like odor in our house for about a month. I thought it was the sewer. I called a plumber. Not one but 3 different ones on 6 different occasions. Nothing. I called the gas co.

Nothing. I called the Health Dept. Nothing. It is so strong sometimes I can't stand to be in the house and is worse at night time. Any suggestions? I even slept in my car a couple of nights. I really don't know what to do next. Help!!!

On 2015-01-23 by Anonymous

We haven't painted anything yet. Just finished drywall mudding/finishing. No floors installed, no cabinets, etc. only thing in the house is blown in cellulose insulation (the newspaper stuff), drywall, and furnace and we just had drywall finishers complete ceiling finishing two days ago.

Return cold air connector is on furnace now but smell is not any better yet. We had someone suggest that maybe they put too much insulation in and it's too tight and house can't "breathe" right.

On 2015-01-22 by (mod) - smell of drywall mud?

Vicky

Just a guess: possibly you're smelling the volatiles drying out of new paint, particularly if latex paints were used.

On 2015-01-21 by Vicky

We are in the process of building a new house. Drywall finishing was just completed today. The only thing running in the house is a new electric furnace/heat pump system. We have no water yet, no septic system hooked up yet. However, there is a smell, kind of like ammonia, when the furnace is running.

They do not have the return cold air flus completely hooked up yet. Could that be the cause of the smell due to furnace running but not totally "venting" throughout the house, along with the chemical's in the drywall mud?

...

Continue reading at CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCES - a checklist of common sources of chemical-related odors in buildings, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE
• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home

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CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCE CHECKLIST FAQs-2 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ODOR DIAGNOSIS & CURE

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