Building odor & smell diagnostic FAQs:

Frequently asked questions about how to track down the source of odors or smells in or around buildings. Where is that horrible smell coming from? Is it the dog? Maybe not, as these reader questions and moderator replies explain.

This article series provides a methodology useful for tracking down the sources of odors in buildings. How to find the cause of odors, odor sources, and how to find and cure the source of smells in building air, water, heating and cooling systems, or other sources.

More FAQs on Finding the Source of Odors or Smells in Buildings

Recent Questions & Answers about Odor Diagnosis & Cure in and around Buildings, posted originally

at ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - topic home - be sure to check the procedures and advice given there.

On 2013-02-14 by (mod) - house is moldy and dogs paws turned red

M: take a look at HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP for RENTERS to get some help from your local building and health authorities.

On 2013-02-14 by m -

I am renting a single wise trailer built in 1985, it is on a cinder block foundation and enclosed with vents and a door. The house has electric heat, had previous water damage, and was visible black mold they said they cleaned and primed over.

The house got this really bad smell like hot garbage rotting garbage, and it permeated everything, my clothes, my new mattress and box spring is ruined the smell wont come out. No dead animals, or rodents, I am a very clean person, no trash left out, no rotting food, no dog mess my dog is clean and house trained.

The house sits on an old farm surrounded by old barns and building, pastures on both sides of the trailer.

I became very sick with in a week after moving in here as well as my dog. I have head aches, burning eyes, inching face and skin, strange acne like lesions, hair loss, confusion. fatigue, loss of concentration, lymph nodes swell, my thyroid labs are up and down and never had this issue.

My dog paws turned cherry red, itching scratching, runny eyes and nose lethargic, hes not even 2 and a high energy dog who now sleeps all the time, throws up a lot.

I feel better after an hour or so after leaving the house and immediate become sick when entering, hits my eyes first throat and skin. The smell is not just mold n musty odor, I am sure one of the issues, but has that really bad hot garbage smell.
I looked under the house and the floors on one side is rotted water damage, dirt floor dryer vent blowing under the house for the last 9 or so years, so we have water, dirt, mold rotting insulation, floor boards, dryer lint and who knows what.

I could see mold all on the under frame of the house. The smell increases on wet, days it rains or is humid.

It smells when cold out never goes away just gets worse in other conditions. I know mold smell but not this other really bad smell, I smell it in my hair and clothes when not home

. I told my landlord 2 months ago and nothing has been done or looked into. i can not afford testing so may just have to break my lease and move.

On 2013-02-12 by (mod) - odors in solid foam insulation?

Anna,

Solid foam closed cell insulation resists picking up moisture and odors, but I'm not confident that will be enough to avoid the smoke odor complaint you describe.

Look into a positive-pressure fresh air ventilation system, perhaps combined with an air-to-air heat exchanger. If you can provide fresh-air intake just enough to make your home at a slightly positive pressure compared to your neighbor, odors from his home won't tend to enter your own.

On 2013-02-12 by (mod) - sick from cigarette smoke

Liz

The concern about someone having used agricultural pesticide in your home is more than just a bad odor. While of course we don't know what he used, you should make every effort to find that out. The hazard is that chemicals and gases from the pesticide may be dangerous.

Frankly I would be nervous about staying in a home with such an odor before I knew exactly what it was.

When you have identified the pesticide you can (or we can help you) find the MSDS that will describe any safety hazards and safety precautions that may be needed.

You might want to consult immediately with your health department for advice; if you cannot identify the chemical quickly it may be necessary to hire an expert to collect samples for analysis.

On 2013-02-08 by Ana Echevarria ralana0811@hot

I LIVE IN AN ATTACHED HOME THAT WAS BUILT APPROXIMATELY 1909. ONE OWNER BUILT ABOUT NINE HOUSES, ALL ATTACHED. My problem is that my neighbor smokes three packs of cigarettes a day and all of that smoke comes into my home and stays there. For the past two months O jave been getting ill daily from her cigarette smoke.

I am planning to renovate the basement. I am wondering what insulation I could use to keep at least the basement smoke-free. Also, whether I can double insulate when I do, just to insure not to smell an inkling of cig smoke which I am allergic to

On 2013-01-16 by Liz

We rent homes in a mobile home park and rented to this guy that worked on a farm. Well he had roaches, so he decides to get a chemical from the farm to kill the roaches. Now we cannot get rid of that smell in the house and cannot rent it. Please help me find a solution to this problem.

On 2013-01-09 by Darlene Sanford

we have a one year old american standard heat pump air conditioner system with new duct work under the house a reptual a/c man installed last jan.2012 .we didnt move into this home until may 2012 the ac.

works fine,but the heat pump put out a wet dog smell when it goes down into the 3o degrre weather other wise it performs fine ,the odor is so bad it will wake us up in the morning hours,and it smells like a nasty wet dog.please any advice

On 2012-12-17 by (mod) -

Strange,

At this point you might be best served to call an independent professional who investigates indoor air quality issues in building s. But I'm afraid that event that will be unproductive given that your odor complaint occurs just about once a week.

An expert visual inspection MIGHT turn up a suspect for further investigation, but I think a better course would be to use the Odor Diagnosis ChHecklist/Procedure AND the Odor Diagnosis Log (links near page top in the ARTICLE INDEX ) to collect some diagnostic data first.

On 2012-11-14 by Strange odor in kitchen and bath

I have a strange odor in my kitchen and bathroom that happens about once a week. I live in the fourth floor in the back of a four story apartment building. It only happens about once a week or so.

The fire department and the gas company has come over but it has nothing to do with the gas and my landlord doesn't look into it.

Is there a place I can call in New York to come and investigate the odor because when it happens my throat swells up and it's difficult to breathe so I have to go outside. The smell stays for hours and usually happens late at night or morning time.

On 2012-11-10 by Jen B

We are living (since September) in an apartment building that's relatively new. Strange situation.

After moving in, we stored numerous items in her closet. After a month, we noticed a strong, chemical smell. We were able to determine that it was coming from the thin, styrofoam/plastic protective material that was in with our new tv. Threw it away, moved everything out of the closet and all was well.

Started storing a personal grocery type cart in there soon after we noticed the smell. It's metal with plastic/rubber wheels. Brought the cart with us in the car one day, a month later and noticed the same smell.

Also notice the smell when I lift the toilet lid after it's been closed for awhile. Seems as if something is giving off the smell, but it us not detectable until it is absorbed by certain materials. The closet shares a wall with a mechanical closet whose access point is outside on the balcony.

Brought it to building management's attention. Solution? Brought in an ozone air machine. Turned it off after reading about them. Closet still doesn't smell but nothing is stored in it right now. smell also might be coming from vent in that room. Haven't been able to determine that yet.

On 2012-08-28 by carol

there is a garlicky smell coming from my apartment wall i have no idea what it could be, but was wondering if it could be some type of gas, please help.

On 2012-08-19 by Regina - worried about stinkpipe and methane fumes

Hello...I am finding this site during a time of pure frustrationa and panic.

My family and I live in a small ranch home built in 1950 and we have been experiencing a strong suffocating chemical/fume/gas smell for a very long time (about 3 years).

We have 2 children who have an extremely rare genetic disease and I know in my heart this house is doing something and we just cannot figure it out. This is what we have done so far.

Septic tank is 5 years old and working properly, all basement drains were snaked and all working properly. We have a fuel oil tank in the basement and it along with our brand new fuel oil furnace is working properly, the fill up location and the fuel oil vent is vented throughout the top of our roof, the "stink pipe" is properly vented out the roof and not plugged, the proper drain vent on our kitchen sink is working properly.

We have an attatched 1 car garage and my husband and I stumbled upon the fact that when the garage door is wide open...and we leave for several hours, the smell is not in the house. If we close the car garage door and close up our house, leave for a couple of hours, we will come back home to the terrible smell. It hits us right in the face as soon as we unlock our front door, all the way into the kitchen.

By that time it kind of takes our breath away and gives me a headache. We open the windows and after a few hours it tends to rid...but our carpet and clothing/belongings are holding on to the smell even after it has been cleared out of the home air.

Any suggestions, we are more than worried. Also, mold was in the basement and a mold remediation company completely tore out our finished basement, treated it and that is not a problem, plus the smell is only upstairs and right as we walk in the front door and on into the kitchen area.

On 2012-08-02 by (mod) -

Thomas, among the articles linked at page left SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES discusses sulphur odors and that may be what you're discovering. Check it out and let me know what you find after you've read that article.

If your water supply has sulphur odors - which can smell a bit like sewage - you may need to install a treatment system such as those we describe.

On 2012-08-02 by thomas

i recently purchased a home and had a water test done. the test came back good with no problems. i have now owned the home for a month and i'm getting a slight sewage smell to my water. it can be noticed in the dishwasher and washing machine as well, i have a 10 year old child and another thats expected any day. please any help would be appreciated. oh and the septic was pumped out about a month and a half ago and at the time it was inspected and passed. and i have a well not city water and that was also tested and came back good.

On 2012-08-01 by Emma

One bathroom smells like sewage when you step inside the door. Other parts of the bathroom does not smell, only when your step inside the room. The smell is not coming from the drains or commode. Any ideas? Could a plummer help?

...

Continue reading at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see ODOR DIAGNOSIS FAQs-2 - more recent Q&A on finding and removing odors in and around buildings

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
  • ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE
  • ODOR DIAGNOSIS SIX STEPS
  • ODOR EVENT LOG & CHECKLIST FORM [PDF] - Use this form to collect data to help track an odor to its source
  • ODOR EVENT / SOURCE LOCALIZATION LOG

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ODOR DIAGNOSIS FAQs-1 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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

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