FAQs, questions & answers about ow to find & cure plastic like odors and smells in buildings & about the effects of exposure to plastic or chemical smells or odors:
This article provides commonly-asked questions about the sources of & cures for plastic or chemical smells in buildings and includes discussions of possible health effects of exposure to such gases or odors or VOCs.
This article series iscusses common odor sources, including indoor plastic odors or chemical smells observed at some installations of vinyl exterior building siding or in other plastic or vinyl building products such as windows and trim. We provide links to articles detailing possible health effects of exposure to indoor VOCs and plastic odors and smells.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?
These questions & answers about exposure to or issues with chemical or plastic odors were posted originally
at VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS - topic home. - Be sure to check out the odor source identification and cure steps outlined there.
I have been working hard for long hours outside my aunt's house in New Jersey. Friday Aug.
I woke up after a long day of work Thursday. I woke up at 7AM in a 9' x 18' porch of vinyl windows to a sunny morning but a strong plastic odor. Throughout the house my aunt's windows smell of plastic.
I was dizzy and began vomiting and by 8AM I had been transported by ambulance to Overlook Hospital.
My body temperature was at 94 but it had been a clear night and the outdoor temp. had dropped and I slept next to an open window with a slow ceiling fan near me but the doctor has asked about carbon monoxide, a furnace pipe, and at that hour and day only a properly venting hot water heater would have been running.
I'll check the hospital's blood tests for vinyl chloride other plastic contaminants. Thank you very much. - R. Craig 9/14/2012
Reply:
R Craig
Thank you for this important field report about suspected health response to plastic odors. I can confirm from personal experience that dizziness and nausea can definitely ensue from exposure to fumes from a variety of plastic products. Years ago while putting down 6-mil poly over dirt in a tight crawl space I knew from the get go that the plastic I was unrolling smelled awful.Stupidly wearing no respiratory protection I figured I'd just tough it out and get the job done.
Before I could finish I was so dizzy and nauseous it was all I could do to crawl out of the area and lie on the ground in fresh air until I felt better - it took more than an hour to begin to feel OK.
Watch out: I have collected in-depth and authoritative information on exposure to VOCs, plastic odors, and PVC or polyvinyl chloride gases, and I've made sure those links are in view on these pages - at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article please take a look at the articles organized under
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
There you'll also find details on VINYL CHLORIDE INHALATION EXPOSUREand HEALTH EFFECTS of EXPOSURE to PLASTIC or VINYL ODORS a useful patient information sheet that you should give to your doctor.
This pdf file may also be helpful: VINYL CHLORIDE EXPOSURE QUESTIONNAIRE
I completely agree with a physician who figures first to make sure there is no CO carbon monoxide gas hazard in the building as that can be quickly fatal to anyone. But indeed plastic odors and gases can be a concern as well.
Please keep me posted - what we learn will doubtless help other readers
Daniel - Editor.
We had a cellular PVC deck installed about 6 weeks ago. I can't believe how much of an odor it has when it is in the sun.
I can smell it inside the house if the windows are open and it is driving me crazy. As time goes on will this go away? I'm so disappointed. I did a lot of research and didn't come across anything about this in my research and still can't. Any suggestions? - Beth 7/29/12
Beth, sorry to hear about the PVC deck smell complaint - it's not one we've heard reported here before.
Usually but not always, plastic odors dissipate with time, heat, sun exposure.
If you can find out for us the product name and its manufacturer we'll do some further research.
Follow-up:
Thank you for your response. It is Timber Tech XLM series. One of their reps told me over the phone that the smell should improve with time but could possibly be detected faintly when warm out--always.
I did a lot of reading before choosing this deck material and it seems that the trend now is moving from composite to all PVC or capstock (composite--capped with a PVC layer).
I haven't read a thing anywhere about complaints of the odor--just surprises me as it is quite strong. I don't notice anything when it is not being heated up by the sun, so I hope that with time it will improve.
I have read that sun speeds up the off gassing process. I guess I just wonder how long this might take and if it will eventually lose the smell completely.
Reply:
Beth thanks for the follow-up. The information will help other readers, and we must appreciate the candor and honesty of the Timber Tech rep.
I've got no experience with this particular odor problem, so we'll indeed want to hear how much the odor complaint diminishes over time.
In the case of other plastics and synthetics such as vinyl windows, our experience and reader reports show that odors from some products diminish to below notice, often in a few months, while a few products "smell" apparently for as long as the material is present. Chemistry of the individual materials seems to be key.In our experience, for people who are sensitive to odors, the smell may never go away completely.
Also if the product accepts a sealant or stain (which themselves will have some odors) you may have some success by coating all surfaces.
(July 31, 2015) Elaine July 31/15 said:
Our house is 15 years old. We bought it 6 years ago. About 3 months ago I renovated a room, changing it from an office to a family room. I had it professionally painted with Natura, a Benjamin Moore product that I have used before and really like, as it has absolutely no smell or VOCs.
After a week or so I was about to call the painter and ask how long before it would stop smelling, although having painted the new office myself with the same paint - a room with no ventilation - I had smelled virtually nothing.
With that nagging doubt I started looking further and traced it to this.
Because the room is carpeted,we bought a vinyl carpet-protector for the area around my husband's desk. It stayed on the carpet for 6 years.
I removed it to change the room's usage, and got rid of it since the new office has lino. But the carpet exactly in that 4X6 area is impregnated with a very strong vinyl smell. After a couple of months of sprinkling baking soda (which reduces the odor until vacuumed off), keeping the window open, and now steam cleaning the area with vinegar, it is still the same.
I am very sensitive to smells, always the first to smell anything, and everyone else can live with it but I just can't stand it, and sometimes get a mild toxic headache when I'm in the room. I don't use air fresheners and such, as I'm sure they simply mask toxins that may be harmful, to say nothing of what they themselves give off
The carpet is in excellent condition and replacing it is not in our budget for a long time to come. This seems like a chemical reaction between the vinyl mat and the synthetic fibers of the carpet. Any ideas? Thanks kindly!
Reply:
Thanks for the interesting question, Elaine.
I'm not sure if the carpet odor in the area of the plastic carpet protector was due to offgassing from the protector itself, or if the protector prevented the carpet or carpet padding itself from offgassing since new, or perhaps alternatively if the protector might have trapped moisture in that area.
Often a temporary increase in heat and humidity can help speed material offgassing indoors, just be careful not to leave the room so hot and moist that you generate a mold problem. Fresh air ventilation after that treatment may also help, weather permitting.
On 2021-02-11 by Jen - Traffic Master vinyl peel and stick flooring smells made me sick
I just installed Traffic Master vinyl peel and stick flooring. I have kept a window open but got very sick for weeks. How can I get rid of the smell! Help! I have rescued animals here.
On 2021-02-13 by (mod) - Traffic Master vinyl peel and stick flooring odors
Jen
For some, perhaps most - vinyl products, a combination of warmth and fresh air ventilation will dissipate the main vinyl off-gassing odors in days or a week; but some products, depending on manufacturer and even lot or production run, may off-gas for a very long time, even indefinitely for a few products.
Sorry to bring bad news. But if the odor isn't reduced following what I recommended you may want to consider removing the flooring.
On 2021-01-05 by jess - Odor from new shower glass doors
I have a new shower (installed about a month and a half ago) and there is a strong chemical oder from the glass doors. Not sure what to do or how to make it go away.
On 2021-01-05 - by (mod) -
Jess
It would be very unusual for a chemical odor to actually be exerted by a glass shower doors.But it is entirely possible that an odor is coming from a gasket or for caulking material. In a new installation it can take a few weeks for the caulk or sealant to off-gas.
If you run out of patience or the smell is not diminishing you might check that I'm correct about the odor source and then you may want to replace that seal it with a low VOC product.
On 2020-06-16 by Alison - smells coming from honeycomb shades
We have honeycomb shades on several west facing windows. The shades give off a body odor smell when the sun shines on them. How can I get rid of the smell?
On 2020-06-17 - by (mod) -
If cleaning did not help i would replace them
On 2020-06-08 by Lucy McKernan - smells from neighbor's new windows
I'm diagnosed chemical sensitive. Our neighbors today installed numerous windows. Winds prevail from their direction. Their house is aprox. 30 to 40 feet away. Will the VOCs offgas from that far? Thank you.
On 2020-06-08 - by (mod) -
Lucy
Thanks for the question;
I'm surprised that you can smell odors from a neighbor's windows that are 30 or 40 feet away; and do we have any information on the window brand, model, materials or facts that tell us that those windows do off-gas?See our advice
On 2019-11-17 by LJordan - South-facing windows smell like bad chemicals when exposed to sunlight
Strong noxious chemical smell coming from south facing windows when heated by the sun.
The windows are large and not vinyl the screens are very small compared to window and it happens with the honeycomb shades are pulled up and there is no window dressing so not them.
The window install is over 8 years old with aluminum frames. Could it be the caulking ? The smell is headache inducing.
On 2019-11-17 - by (mod) -
Well I generally don't suspect aluminum as offgassing smells unless it has been painted or otherwise coated with something;
If the screen mesh itself could be plastic that could be the odor source;
Caulking, even if it has an odor (as does new silicone caulk) generally off-gasses quickly, doesn't smell, and is rather small in volume to try to use it to explain a building odor complaint.
You might want to look through all of the suggestions at the topic home for this
at VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Chemical_Plastic_Odors.php
I have a problem with my window screens smelling when the sun hits them - how can I remedy this? Is there a non toxic screen material that I can re - line the screens with? Thanks! - Jessica 9/7/2012
Reply:
Jessica, you can try replacing the plastic or fiberglass screens with a metal screen material; both galvanized wire and copper wire are available.
I am at a loss as to how to remedy a residential indoor air quality issue.
Three months ago, we purchased a house built in 2000, and replaced 1000 sq ft of vinyl sheet flooring with porcelain tile. While removing the sheet vinyl from the concrete floor, an extremely strong chemical odor was continuously emitted. It was several weeks (and the house was closed up) before the adhesive glue was “scraped off” and porcelain tile was laid.
No solvents or water were used to remove the adhesive and the floors were not grinded.
Thus, the floors were scraped relatively smooth, but much of the adhesive was still embedded in the concrete when the thinset was spread and the tile put down and grouted. It has now been six weeks since the tile work for the entire house (2100 sf) has been completed.
Although somewhat lessened, the odor (from the adhesive glue?) that was present when the vinyl was initially removed is still very noticeable, and is strong enough to cause difficulty breathing.
This surprised me because I was told the tile would seal any odors from the concrete.
I don't know the specific compounds in the vinyl glue adhesive made in 2000 (ie how much formaldehyde, etc), how long it might take to off gas, and whether the drywall has absorbed the fumes during the time the vinyl/adhesive was off gassing.
(We did paint the walls with zero VOC Benjamin Moore /Sherwin Williams paint after the tile work was completed). In the meantime, we have been opening up the house everyday for 4-5 hours, which helps until a day goes by when the house is closed up.
Then the odor is as strong as ever. We have thus far been unable to occupy the house.
Can you provide any direction/suggestions? Thank you in advance for your help. - J.B. 12/15/12
Reply:
A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem with odors, such as another apparent odor source or pathway, or something that is unfamiliar to building occupants but that may be useful.
That said, here are some things to consider - keeping in mind that from no onsite inspection the following is speculation in an effort to be helpful:
In my experience, and similar to your own expectation, porcelain tile and grout, although not 100% impervious to gases and odors, are nearly-so and so would not be expected to pass much odors from prior vinyl flooring tile mastic up through the new floor covering into the room.
Therefore I suspect that there is another odor source.
Since you recognize the odor in the area as the same as that emitted when you were removing the old vinyl floor covering, I speculate that VOCs from that procedure may have penetrated other building materials and surfaces, such as drywall, ceiling tiles, &c. that in turn re-emit those gases slowly back into the room.
I have found other examples of lingering odors from building materials that appear intact but that have been either chemically changed or have absorbed gases from an original source (such as following inappropriate use of ozone in buildings)
I am not confident that having coated the walls with the paint you describe would necessarily serve as an odor sealant;
You do not mention what is on the room's ceiling, another possible odor reservoir, nor any furnishings, curtains, etc. that may have been affected by the original odors you describe.
I think that opening and ventilating the building helps, so would turning up the heat and using fans to exhaust heated air - wasting energy for a while but perhaps speeding the odor reduction.
But before spending on any more heroic or extreme attacks on this odor problem why don't you try our odor track-down smell patch test procedure
SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE
to see if you can narrow down an odor source to walls, ceilings, furnishings. That might in turn suggest further steps.
For example there are special odor-sealing paints and coatings used to paint building framing or walls following a fire, to control post-fire smoke and burn odors. Those coatings in turn can be re-coated with the desired surface finish paint
I have a question after viewing your website.
I live in a 4th floor condo and keep getting a burning plastic smell in my master bedroom. It smells awful and usually forces me from the room for hours (it's also my home office). On the other side of my bedroom wall is the balcony of the neighboring suite.
That balcony is somewhat "recessed" in that my bedroom actually juts out from the building another 20 or so feet (eg like an "L" with the balcony in the corner).
Also, there are NO windows along the entire length of wall adjoining this other suite/balcony.
After 6 months of trying to eliminate all other possible sources, I now believe the smell is coming from the barbeque on the balcony of my neighbor one floor down.
The last two times it happened (before tonight), I went down and they confirmed they were barbequing. It happened again tonight but I called the fire department instead so I could confirm that this is not something that should be happening (and a possible health/fire hazard).
Two of the firemen said they smelled something as soon as they entered the room. One said it was like a burning plastic smell. But they couldn't identify where the smell was coming from and when I said I was sure it was the barbeque one floor below they basically told me that was impossible.
My question is this - if my neighbor is barbequing on their balcony and the barbeque is positioned too close to the vinyl siding, would it be possible for me to smell melting siding inside?
Thanks for any assistance you can provide (or anyone else you can refer me to - C.P. 8/26/2013
Reply: vinyl siding offgassing & other hazards
A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that would permit a more accurate, complete, and authoritative answer than we can give by email alone. That said I offer these comments:
Vinyl siding, when heated can give off a distinct plastic odor.
Using a cooking or other heating device close (probably less than 36") to vinyl siding can cause it to deform, melt, and possibly catch fire. Also there might be hazards associated with offgassing of heated vinyl.
See VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO and
also PLASTIC or VINYL ODOR EXPOSURE
If the neighbor you describe is using a barbecue too close to vinyl siding on e would probably see deformed siding there.
Keep in mind that sunlight or other heat sources can also cause vinyl odors and that similar odors can be emitted from other vinyls or plastics on buildings such as windows or screens.
Correlating the occurrence of the odor to events (cooking, sunlight, other events) can be key in diagnosis of the odor source.
Watch out: plastic odors can also be traced to overheating electrical components, wiring, devices, and thus there could be a risk of an electrical fire where such odors are reported. Be sure that anyone investigating the odor complaint you describe considers this and other fire or electrical hazards too.
Who can I call to help me find a chemical must smell in Sarasota FL? - D.W. 1/15/2014
Reply:
Depending on the nature of the odor and its possible sources, you might find success with a home inspector who is familiar with odor tracking and indoor environmental issues
- the advantage of a broad-scope-experienced inspector is that s/he may recognize conditions and building air movement, mechanical problem issues etc. that an industrial hygienist, lacking building science expertise, may miss.
On the other hand, hygienists and other indoor air quality or indoor environmental experts have expertise in chemical contaminants and testing.
Directories of such experts at InspectApedia are found beginning
at
BUILDING & HOME INSPECTORS, U.S. -
and
MOLD & ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTORS (since you describe the smell as "chemical must" and I interpret "musty" odors to be moldy smells.
Also, the more you can inform yourself about good procedures for tracking down odor sources the better you can judge the experience, competence, and approach of someone you are hiring.
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.
I have searched your website and can't come up with a solution to an Odor problem we are experiencing in the main bedroom of our newly built home.
The Odor is coming from the aluminium window and seems to be worse in the morning when the sun hits it.
We do not have rubber backing curtains that could be the cause. It smells a little like a strong urine smell and when I did the sniff test all around the window, it seems to be the rubber strips/seals that have the Odor, and the sun is making it come out into the whole room and just outside the door.
I checked outside and it's not coming from there. It's a new window in a new house and it's the only one with this problem.
I suffer asthma/allergies and this smell in my room is making me worse. I am concerned that it is a toxic gas or something coming from the rubber but how will I know if this is the case?
Can you please help at all? What can I do about this problem? Thankyou! - C.C. 12/2/2014
Reply
[by email]
I'd try a sniff test of non-metallic parts: gaskets and also perhaps a plastic window screen that may be installed.Chances are greater that the odors are coming from plastic or vinyl components than from anything aluminum unless that metal was coated with something.
(July 17, 2014) Jeff W said:
Had my 1950's crawlspace encapsulated in the Fall with thick mil plastic vapor barrier. No real strong odor.
Now in warm weather we are smelling a strong cat urine type odor in our house coming from the crawl. We have a dehu in basement and it is nice and dry but odor is strong.
I paid a lot to encapsulate and did so to remediate some mold we found due to a pipe breaking. Anyhow, short of taking up vapor barrier which I hate to do, is there any remedy for the odor? Nothing I have tried has worked at all - no odor removal spray or odor neutralizers have an effect. Thanks!
Reply:
Jeff,
It may take months or longer for an odor from the plastic itself to dissipate.If you are sure the odor is from the plastic (sniff test) short of removing it, you might try power venting to outdoors to reduce odor movement to the building interior, keeping the crawl at negative air pressure compared to the house above.
Heat both increases the odor outgassing and speeds it's dissipation. Adding fresh air ventilation temporarily (as we don't like to keep doing this in a crawl space because of risk of condensation and moisture trouble) can speed the odor outgassing.
(Oct 2, 2014) Doug P said:
We have the identical odor problem. We have fans installed for radon removal, not a problem, to help remove the odor and still have the odor problem. Have you had any success in eliminating your odor, if so how.
Reply:
If the fan is sufficient to keep the crawl area at negative air pressure with respect to the home then odors should not be moving from crawl area to occupied space.
But most radon mitigation fans operate at a quite low CFM flow rate. That may be your trouble.
(June 30, 2015) Christa said:
Hi, I just had brand new vinyl windows installed and my breathing feels labored and I feel dizzy.
I had no idea that vinyl windows could have this effect on me. I have my new windows open and am sleeping downstairs but I don't know what to do. I have an air purifer going and I don't feel well. Can you please help me figure out what to do?
Thank you!
Christa
Reply:
No residential portable air purifier will remove all of an odor, particulate or other contamiant any more than holding a vacuum cleaner wand in the air in the kitchen can remove dust from below the living room couch.
The best approach is to remove the odor source. In your case that cost may be prohibitive. So what's next? If weather permits, increased fresh air circulation (including use of fans), and increased temperatures (sunlight helps) can speed the offgassing of new plastic materials.
Usually vinyl odor offgassing diminishes over a few weeks to months for window and siding products but not always. Unfortunately, depending on the composition of the specific vinyl windows you installed, the odor may persist for some time or be worst on sides of the home exposed to sun.
(Aug 13, 2015) Patricia Blair said:
My sons 18 wheel truck has plastic that looks like wood. It is all over the place as trim. The smell coming out of it is just terrible and sickening. How do I get rid of the odor
for him so he does not git sick.
Reply:
Why not put the bad-smelling plastic truck in the trash?
(Sept 2, 2015) monica brooks said:
stain resistant carpet still emitting strong chemical smell (not like new carpet smell) after five years- most noticeable when coming back from holidays and all windows have been closed
Is it the stainfree finish that is causing this?
thanks
Reply:
You may need to replace the carpet or separate padding; first confirm the source of the smell using the smell test procedure we describe
(Sept 22, 2015) maliha said:
It has been 6 months that half of my first floor smells like chemical i can even Taste the air and tastes like some kind of poison or chemical. I searched everything but can't find the source. It gets worst when out side is hot. It's only in the kitchen and family room. Gives me alot of headache. Anyone knows how i can find out? Thanks a million.
Reply:
You don't identify the flooring material; if it's new carpet or resilient flooring try using heat and ventilation to speed the new-material off-gassing.
Also check for odors coming from plastic windows, screens or siding on the hot, sunny side of the home.
(Oct 27, 2015) Esther said:
I had acrylic windows put on my patio more than a month ago. We left them open for more than a month. We closed it on Saturday came home and went out there. The odor was so strong that we had to go back inside.
I have had two boughts of chest colds.
I called the owner and he is sending someone to paint over the sealant. Do you think this will work.
He claims its not toxic material. What can I do? Please help with some answer
Reply:
Esther as we noted for some other readers, Usually vinyl odor offgassing diminishes over a few weeks to months for window and siding products but not always. Unfortunately, depending on the composition of the specific vinyl windows you installed, the odor may persist for some time or be worst on sides of the home exposed to sun.
...
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Or see CHEMICAL or PLASTIC ODOR FAQs2 - more recent questions and answers about diagnosing chemical or plastic odor sources
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