Odor & smell diagnostic FAQs, set #4

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.

FAQs on Finding the Source of Odors or Smells #4

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 odor diagnosis and cure advice given there.

On 2017-12-15 by mod) - sulphur rotten egg smells in the laundry room

Since you've already had people looking at this rotten egg smell problem and they've not corrected it I will suggest several approaches.

If the problem is ONLY in the laundry room then the issue might not be with water supply but rather with sewer gases backing up and coming out through the washing machine stand pipe into which your washer drains.

Watch out: if there was a sewage backup that sent sewage effluent into building walls, and if those walls were not opened and cleaned, there is more than just a smell problem - there is also risk of a health hazard.

Try sniffing close to that opening - if the odor is stronger that's probably the odor source. You may be facing a clogged sewer line, a blocked plumbing vent system, or a failing septic system (sorry if that bad news turns out to be the case).

If drains are slow at other fixtures that will tend to confirm the drain blockage/septic system guess.
If that's the case see SEWER GAS ODORS

If the problem is in only hot water there could be bacterial contamination in the water heater.

In that case see ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Heater_Anode.php

If the problem is noticed in cold water then the problem may be in the actual water source, perhaps a private well. See WATER ODOR TREATMENTS, CURES - SULPHUR - that should help

Or for a more broad approach to tracking down sulphur odors see SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES

On 2017-10-21 by (mod) - responding to odors suspected related to very high coliform count in well water test result

Kaylee

There is no household product whose normal use would produce coliform contamination in a water well: water flows OUT of plumbing fixtures into the drain system, not directly into a well.

Short of deliberate tampering such as dropping feces or contaminated sewage into a well - bizarre, unusual, unconscionable, and unlikely events - the way that a well develops high coliform levels is either from surface runoff entering the well or from actual contamination of the well's supplying aquifer, perhaps from a nearby failed septic absorption system.

When the coliform count is very high I am never optimistic that shocking the well (bleaching it to use your term) will be successful as usually when there is a high coliform level there is a persistent source of contamination.

Smells in the water, unless there is actual raw sewage flowing into the well (again, bizarre and unlikely) are often from something else such as a high sulfur content. Discuss those possibilities with your lab.

See WATER TESTS FOR BACTERIA, GUIDE TO https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Tests_for_Bacteria.php
and
See WATER TEST INTERPRETATION - https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Test_Report_Interpretation.php where we discuss How to Interpret & Act On Drinking Water Test Results

On 2017-10-21 by Kaylee

I had to do a water test for sale of house, private well, the test results came back with very high levels of Coliform, I know the well was tapered with, well head had been removed, all the cloths washed still stink from water and what ever was dumped into well still leave a nasty odor on cloths...

all cloths are not saveable.. the water does not smell at taps however the cloths are damaged, can't get smell out...

and these cloths and blankets left to sit, the smell gets stronger.. I'm trying to figure out what kind of product would cause this? I have bleached well and will wait for second water test... any Ideas?? Thank-you!

On 2017-09-27 by Abi

Please help! We live in a freehold townhouse by the lake.

Every year, heat and humidity brings a bad smell in our home. It is always localized on the staircase, on the first landing upstairs. We 've recently cut into the wall that separated the staircase and the kitchen and the smell is the same, if not sttonger, but we now have another garbagy smell that invades our home, mostly main level and basement.

We've investigated everywhere, had so many experts check for issues...we were told it's not a plumbing issue, no mold, no leaks (there s no water leak or damage anywhere), drainage is good... We are desperate! I also have to mention that we had our basement finished in 2013, soon after we move in.

On 2017-08-03 by Audrey dbella

We moved in a condo in March we had a painter and new floor put in. Now we smell like dill pickles what can we do i have had a sore throat for some time can you help us find the cause of the smell

On 2017-05-01 by Cathy

We have an 8 year old electric furnace, Air to Air, Air Conditioner. For the past two years I have noticed a smell coming out of the vent in my bedroom while the furnace is running.

The bedroom is at far corner of the house. Last year, I noticed the smell only when the air conditioner was on, now that spring has come, I noticed the smell while the furnace is on.

The smell is hard to explain, like a chemical soot. I cannot see it, but it is strong enough to wake me up when it happens and irritates my sinuses.

It doesn't happen all the time when the furnace or air conditioner is running. My husband has looked at the coils and wires, changed the filters and he has also cleaned the air conditioner coils. We live in Minnesota, if that matters.

On 2017-04-13 by (mod) - strong odor in an apartment, mold suspected

Marie,

Your friend needs an onsite expert familiar with building mold contamination, leaks, water damage, and inspection procedures who can find the mold reservoir, determine its extent, its cause, and thus the extent of mold removal/cleanup that's needed.

Use the page top EXPERT DIRECTORIES as a place to start. She should not simply hire someone to do a "mold test" - I've described what's needed.

On 2017-04-13 Marie

My friend has a strong mold odor in her apartment that has premiated her clothing.

She told me people at her work have commented on the mold odor she has in her clothing, so they detect it, too. I also notice when I get home after visiting her, my hair and clothing smell like mildew and still smells the next day, so I have to wash my hair and clothes that were exposed.

She also has black dust on her drapes, window blinds and ceiling fans. Is this something serious and how can she remedy the problem?

On 2017-04-12 2 by (mod) -

Sarah

The article ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE provides a list of things to check, some more-likely than others. In addition the article contains this text with a live link

ODOR EVENT LOG & CHECKLIST FORM printer-friendly PDF file to record odor observations such as time of day, weather, temperature, sunlight, & possible sources as an aid in finding the actual source of odors & smells in or around buildings

to an event log that may be diagnostic: time of day, sun exposure, temperature, etc.

Or you can try the EXPERTS DIRECTORY at page top to see if there is someone local who has experienced in odor source diagnosis.

On 2017-04-12 by Sarah Roth

I have a strong odor coming from the inside of my oak kitchen cabinets located on the west wall of my home. I can't describe the odor. I store dishes, glasses, servers and silverware within. I have to rewash everything before use even though they are dishwasher clean.

The house is 10 years old and one year after I moved in in 2006, I had an island installed using the same building materials. The cabinets inside the island have no odor. About 40 feet down a slight hill from this side of the house, are wooded wetlands, but there rarely is any water located there.

The odor is constant and is apparent only when the cabinets are open. As a result, I have upper respiratory problems when inside my home which usually disappear when I leave the house. What can you suggest? I would be truly grateful for your help.

On 2017-03-22 by (mod) - Mold odors can be cyclic, responding to changes in humidity

Mold odors can be cyclic, responding to changes in humidity, for example.

"Air testing" alone without an expert inspection, building history, review of complaints, is not reliable, particularly when results are negative.

Adding fresh air helps as does cleaning, but if there is a problem reservoir we need to find and remove it.

On 2017-03-21 by Recurring Odor

I manage an office that emits a strange odor we thought could be mold or mildew.

We have had the building management investigate they tested and found not visible signs or metered signs of mold. The building added additional vents to the single office, they deep cleaned the office and still the office has the same odor.

It does not seem as strong but it is still present. The person who occupies that office can smell it. Previously and now this person cannot sit in the office as he will develop a headache and stomach ache. Any advice you offer would be helpful. Thank you.

On 2016-12-20 by (mod) - strong kerosene smell coming from the sump pump in my basement

CTS

Indeed a lot depends on what equipment is used to test for gases and also how the equipment is used.

For example many gas detectors respond to a wide range of gases, even human breath, methane, hydrogen sulfide, propane, CO, etc.

I would be looking for a nearby heating oil spill

On 2016-12-20 by CTS

There is a very strong smell coming from the sump pump in my basement; it's a kerosene like smell. I have several people come asses the issue:

- Firefighters couldn't identify anything

- 2 plumbers couldn't find the source (at least in the heating systems)

- 3rd plumber and I notice that the odour is coming from the sump pump. There is a "litmus" film above the water.

An environmental officer came into the house and their readings for H2S is between 8ppm (main floor) to 24.9 ppm (inside sump pump).

Why if there has been H2S identified there's not rotten eggs odour? why is it a solvent type of smell? Is it possible that the detector is reading something else as H2S?
Any suggestions?
Thank you,

On 2016-09-19 by (mod) - yellow jacket nest in the foundation cause an odor

Jody:

Not that I found in researching the question you ask, though German yellowjackets (Vespula germanica) use odors to find food, and there is a relationship between stinkbugs and yellowjackets: see

• Aldrich, J. R., W. R. Lusby, and J. P. Kochansky. "Identification of a new predaceous stink bug pheromone and its attractiveness to the eastern yellowjacket." Experientia 42, no. 5 (1986): 583-585.

Odors associated with insects are sometimes also traced to use of chemical pesticides in the building.

On 2016-09-18 by Jody

Can an active yellow jacket nest in the foundation cause an odor like cigarette butts during the evenings only?

On 2017-12-14 1 by Pat Graham

Since I moved into apartment a month ago, there has been a rotten egg smell around the washing machine.

The apartment had been vacant for 3 months so washer had not been used during that time.

The maintenance crew has been here at least 4 times, eventually said cause was a back-up, and that they removed the "clog" Strong odor remains, had two of my aquaintances, (witnesses) attest to this because the crew said they don't smell it.

I had initially ran a Clorax wash, and tried a powder machine cleaner to no avail They replaced the washer but strong odor remains. I'm a 76 year old female on a fixed income. What agency could I contact that would conduct an air and odor test for a reasonable fee?

On 2017-12-08 by mod) -

Possibly.

please use the search box just above to find our article titled

MOTHBALL ODORS

To read about hazards and issues concerning mothball or naphtha odors and exposure.

On 2017-12-07 by Judy

Hi my landlord pit moth balls all over out attic took him week half to remove we are all sick would this cause health problems ?

On 2017-11-28 by mod) -

I would think about investigating the floor, wall, and ceiling cavities, perhaps after a thorough visual inspection to look for clues such as

- condensate leak into wall

- other leaks into the wall

- animal in the wall (or ceiling or floor)

On 2017-11-28 by Jerry Dudgeon

Recently we smelled an odor in our linen closet. We took everything out of the closet and washed linens and such.

Cleaned the closet and sprayed with lysol and left the closet empty all night. The next morning the odor was back. I assume it is in the wall but don't know where it come from. The air condition unit is outside near where the closet is located but can't believe it is coming from the AC Unit. Anyone have suggestions or comments to correct this problem? Thanks.

On 2017-11-26 by mod) - sewer smells from washing machine

That sounds possible Raphael.

It should be easy to diagnose. You will be able to smell sewage odors right at the vertical drain opening into it's a washer drain empties.

On 2017-11-12 by Raphael

Hi,

Our washing machine whenever it runs (drain water) emiates a terrible sewer smell. The machine itself has been dismantled (the tub) and cleaned but the odor does persist. Could this be the drain pipe ?

On 2017-10-23 0 by Colleen

We have a very offensive odor on our back patio and dog pen. Blaming the dog pen which is graveled we have used several applications of various things....simple green, citronella odor remover, a little bit of everything . Doesn’t smell till the sun goes down and it smells like decaying flesh or rotten cabbage?

On 2017-10-10 18:16:23.480737 by mod) - bad smell coming from one side of the house

Once you've isolated the odor to a specific house wall, try looking for a difference in odor intensity in different rooms along that wall. Also look in the basement or crawl area below if there is one.

Once isolated to a room wall you may need to cut a test opening where smell is strongest if using existing openings such as receptacles doesn't help narrow down the smell. If we're tracking down a dead animal I look for access openings at the wall top or bottom.

On 2017-10-10 by Rose

There is a very bad smell coming from one side of the house as though from the wall,how can I pinpoint exactly where it's coming from?

On 2017-10-01 by Judi

Wow! That is an excellent suggestion! Just this morning I could smell the same scent in our entryway! Which I thought was so very odd. Not now!
Thank you so much for the response. Definitely going to use your suggestion!
Judi

On 2017-09-30 by mod) -

Judi,

Unlike the evidence that should be able to be found by an experienced on-site inspector, I can but I guess. I have found when investigating leaks water and mold damage that water sometimes travels into areas that you may not have anticipated. For example of water can run across the ceiling and find an opening drilled for a pipe on electric wire and run down a single stud Bay and a wall.

typically the way we approach an investigation for the problem you describe is to try to follow the water. We start with the most suspect areas and investigate there, if necessary using test cuts into a wall or ceiling cavity to look for evidence of of water passage and mold.

On 2017-09-30 by Judi

We bought our home new in 2002. Over a span of the next 10 years we have had hot water pin holes in the copper tubing running from the hot water heater. 2 years ago we finally had all of the copper tubing replaced. No more leaks!

HOWEVER, the leaking usually showed up in the master bedroom closet which is where the hot water heater is located backed up to that wall from the garage.(we also replaced the hot water heater).

There have been 5 leaks over the years all of which saturated the carpet in the master bedroom closet. As soon as the leak was detected we started using a carpet steamer to remove the water & dry it out. I realize 5 floods are 5 too many!

Now, I am smelling mold in areas other than the closet. When walking in to hall to the master bedroom is one place where it is very strong! Sometimes it's the laundry room or by the sinks in the master bath.....but NEVER in the closet!

I am certain this all seems pretty simple to diagnose but my question is, why are the smells coming from places other than where the leaks were? We do have a sub floor with access. I'm assuming I should be going under the house with a good flashlight & check the wood for mold?

And if I find mold on the wood under the house I assume the leaking has also been in between the walls?
Unfortunately the contractor who did the plumbing in the house does not remember ANYTHING about how he plumbed the house! Hmmmmmm

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you--Judi Wardlaw
Prescott, AZ

On 2017-09-30 by Don

Hi folks, I have an odor that has consistently been around since I bought my house 4 years ago. It only happens when I open the windows.

At first I thought it was the prior owners dog smells lingering, but it's been years now and we cleaned everything. It happens in 2 rooms, both facing my backyard, at the kitchen over a crawl space and a den over a basement. Both walk out to a deck.

The odor is a musty, urine like smell. Stronger when its humid and only if I open the windows in either room. Very strong if I use the house fan. Any thoughts?

On 2017-09-23 by mod) -

Bad luck.

I'm not too optimistic, but it's possible that a combination of using deodorizing cleaners such as are used by oil heating companies in response to indoor spills, followed by thorough drying, followed by sealng of all exposed odor absorbing surfaces by a lacquer primer sealer might work. you would follow that of course by one or more suitable top coats,

On 2017-09-23 by Michele

My houseboat sank from hurricane Irma. Then a large boat spilled all its diesel fuel into the surroundqing water, which entered my houseboat and its hull. Wood frame construction, hull is plywood with epoxy on outside, bare on the inside. Is there any hope of removing the diesel smell and its lasting toxicity from wood penetration??

On 2017-09-10 by Anonymous

Had asbestos floor tiles removed in three bedrooms by months ago cannot go back into those bedrooms because they smell so bad asbestos company came back 3 times and wash the floors that did not help. I have a concrete slab Foundation can someone please help me remove the smell

On 2017-09-01 by mod) - smells like bad garbage. cannot find source

Barbara, try these SIX STEPS TO FINDING AN ODOR SOURCE

On 2017-09-01 by barbara

smells like bad garbage. cannot find source

On 2017-08-05 by POPPY

HOUSE SMELLS LIKE CALIFLOWER IS COOKING AND WE CANNOT LOCATE

On 2017-07-19 by mod) -

Chlorine - as in pool chlorine? or as in bleach?

It's worth a look at what was used, where and why.

Your home inspection is a good place to start:

Was there evidence of

- pets

- flooding

- mold

- a prior sewage backup

I'm suggesting that just treating the odor of chlorine (normally dissipates by ventilation or simple cleaning and ventilation) isn't the main concern here

On 2017-07-19 by Anonymous

heavy clorine smell in basement of our newly purchased home. former owner always had fragrance plug ins on so we never smelled it when viewing the home.the did not have a hot tub either.

On 2017-05-05 by mod) -

No surprise, Frank, but a point well made.

Pet odors, even worse from dogs or cats or iguanas peeing indoors, permeate porous materials: carpets, curtains, bedding, clothing, upholstered furniture that are then carried into the new home, so odors continue along too.

Even animal dust - dog dander - may be imported from an old building into the new one as belongings are moved without cleaning them enroute.

A previous girlfriend in Rhinebeck boarded sometimes more than a dozen dogs in her home for years. It was fun for the dogs who were brought up to the country by car from NY City. The dog girl was very clean, constantly cleaning her home.

But the dog smell was ... well ... strong. Remarkably, when I went even into remote places like the uppermost attic I came across deposits of thick dust brought indoors by the doggies who of course had been rolling about in the dust and dirt outdoors. That yellow-red-brown dog dust was an epidemic that will never be removed from the home without a gut renovation.

And that same dust might be found in the backs of bureau drawers and if I tested (vacuum test forensic sampling) uphostered furniture, it was full of the same material, even though the dog-girl vacuumed regularly with her household vacuum cleaner.

Use the search box just above to find our description of an easy SMELL PATCH TEST KIT that you can make-up to see if you can narrow down the worst smelling materials and then have those cleaned - or tossed out.

On 2017-05-05 1 by Frank

I decided to move into a new place with my friend and while helping her pack up the old house it was easy to tell that her house smelled horrible. I assumed it was from the dogs urinating in the house. Well now that we have moved into the new place the same odor is now starting to linger into this house and dogs have been staying outside so what the hell is causing this smell I have literally been sick since I moved

...

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-5 - more-recent questions & answers about the sources of and cures for smells around or in buildings.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ODOR DIAGNOSIS SIX STEPS - taking an orderly approach to odor source tracking
• ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST - an easy checklist of stuff to examine or test - this article
• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - includes a catalog of places to look when tracking down an odor source
• SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE - procedure for testing specific surfaces or items to see if an odor source of if they have absorbed and are re-emitting an odorinspection of everything, nothing was found.

Suggested citation for this web page

ODOR DIAGNOSIS FAQs-4 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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