Odor & smell diagnostic FAQs

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.

Find the Source of Odors - Q&A #5

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 2020-01-26 - by (mod) - heating system smells

Esta

This is indeed a confusing odor complaint. It sounds as if at least the first thing worth investigating is the leak history and whether or not there's been water running in building ceilings walls or floors.

On 2020-01-26 by Esta Hirsh

Late October/early November 2019....beginning of smell, not the usual burning off smell when heat is first turned on.
It was more of a chemical smell.

The apartment building people had the HVAC cleaned/serviced. A few days before they serviced the unit which is in a closet with water heater, the bathroom sink drain started smelling, and the washer
in the closet next to HVAC closet started smelling. The bathroom sink is on backside of wall of HVAC and washer.

The smell is very strong, and constant day, and nite. Do you think it is possibly the AC condesate drain, or maybe the water heater?

Who should I call, a regular plumber, or a full service plumber,HVAC, and electric company?

On 2020-01-10 by Anonymous - Shockwave biocide SNAFU

Water restoration/mold remediation company applied Shockwave biocide to walls outside of contained area, outside of scope of work, and beyond anything called for since the project turned out to be about water restoration and not mold remediation.

The smell it left behind it horrible, primarily from the perfume they add to the mix. It's sickening to breathe and I was wondering if you have any ideas about how to remove it short of replacing all the drywall. We had the company wipe/mop the walls down, twice, w/water, to no avail.

They smell to high heaven of the fragrance and Lord only knows what chemicals/toxins they're off gassing. Any ideas on how to rid my home of this horrid smell that is irritating my respiratory system?

On 2020-01-04 - by (mod) - Humidity can affect both off-gassing rates and also possibly odor transmissio

Thanks for your generous remarks, Pat; working together makes us smarter - or at least feel smarter.

Humidity can affect both off-gassing rates and also possibly odor transmission (in moist air); temperature is of course also often an important factor as are in-building air currents.

I've also found that depending on the specific species, if mold is present the MVOC emission from some species varies enormously as local conditions of temperature and moisture change (as may spore release).

On 2020-01-04 by Pat

OK, I'm out of town, but I'll try that when I get back home in February. We've been absolutely unable to locate the smell, since it seems just to emanate from everywhere. That's why I'm guessing it's off gassing from all of our books and furniture and then cycling through the HVAC system.

Opening windows only seems to bring the smell out, which again makes me think it's off gassing. But it has been three years, so I would think it would have off gassed by now.

All of this has the pros we hired puzzled as well, and they also haven't been able to pin it down. We live in a humid climate and I know humidity brings out smells, so not surprisingly it's often worse on humid days, though it comes through HVAC on all kinds of days (again, I think it's just cycling through, not emanating from the HVAC system)

. Thanks again! I'll come back in February after I've done those tests.

I also want to echo the person above who thanked you for your generosity in answering these questions and in posting all of this amazing material. I've been web-hunting this problem for (nearly) three years, and this is the first truly helpful site I've found.

On 2020-01-04 by Anonymous

Pat,

Let's start by making sure that we know which material or surface is really the odor source.

In the ARTICLE INDEX given above find our procedure for a simple and easy SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE that you can perform. Let me know what you find.

On 2020-01-04 by Pat

Hi. We had a major mold problem in my house, which is in the woods, and had a thorough remediation w certified folks and then had to reconstruct the house. We got special paint that is all natural, absolutely no VOC, which we sent away for (again, reputable source) and did as green a renovation as possible, though our contractor wasn't familiar w green building. After it was all done, there was a sickly sweet chemical smell that is really hard to describe.

Not everyone could smell it--I'm a super smeller, but others could smell it. Some said it smelled like wet wood; others thought it smelled like plastic; most said it smelled like paint, though the paint we used had no odor. It was a strong version of a faint smell I remembered (and only I could smell) at one door of the house--a door on the basement floor (we're built into a hill), which opens into the woods.

I remember I could smell it faintly especially in the spring, though eventually it disappeared. This strong smell clings to clothes, plastic, at its strongest, it clung to hair and once even to a steel knife I brought to my work kitchen, though it quickly disappeared from that. I couldn't live in the house for about a year after it was complete, but have lived there the past two years.

Now the smell is intermittent. I notice it when we turn the heat up (we tried the heat off gassing method, and the first year I could literally see something like steam or fumes coming from the house after we opened the windows, and could definitely smell it), and I notice it coming out of the HVAC system periodically.

It is not super strong now, but it's still noticeable, especially after the house has been closed up for a while, and it still gets on clothes and plastic, though it dissipates from them eventually, which it didn't used to do (we'd have to double wash). We have spent a fortune testing the air and even the clothing I could smell it on, and they found absolutely nothing. The guys doing the testing are mystified; they and the contractor never smelled it.

The smell is easily masked--even at its worst, if I stood next to someone chewing gum, or if my husband made coffee or if I smelled a lemon, really any cooking--those smells would overpower it. I use an air purifier in my bedroom, which helps.

At this point, it's mostly faint, and smells to me sometimes like wood and sometimes almost like cinnamon, but sweet. Two things recently seemed to make it stronger briefly: we fixed a leak in the ceiling of a vestibule and the wood was exposed, and we replaced some windows and sliding doors (the house is modern, with lots of plate glass windows and sliding doors). We have a wood wrap-around deck on both floors.

The only thing we changed when we had all the work done was to add a house-size dehumidifier, but we've had that and the HVAC system checked and rechecked. I assume this is still some kind of off gassing. We are academics and have a house full of books, though not a lot of furniture, and the furniture is mostly leather.

One Persian rug in the living room that we've had cleaned several times, and otherwise wood floors (we have a son w allergies so we tried to have as hypo-allergic house as possible). I'm at my wit's end. Any suggestions welcome. Thank you!

On 2019-11-25 - by (mod) - dead animal smell?

Kati

The columns you describe may be approved for permanent structural use in some jurisdictions but in my experience and opinion, a concrete-filled steel Lally column is stronger, more bend-resistant, thus more reliable

. Given the impossibility of getting a dead animalito out of your hollow column this might be a time to replace those hollow teleposts or "jackposts' with the real thing, a permanent Lally.

On 2019-11-24 by Katie

In my 100-yr old, 3-level home there are 4 hollow steel columns at ground level that support the upper floors. Two of the columns are outside in a small alley between our house and the next house. Those 'outside' columns support the two upper levels that are above the alley and abut the home next door.

The other two columns are inside the home in the 1st floor/basement. The columns have small holes drilled in them-diameter a bit smaller than my pinkie. There is a bad odor coming from one of the indoor columns and at least one of the outdoor ones.

What is the odor and what can I do to get rid of it?

Thank you.

2019/08/15 highHike - shellac over perfume odor

Update w/some disappointing news: After applying a coat of wax free Shellac to the entire sink cabinet area (all surfaces), the experiment we did w/one shelf didn't hold up and we found that even the smell of that shelf (which had been neutralized shortly after applying the shellac) has a bit of perfume smell leaching out. In addition, after coating the cavity of the cabinetry w/shellac, the odor is quite gross ~ the perfume smell is there, but it morphed into something quite noxious.

So we thought that perhaps the added layer of lacquer really is necessary. However, after applying a coat of lacquer to the shelf, the perfume smell is still there. More faint, but still easily detectable.

Then, after speaking w/a different customer service rep at the green building supply company we consulted w/about all of this recently, we were told that the shellac + lacquer plan has been tested to seal in formaldyde, not necessarily perfume smell.

They recommended applying 3 coats of lacquer, allowing at least 24 hrs of dry time in between. But still, even doing that, we're in the trial and error territory not evidence-based recommendations, and losing our optimism.

However, since you suggested lacquer for the dry wall (haven't gotten to that project yet) we're holding out a shred of hope that perhaps lacquer will prove to be effective. If we use enough of it. And cross our fingers. And have good luck. And pray!

Reply:

That's both surprising and disappointing.

FUNGICIDAL SEALANT USE GUIDE ncludes both pigmented and opaque sealants widely used after building fires and after mold remediation jobs; in the sites I've inspected a remaining odor was not a problem except when the remediation work itself had missed a problem area.

To invite helpful comments from other readers and to preserve your less than happy (yet) experience with trying to use a shellac odor sealer, we have moved the older portion of this conversation into the bottom

of ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE

Reader follow-up:

highHiker
Thank you. I was unable to find the FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE in the link. Unrelated: After unpacking from a recent move, we noticed a musty smell in the office that wasn't there before we unpacked a lot of paper (files, photo albums, etc).

After sleuthing around, we think the source are files that had been in a metal file cabinet that was not in a particularly damp location, but which had been in a home that had mold in a storage area and where the spore count had risen quite high as a result.

What would you suggest for a situation like this? We've got a couple of file drawers worth of paperwork we need.

All we could think of was to xerox each page and put it in a new manilla folder, which would be incredibly labor intensive. Do you have any other ideas? Paper seems like a challenge. Also, if it smells musty does that mean it has mold on it in some places (have never seen even a speck on any of the papers) or could it mean it picked up on mold odors but doesn't actually have mold? (sigh)

Mod reply:

The live link is FUNGICIDAL SEALANT USE GUIDE

Paper goods that are moldy can be cost-prohibitive to clean completely; sometimes you can improve odor by exposure to fresh air and sunlight; or by freezing; but mostly it's more cost-effective to toss out moldy paper goods that are not valuable, or copy and then toss as you suggested;

Watch out when copying: take care to clean the copier surfaces regularly. Windex would be sufficient. Then keep the new clean copies away from the moldy papers.

Reader follow-up: Does freezing kill mold?

highHiker
Thank you. If we tried freezing, how long would you suggest we leave papers in the freezer? Does freezing kill mold?

If so, do you then just wind up w/dead mold which I am learning is as bad as live mold since it still gives off mytoxins. As I mentioned, we see no mold on any papers at all, just a musty smell. Also, here's a shellac update: In the master bathroom which has a lot of perfume impacted cabinetry, we have good news: One coat of pure wax-free shellac seems to be keeping the odor sealed in.

We tested on one drawer and after 10 days, no smell is leaching out. In the guest bathroom, which had a different perfume smell, we've had to give up and are planning to replace the sink/vanity.

The perfume smell leaches through the shellac and after several days, it's very strong, though somewhat morphed. But at least we have hope for being able to seal in the perfume in the big bathroom. It will be a major project, but we're relieved we won't have to rip it all out and start from scratch.

Mod reply: killing mold is not safe

Freezing will kill some molds, not all

Watch out: even "dead" mold spores can be toxic or pathogenic, still carrying mycotoxins.

That's why the correct procedure is to remove the mold, not to just try to kill it.

On 2019-07-24 by (mod) - spray insulation to get rid of rat smell or rat poison smell?

I am doubtful that spraying building insulation will be an effective solution to a dead rat odor or to a mold problem

Watch out: if insulation is contaminated with rat urine and feces or if it is contamianted with sprayed-on rat poison there may be serious health hazards in the building.

Remove the smelly insulation, clean the exposed surfaces, and re-insulate.

If the odor is from ductwork, and if the ducts are fiberglass lines, you may have to replace them. There are spray-sealant techniques that some vendors try and about which I have mixed results.

On 2019-07-23 by bonnie

chemical smell from vents, insulation was sprayed after dead rats removed. Black stuff on vents in some rooms.

On 2019-05-02 by (mod) -

It may help to diagnose this problem to discover where the smell is strongest. If the smell is strongest in your business then you may have a dead animal in a wall ceiling or floor cavity

On 2019-05-01 by Jackie

I work in a business that is next door to two other businesses one cooked food or grocery! There is a dead animal smell in my business I have pull everything out & called wssc they found nothing they say! Both neighbors are unresponsive
Should I call health department? How can I get smell out?

On 2018-10-21 by (mod) -

Re-posting a Q&A originally received by private email:

Reader Anonymous said:

I read your comprehensive article on the complex world of odors.

I ordered a dashcam from Amazon that arrived with a yellow stain inside the box with a very noxious odor.
While they are handling the matter, I would still like to have the item tested.

[The odor] is very strong and unlike anything I have ever smelled. You cannot stay in the same room with it.

Can you help or reccommmend someone to help identify the odor. - Anon. by private email

Moderator reply:

Chemical or FLIR or other tests to identify the constituents in an odor or airborne gas not a service we can provide. To protect reader trust in our impartiality, InspectApedia.com does not sell any product nor service.

I suspect that what would be far more economical than attempting to identify gases comprising an odor from a box would be an examination of the stain and its chemistry directly.

Frankly I also suspect that neither is cost-reasonable to address if the matter is mere curiosity.

However if you use a web search for "gas identification test laboratory service" you will find a range of laboratories offering a range of such services.

Be sure to discuss both the cost and the nature and extent and breadth of testing since often I find readers or clients have paid for a test that's actually not diagnostic and of little actual utility.

Also some labs provide only narrow-scope tests that they may be willing to perform, such as MVOC identification, that in truth are not appropriate for your question.

Using a fee schedule from EMS lab, one of the nation's largest, you will see that tests to identify A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL CHEMICAL range from about $30. to about $700. U.S. dollars.

And from my own lab experience I can tell you that there is no single economical "screening test" that tests for or identifies all of the possible tens of thousands of possible chemical compounds that could be present.

That's why in my OPINION in most cases it makes more sense to take a more source-investigative-approach first.

On 2018-05-17 by (mod) - When an odor appears as a result of running water I suspect

When an odor appears as a result of running water I suspect

- sulphur or bacteria-contaminated water supply

- a problem with the building vent or drain trap systems

On 2018-05-17 by shannon

Moved in a upstairs downstairs everytime you run water in the downstairs bathroom the whole house smell like rotten eggs and when the air or heat is running it comes and goes makes me throw up landlord acts like its normal

On 2017-10-21 by (mod) - coliform in the water supply

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 1 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 2019-07-10 by Anonymous

Thank you. Will check that out. I am a bit skeptical on one point about sealing because we did apply several costs of shellac to wood that was heavily impacted by scent where the former owners probably spilled a heavily scented product and the shellac barely made a dent in the intensity of the smell. any other sealing ideas?

On 2019-07-09 by (mod) - baby powder smell

A baby powder smell is, I speculate, an odorant left over from something used in the home: cleaner, perfume, scented candles, etc.

If basic cleaning hasn't made any progress you might want to try the SMELL PATCH TEST KIT (Search InspectApedia using the box above) to pin down the surfaces or sources. Clean, dry and then seal those.

On 2019-07-08 by Anonymous

My husband and I bought a house one year ago and are about to move in this week. When we looked at the house (twice)e, the owners were still living there and it was fully furnished. (They lived in the house for 28 yrs.)

At neither time did we notice any smell (and I'm extremely sensitive to smell). We bought the house and as soon as it was empty there was a distinct baby powder like smell that was light but pervasive

. I found three cabinets that were particularly perfumed (2 in bathrooms where they must have stored scented products and 1 in kitchen where they used scented garbage bags). I also found one plug-in in an outlet in one bathroom and immediately removed it.

Tried everything to absorb those local smells to no avail. Even several coats of pure shellac hardly made a dent. Ripped out their carpet. Smell still there. Opening windows as often as possible when humidity's not high. Running air purifiers w/carbon filters.

Had the HVAC ducts cleaned and remediation in the basement for minor mold issue that could have been a DIY except I'm allergic to mold so we went a bit overboard.

Had some contracting work done, using products and materials that were lower in toxins and VOC's than others when possible. Throughout it all, the smell remained. It's been a year and we're about to move in and I'm despairing because I get headaches from perfume.

I"m wondering if they used plug-ins throughout their home and if their real estate agent suggested they ditch the plug-ins when they were going to put the house on the market.

But if that were the case, since we saw the house the day it hit the market, you'd think the smell would have lingered and been noticeable if they'd been using something that emitted perfume for years on end, but we didn't smell anything.

Now I'm concerned they used plug-ins or some other scented product and the dry wall absorbed it. Do you have any thoughts on what to do in a situation like this? How can I get that kind of perfumed smell out of the house? I am in a panic.

On 2019-05-20 by (mod) -

In the page top EXPErTS DIRECTORY link you will find Environmental Consultants

On 2019-05-20 by Anonymous

, thanks for response...what “expert” would I call? What type of company would be best at identifying problem and suggest solutions.

On 2019-05-20 by (mod) - strong “jet fuel” odor

I agree that you need an onsite expert, Maria.

To me "jet fuel" is usually about the same as No.2 home heating oil or kerosene - I'd be looking for an oil spill or leak.

I suppose someone may have used an adhesive, sealant, paint, or other product that you might also smell but it'd be odd for that to remain un-dissipated over 20 years.

On 2019-05-20 by Maria

Replaced old system in home built in 90’s with new HVAC. When initially using heat, strong “jet fuel” odor...had company in to check, they found nothing but advised condenser coated in “fish oil” to avoid rust and smell should dissipate.

Smell lessened over winter but don’t use heat too often. Going in to summer, turned a/c on and smell of burning jet fuel is powerful. Company came back out, sealed ducts inside with mastic and in crawl space sealed all ductwork.

Odor slightly less but still present...gives me headache and breathing problems. Company reports there is a clean looking vapor barrier in crawl space but they also smell the strong chemical odor in the crawlspace. Not sure how to proceed...any suggestions?

On 2019-05-04 by (mod) - smells like a burnt-out or exploded capacitor

Laura please see

ELECTRICAL ODOR SOURCES at https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Odor-Diagnosis-Cure.php

where I repeat your question and am working on a longer answer - you may need to clear or refresh your browser page to see the updated version.

Keep me posted on what you are observing and I may be able to comment further - and because that will help other readers tracking down weird "burning electrical" component odors or prompt additional reader suggestions.

On 2019-05-03 by Laura

Three evenings ago, my husband noticed a strong smell coming from our ground-floor coat closet; it smells for all the world like a burnt-out or exploded capacitor. I've worked on computers and hobby circuitry and the smell of popped capacitor is fairly recognizable: very metallic, almost like burning magnesium, but with a sweet undertone like burnt resin.

Our smell is probably not plastic, and it's probably not burning wiring; I've accidentally burned enough of the two to kind of know the difference. It's really quite magnesium-smelling. I'd almost stake money on the exploded cap answer.

We live in a three-story townhouse with one neighbor, and the closet/wall from which the smell is coming faces outside, not toward the common wall.

The house is largely empty; we have it staged for sale, and there's nothing in that closet at all. There's no odor detectable in either of the two nearby closets, nor in any of the other rooms (unless you open the coat closet and air it out, and then the smell spreads throughout...it's quite strong.)

There is a basic home networking panel in that closet that we've never used; we thought that was the source of the problem, but there's no sign at all of any damage, and when I smell all the components individually, nothing stinks. I unwired and removed it to be sure and closed the closet back up; the next morning, the smell was stronger than ever.

These townhouses are well-built and newer (2010) and we just had a formal inspection that was not only clean but very complimentary, if you can believe it. The irony, of course, is that four days later this smell appears...! I can't find anything visually wrong when I peer into the wall from the hole left by the networking box; everything looks pristine in there.

Have you ever heard of something like this before? We've been airing it out with fans and open windows for three days, and while it gets better while there's air flow, it just comes right back. Thanks for your help!

On 2019-04-27 by (mod) - oil or gas fuel exhaust fumes

Diane

Watch out: if you are getting back venting of heating oil or gas fuel exhaust fumes into the home the system is not operating safely and needs service or repair. Call your service company for help.

On 2019-04-27 by Diane

I turn The thermostat down to 60 at night. In morning put up to 68 -70. have sulfur smell with heater turning on. It then goes away and does not come back until the next morning when I raise the temperature of the thermostat again.

On 2019-04-15 by (mod) - septic smells

Jeanne

Best would be to start by looking through the sewer odor suggestions given in

SEPTIC or SEWAGE ODORS https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Sewer_Gas_Odors.php

Take a look at those diagnostic suggestions and procedures including using an ODOR LOG to keep track of factors that can explain why an odor is inconsistent - then let me know how you're doing.

On 2019-01-10 by JEANNE

Hi, sewer smell in our home for several months now that will come and go. We have had our tank pumped a couple times, a plumber replaced some seals, vents and even did a smoke test and no leaks were found. Any other ideas to check as cause of smell?

 

On 2019-01-10 by (mod) - intermittent sewer smell - how do we get rid of it?

Jeanne

Best would be to start by looking through the sewer odor suggestions given in

SEPTIC or SEWAGE ODORS

Take a look at those diagnostic suggestions and procedures including using an ODOR LOG to keep track of factors that can explain why an odor is inconsistent - then let me know how you're doing.

On 2019-01-10 by JEANNE

Hi, sewer smell in our home for several months now that will come and go. We have had our tank pumped a couple times, a plumber replaced some seals, vents and even did a smoke test and no leaks were found. Any other ideas to check as cause of smell?

On 2018-10-10 by (mod) - vinyl backing smell

Vander

I'm unclear what sort of vinyl backing we're discussing.

But in general if you have removed flooring that was an odor source (which would itself be unusual) fresh air and heat and moisture reduction should be enough to remove remaining odors.

If there is a persistent odor source after airing out the building then I'd suggest using our SMELL PATCH TEST KIT (free search inspectApedia. for details) to pinpoint the odor source for further action such as removal or cleaning or sealing.

On 2018-10-10 by Vanderfountaincarter

How do I get rid of the smell left behind from removal of old vinyl backing

On 2018-10-05 by (mod) - musty smell

Katie

if the musty smell is in the direction of mold and then indeed you want to be looking for conditions that would cause mold growth and of course note the locations that would be most suspect.

That means that you want your home inspector to pay careful attention to even subtle clues that would tell us that there was a past history of leaks, of even a single event leak or of recurrent leakage or recurrent water entry in the building.

In other words part of the approach to tracking down a musty or moldy odor when you don't see the actual odor source is to track down the conditions that would cause such a problem.

Often what I will do is identify the highest risk or most suspect spot and with permission do something a bit more invasive to look there.

You may not do that during a home inspection but it may be appropriate at some point to look behind for trim or into a wall cavity perhaps at an electrical box or light switch. Look in parcular for water stains on materials near the floor.

thank you for your nice comments about our website. We work hard to provide authoritative and unbiased information and so I'm particularly happy when a reader finds it useful.

On 2018-10-05 by Katie

We are under contract to buy a home and the inspection is scheduled for Sunday. I am a little nervous because I smell a musty smell on the lower level (split-level home, lower level is mostly-above ground).

The lower level consists of a family room with pine wall paneling, finished laundry area, and unfinished utility area. I smell it the most in the family room with wood paneling.

I have arranged for a mold air sampling but I have learned from your website that it may not be the most useful tool. Is there anything else I should be requesting in advance or at the time of inspection to help identify the source of the smell?

Any chance that it's not mold? Thank you, love your site!

On 2018-08-03 by (mod) - unexplained cough

Indeed people's allergic sensitivity to things in the environment can change and can become more acute over time, including in response to chronic exposure.

"Mold tests" alone are singularly unreliable at diagnosing a mold problem and of less help in telling you what's needed. Search InspectApedia.com for MOLD TEST ACCURACY to read details.

You want someone who will conduct a thorough visual inspection of the home, inside and out, not just "do a mold test" - the latter would be of low value even if it suggested there is a problem: you still won't know what needs to be done.

North of Toronto you may need to ask for a Torontoan to come up to help you out.

You might find either a home inspector (Carson Dunlop Associates for example) in Toronto who can combine building science and expertise with a look for obvious leaks, water damage, sewage backups, visible mold, mold suspect areas, etc. or possibly an environmental expert who will do something more than a superficial test.

Try the EXPERTS DIRECTORY at the top of any of our pages.

I'm always reluctant to move to escape a suspected-building-related health concern since for all we know you import the problem to your knew home, or find that the problem wasn't the old home, or find that the new home has its own problems.

On 2018-08-03 by Marie

We bought house 23 yrs ago. Roof leaked and was repaired (replaced insulation also) in 2011. My husband is retired, I work full time. I started coughing about 3 yrs ago.

Doctors ran tests, they do not know why I cough. My husband and I are non-smokers. Since May 2018 my husband cannot spend long periods of time in the house.

He says his throat, nose and lungs are burning; he has difficulty breathing and starts coughing and sometimes produces whitish mucus. He was sent to an allergist who advised him he is highly allergic to many things. This is something new, he has never been allergic to anything before.

The doctor did not test for mold. He was given an inhalor but that is not helping.

About 10 yrs ago my husband started noticing unusual smells whenever he entered the home. (rotten fruit, musty odor). We could not pinpoint location. 14 yrs ago we stored wooden furniture in garage which had cigarette smoke. We removed them 1 month ago. We had air quality and mold test done in May 2018 and was advised at that time there was no serious problems.

We suspect mold is the problem. My husband spotted mold on the garage's exterior wall furthest from the house. Garage is attached to the house.

There are no companies listed for Ontario, Canada on your website. Since May 2018 we called every company in the area to look into this for us, to no avail.

They do not return phone calls or come once and then never return. My husband is getting sicker and we need help. I have been reading everything I can on your site to clean up but it seems to be the whole house and my husband and I need professional assistance to find where the mold is located; so the mold can be removed permanently.

We suspect the vents because a musty smell comes through when the air comes on.

I did print off Odor Diagnostic Log.

Q: If you could direct us; where do we go to find a company that will actually come and diagnose the problem and professionally remove it.

We live 1-2 hours north of Toronto, Ontario. We do not want to go broke but we either sell the house and move or see what the cost is to have this situation corrected. This is a great neighbourhood and we would love to stay. Thank you for your time. Marie

On 2018-07-22 by (mod) - smells in the attic

Jd

First, in a properly ventilated attic the air wants to move up through your building and out at the ridge vents. So I suspect you have incorrect or no functional attic venting.

There are a few odd cases that can draw are down out of an attic such as heavy use of air conditioning in a multi-story home. So really it's important as well to inspect the attic and find and remove the odor source.

On 2018-07-22 by Jd

Attic smells coming inside home
Replaced intake and flex ducts installed ,and still having attic smells
What else to do?

On 2018-07-19 by (mod) - plastic odors vs Durock

Sounds odd; You're describing what sounds like a plastic odor. Durock doesn't smell like that (or much else) in my experience. Did your builder use a structural adhesive? If so ask to see the brand and product information and then we can review the guidelines for its use.

On 2018-07-19 by Barbara

We are having our bathroom shower/tub area replaced. The durock is up and exposed since the tile will not be put in until the week-end. There is a strong odor like a "new shower curtain" that has persisted since the initial Durock was put up 5 days ago. I have fans going and the ceiling exhaust fan on but it does not go away.

Do you know what this could be from? Is there a glue of some kind used to install the wall beneath the tile? Is this toxic? Thanks for your help.

On 2018-04-27 by (mod) - dead mouse smell in kitchen cabinets

Sorry to say, Kate, that once you've cleaned the surfaces that are accessible, if the dead mouse odor persists your options are:

Ventilate and wait - a small mouse ultimately dries out and stops smelling - not the most aesthetic nor healthy approach but possible

Cut and look - cut strategic openings, typically 2x4" in an area that will let you inspect below the cabinet or perhaps into nearby wall cavities. Before doing this I'd also inspect the kitchen from below - perhaps there's easier access from a basement or crawl space.

YOu can also use our recommended (no cost) SMELL PATCH TEST KIT to test surfaces to see if one is a stronger odor-emitter.

On 2018-04-25 by Kate

Home is 14 yrs old. A lower corner kitchen cabinet had a foul odor and I suspected a dead mouse.

The cabinet is used for storage of plastic containers, shopping bags both paper and plastic, sealed plastic water bottles and no food has ever been stored in it. After removal and careful inspection of everything, nothing was found. I washed the walls and shelves of the cabinet with kitchen antibacterial cleaner and the odor remained.

I rewashed all with bleach and the odor has greatly subsided but now the general area outside the cabinets has the same foul odor. The cabinets are pressed board with wood doors.

The upper cabinets reach to the ceiling and the backsplash and counters are granite. All cabinets have been inspected, the bottom kickplate under the cabinet was removed, the attic has been carefully inspected, all 6 socket/cable/phone plates on the granite backsplash were removed.

Lighting fixtures have been inspected. Cabinets are on an interior wall. A bathroom is behind the wall with floor to ceiling tile on all walls. No odor in that room. Cannot find the source of the odor. It hangs in the air in one corner of the kitchen. It is now 2 weeks.
Totally nauseating!

Question: industrial cleaner odor in hallway

(May 22, 2014) Michael said:

We have a strong 'industrial cleaner' odor in our entry hall way. 3 level home, the odor is on 1st floor, ground level. The smell almost seems as
'pen marker' smell, or glue. We are unable to figure out where its coming from. The smell was in the garage as well, but now almost gone.

Our right next door neighbor seem to have the same strong smell, but in her garage. What company would be able to identify what is going on?
They have done no paint or other jobs inside the home.

Reply:

Michael I'm not sure what company, among those who would claim they could solve your problem, could actually do so reliably and economically, especially if the only approach is to apply more chemicals in form of a "dedodorant".

Usually it's best to track down the smell to its probable source using someone coming up from fresh air away from the site and who has a good sense of smell, combined with visual inspection for likely odor sources. Sometimes our SMELL PATCH TEST KIT approach (very inexpensive) can help.

If you call industrial hygienists, IAQ consultants, or home inspectors who offer the service discuss their experince and their approach. I would not hire someone who's just going to stop by and "do some tests" without a thorough inspection.

Question: employee complaint about food odors

(June 17, 2014) Don Brewer said:

I have a client who has employees complaining about food-related odors, specifically a spice that seems to be very cuisine specific.

I suspect the odor is being generated by an EMPLOYEE heating up food in the microwave. Any idea on how to test for this spice odor ?

Reply:

A simple approach might be to use the smell patch test procedure - see the article link above

 

Question: sewage backup odors

(July 7, 2014) J. Frost said:

My septic tank had overfilled. the plug was not in the bathroom sink. I have a brown stain on the glass shower doors. does anyone know how to clean this off? I have tried TSP, bleach, Mr Clean...with no success - thank you

Reply:

J.F.

Watch out: because health hazards are involved, sewage backups are cleaned using household cleaners and disinfectants. If a large area of was contaminated you probably should hire a professional.

A single sewage backup would not in my experience make permanent stains on a glass shower door, but perhaps there was a pre-existing mineral deposit that resists cleaning. In that case you need a cleaner that removes mineral scale deposits or iron deposits - readily found at your supermarket or building supplier in the cleaner section. Sometimes even vinegar will do the trick.

On 2017-05-03 by mod) - is the smell frmo my water softener?

If a water softener is a suspected odor source you'll want to keep it in bypass to see if that changes what you smell and where.

I'm doubtful of a successful return to service of a 20+ year old piece of equipment that's been off for 19 years, but you should take a look at this article on sanitizing and getting rid of bacteria and odors in water softeners:

https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Cleaning.php

On 2017-05-03 by Anonymous

Help, smelly odor coming from my basement! I was wondering, after having my sump pump checked and my home inspected for mold, could this awful must smell be coming from a exiting water softener that is still hooked up but haven't been used for over 19 years? Could the stagnant water in the softener be causing this god awful smell?

Could it be my air conditioner/heating system? I'm so tired of this awful smell when you enter my home!

On 2017-05-05 by mod) : Dog Girl of Brooklin explains how to get rid of dog odors that followed building contents moved to a new home

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 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

On 2017-05-03 by mod) re: dealing with odors blamed on the water softener

If a water softener is a suspected odor source you'll want to keep it in bypass to see if that changes what you smell and where.

I'm doubtful of a successful return to service of a 20+ year old piece of equipment that's been off for 19 years, but you should take a look at this article on sanitizing and getting rid of bacteria and odors in water softeners: https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Softener_Cleaning.php

On 2017-05-03 by Anonymous

Help, smelly odor coming from my basement! I was wondering, after having my sump pump checked and my home inspected for mold, could this awful must smell be coming from a exiting water softener that is still hooked up but haven't been used for over 19 years?

Could the stagnant water in the softener be causing this god awful smell? Could it be my air conditioner/heating system? I'm so tired of this awful smell when you enter my home!

On 2017-04-13 by mod) re: when to call OSHA about terrible odors offgassing from plastic tarps

Fred,

I can't say when OSHA should be called, but I agree that some plastic tarps smell horrible. I've been personally sickened when working in a tight crawl space where new 6 mil poly was laid out.

We don't know what sort of plastic is in your space but the article I cite below includes hazard discussions and scholarly research on plastic odors.

See these details PLASTIC or VINYL ODOR EXPOSURE -
https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Vinyl_Chloride_Plastic_Odor_Exposure_Effects.php

On 2017-04-13 by fred

my office is redoing roof the roofers put up plastic tarps in our office in case of debris but the smell from plastic is permeating the room is this toxic should osha be called ?

On 2017-02-22 by mod) re: smells blamed on sewer in cold weather

Tiffany, were you able to search InspectApedia.com

for COLD WEATHER SEWER ODORS?

On 2017-02-22 by Tiffany

So glad I found this site!! We have been dealing with a weirdness odor at my office for years. But it only seems to be in the winter. And when it it a cloudy foggy morning. We smell it the worst when we first get there and then it dissipates throughout the morning when the door is open.

We think it smells kinda like gas but they have come out and tested for gas and it's not that. Some days we can even taste it. The landlord has sent out a plumber but they have never found anything. Even the gas company has come out and they have never found a gas leak. We don't know what to do at this point. Help!

On 2017-02-13 by Anonymous

Also, what would I seal the surfaces with, and can I seal around the pip joints? Should I wash them?

On 2017-02-13 by Anonymous

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I meant to say the building switched from oil to gas.

Also, I forgot to mention that the oil tank still has oil in it (the super told me that they have it in case something happens).

So yes the oil piping is not in active use but when I go to the pip connections in my unit (I'm not sure what they are called- but when one section is adhered to another), I smell oil.

Also at the bottom of the pipe that goes through my wall to the outside, there was a hole and a strong smell was coming from this hole (which makes me think its in the soil- but I don't know).

The super informed me he could put insulation around the piping that is in my unit... would this help? What should I cover that hole with?

Can I upload pictures on this site?

I'm going back tomorrow to look more closely at everything.

Thanks so much!

On 2017-02-13 by mod) re: odor problems when switching from oil to gas heat - smells from "abandoned" heating oil piping?

Anna,

I think you meant that the building switched from oil to gas - the opposite of your statement - if I'm right then indeed the oil piping should not be in active use. But that does not mean there's no oil in the lines or even in an old oil tank that could be seeping and leaking somewhere - it depends on how the tank was abandoned and whether or not it was removed.

Usually an oil tank abandonment also removes most if not all of the oil line piping. So the fact that the pipes remain leave one unsure just what was done or if it was done correctly.

Oil piping that is not leaking doesn't smell - I'm guessing the oil lines are flexible copper tubing though other piping may have been used. The piping is not porous. If there are or were heating oil leaks they will be at

- a leaky pipe connection or fitting

- a damaged leaky section of oil piping

- a spill at or around an indoor oil tank

- a leak at oil tank filler or vent pipes

- an oil spill outdoors during an oil delivery.

I can't suggest a specific repair before we know where the leak occurred and what abandonment has been done of oil tank(s), piping, equipment.

For small oil leaks or spills oil heating companies use special sprays and cleaners, but typically a bit of household cleaner or even detergent can remove small quantities of oil from hard surfaces like a pipe or a tile floor.

If heating oil leaked onto or into softer materials (wood, drywall, plaster, insulation, or even porous cement flooring) a combination of cleaning and then sealing of those surfaces will usually suffice.

Just "covering up a wall" may not be successful at stopping an odor.

1. Confirm that the odor is from heating oil

2. Find the leak point and fix it

3. Remove any remaining oil in tanks or piping if those have not been and are not to be removed.

Search InspectApedia.com for OIL TANK ABANDONMENT and also search for OIL TANK LEAKS to see detailed suggestions.
-

On 2017-02-13 by Anna

Please help!

I just rented out a studio space (for painting only) at the bottom of a condo building. In the room next to me is a large oil tank from. A pipe from the oil tank goes through my unit before going outside. The room with the oil tank has no smell, however, my unit does. I think its coming from the oil pipe and the wall from which the pipe goes out through.

The super told me that the building switched from gas to oil, so the pipes have no oil going through however there could be residual oil in them etc.

I have gone up to the pipes and they smell and especially from the wall where the pipe is. Has oil leaked into wall? Can I cover this wall up with something to stop the smell. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

On 2017-02-11 by mod) - find and get rid of nail polish odor

Track down where the odor is strongest to help zero in on a probable source;
Review building history for applications of chemicals, pesticides, cleaners, paints, solvents.

On 2017-02-11 by Joe

When we enter our home is smells like nail polish remover. We cannot find out where it is coming from. Can anyone helpus

On 2017-02-08 by mod) - sour smelly feet odor

MaryJoe,

I'm sorry but we have no objective data describing dangerous chemical offgassing from washing machines.

Searching for scholarly research on washing machine offgassing finds research on IAQ questions raised by chemical perfumes used in some detergents and in clothes dryer sheets. It would be a shame to jump too quickly to an incorrect and perhaps expensive conclusion.

On 2017-02-08 by Tammy

@Laura, wow! I have the exact same issue. Brand new house, in fact still finishing up some details and when you reach near the top of the stairs there is a sour like smelly feet smell just like you described and those the words I used describing to my husband!

Did you find out anything? I smelled it before we moved in 4 weeks ago and seems to have gotten worse.

On 2017-01-29 13:21:30.522124 by Mary Jo Brinker

These answers do not address my question. They do not apply to chemical odors in a washer.

On 2017-01-29 by Mary Jo Brinker

I bought an Amana washer and had to return it because the odors outgassing from it made me sick. I have already been to the doctor's office twice. I was diagnosed with chemical, plastics, and formaldehyde toxicity in my body.

I returned the washer. How do I find a washer that does not have these dangerous chemicals?

On 2017-01-09 by Laura

Help Help! I have smelled a sour smell upstairs for years. No one else smells it. It is mostly in a bedroom we seldom use and smells like sour smelly feet. My husband smells nothing at all. Years ago I thought it might be some of the antique furniture I have up there, but it is not.

Sewer gas? No. Water leaking? No, new roof 2 years ago.

2 weeks ago I was installing a new smoke alarm on the ceiling upstairs, and I noticed some squiggly raised lines on the ceiling. I am thinking bees in my attic, or bats. Can anyone help me? I am calling pest control in the morning.

On 2017-01-04 by mod) - odors coming through a shared party wall

Sure Cann.

We'd start with a visual inspection for obvious problem sources: leaks, mold, pets, stains.

If there is sufficient concern from external clues or building history or complaints, then I'd use a borescope or make a test cut into the wall at the most-suspect location to see what's in the wall cavity.

If there is an attic space above or crawl space below those areas should be inspected too.

Information about the nature of the odor can be diagnostic.

I would NOT rely on make-a-pound cute tools like light meters, moisture meters, gas detectors for a concern such as the one you raise.

Keep in mind that depending on where you live, a duet, or duplex as some people use the term, may require a fire-wall between adjoining units.

On 2017-01-04 by Cann

I live in aduet , share a wall w/neighbor. Is there away to inspector a shared wall?

Question: rotten peach odor versus furnace salesman

(Mar 7, 2014) April short said:

My installer and furnace salesman insist this 'rotten peach' odour has nothing to do with the furnace. On the web, many others have complained about it. The installer says the furnace works perfectly although when we bought it last year they installed it incorrectly and had to come back for an entire year and many service calls to get it right.

Now the rotten peach smell comes through all vents when the heat comes on. It is not present when the fan alone is on. It is not present when the furnace is off. It was not present when the old furnace was on.

I am getting nausea, dizziness and headaches. We have an oil furnace. They say I am imagining the odour even though one installer could smell it. I can use any help I can get. We have had extra air returns put in, a new condensation mat- anything the installer could think of to no avail. I am home all day and getting ill from the fumes.

Reply:

April, there is just not enough information in this text exchange to allow speculation on the odor source you describe; what's needed is an onsite expert to assist you. It may be helpful however to keep a log of odor observations and time of day and relationship to equipment being on or off.

I've suggested elsewhere that especially with warm air heat (you describe a "furnace" that's a warm air system) odors can be transported in ductwork from one building are a to another.

For safety be sure you have working, properly located and installed smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

...

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 these

Recommended Articles

ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - topic home.

Start tracking down the cause or source of an odor in one or more of several ways:

• 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. I washed the walls and shelves of the cabinet with kitchen antibacterial cleaner and the odor remained.

Suggested citation for this web page

ODOR DIAGNOSIS FAQs-5 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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