Six-step procedure to track down the source or cause of odors or smells in or around buildings.

Here we describe six areas of investigation that can help direct the inquiry as to the cause or source of an odor or smell in or around a building.

These articles explain how to diagnose, test, identify, and cure or remove a wide range of obnoxious or even toxic odors in buildings, in building air, in building materials, or in the building water supply.

We discuss odors from a variety of sources including animals including pets, dogs, cats, or unwanted animals or dead animals, formaldehyde odors in buildings from building products or furnishings, plumbing drains, plastic or vinyl odors from building products, flue gases, indoor mold odors, oil tanks or oil spills, pesticides, septic odors, sewer gases, and even abandoned chemicals at properties.

Six Step Process for Odor Cause or Source Detection

Take an Organized Approach to Finding & Curing an Indoor Chemical Odor

Watch out: The photo above shows steel chemical drums that we discovered on a residential property during a home inspection.

Not only did these steel drums raise a question of possible environmental contamination of this site, even worse, they were uphill and close to a stream, raising a still more broad question of area contamination.

Hire an Inspector or Consultant vs Do-It-Yourself?

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem such as this one.

It is a frequent frustration to discuss with readers and clients the common experience of hiring a costly investigator or hygienist to help with a problem only to find that that expert does the easy part - conducting a few (sometimes unreliable) sample collections, sends them to a lab and gives you a report.

Such tests alone, without a translation into sufficient diagnosis as to permit action, are of limited use.

Track Down & Remove Source of a Building Smell in 6 Steps

Regardless of who is working on the odor source problem, several directions of investigation suggest themselves:

1. Try odor source tracking:

 try this

SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE

method to see if you can isolate the odor to a particular surface. It's cheap, easy, and can sometimes give dramatic results.

When I refined and field tested this method, first suggested to me by my friend Jeff May (Cambridge MA), the person we used as the "smeller" was in fact a pregnant woman whose sense of smell was reported to be particularly sensitive.

At left the author demonstrates a smell-patch test that can be used to track down odors to their source in buildings.

2. List building and building condition factors causing odors:

at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE

we give a procedural checklist that can help track down the source of an odor by reviewing a laundry-list of types of odors, odor sources, and building and even weather conditions that can be diagnostic.

Just as one example we've tracked certain odors to plastic windows or window screens that emitted smells principally after some time in direct sunlight.

If you suspect sunlight related odor emission note:

• Odor Location:
  
  Where is the offending rarea oom in the floor plan of your building, and how does that location relate to
  • sunlight
  • HVAC equipment
  • interior or exterior walls
  • placement of elevators, air shafts, plumbing drains or utility shafts, chimneys
• Odor Time & Surrounding Conditions:
  
  Keep an odor log of events and activities that can help track down an odor to its source
  
  ODOR EVENT / SOURCE LOCALIZATION LOG offers details on how to keep records of building & weather & other conditions that help track a smell to its source. That page also provides a printable checklist or odor log document.
• Odor quality and strength:
  
  Often people can describe an odor using a characteristic that can point to possible sources such as
  
  Animal or "doggy" smells - presence of animals
  Sewage - look for sewer or plumbing fixture issues
  Vanilla or cinnamon or fruity smells - often use of household cleaners or odor-disguising sprays or emitters
  Vinegar - possibly formaldehyde from building materials or fabrics or actual use of vinegar-based cleaners
  
  ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home - includes an alphabetically organized catalog of building smells and odors.
  

3. List & investigate building history, materials, location:

In the odor checklist cited at item 2 we provide examples of building history that can point to a particular odor source.

Now add more detailed considerations such as

• Building age, type, location, and thus also history of uses of the building
• Building construction materials of both the structure and for apartment or multi-occupant buildings, construction and materials used in the individual unit (new carpeting, for example, or paints and sealants)
• Behavior of building mechanical systems: slow drains, poorly-operating heating or cooling equipment;
  
  The open plumbing vent line shown in our photo (above might have been suspected by occurrence of sewage odors & sewer gas when plumbing fixtures were in use.
• History of building owners, length of occupancy, and activities in the structure - for example were there occupants with particular hobbies or activities that used chemicals?
• History of treatment for insect pests: cockroaches, termites, other - by whom, when, what chemical was applied where and by what method;
  
  on Long Island years ago an idiot pesticide applicator sprayed pesticide into the building wall cavities leading to a very costly problem.
  
  If, for example, a prior owner filled a closet with mothballs and left it shut for a long time - months or years - the odor could have penetrated surface materials and may linger there.
  
  See also MOTHBALL ODOR HEALTH CONCERN
• History of renovations in your condo, when, what, where, what materials, work including plumbing, heating, air conditoning, renovations that used paints or chemicals
• Relate odor occurrences to weather, time of day, temperature, wind, equipment on or off
• In multi-story buildings check for air & odor movement between building floors by elevators, stairwells, HVAC ducting, spaces over cathedral ceilings, pipe chases, etc.

4. Use surface testing to confirm an odor source:

best performed after we have some most-suspect surfaces in mind, it may be possible to collect and send a small physical sample to an appropriate test lab for confirmation of what we're looking at.

For example, at a home where I suspected amateur application of pesticide (chlordane), I cut a small sliver of wood that we sent to an independent test lab (my lab specializes in particle forensics not chemicals) who confirmed that the wood had indeed been soaked with pesticide.

5. Temporarily Contain odors & smell-related risks:

if odors appear to originate in just a single room in a building, temporarily, try keeping the offending room's door shut and are minimizing exposure to risk.

Watch out: for odor desensitization: anyone who remains in an area where odor-producing substances are present, eventually becomes desensitized to the odors and can be thus fooled into thinking that the odor is not present or has been diminished. A good test is to consider how things "smell" to you or others on entering the condo just after you've spent hours or longer out in fresh air.

6. Remediation of odors or smells: 

don't do anything expensive or disruptive towards a "cure" before you have a reasonably confident idea of what the problem is..

At ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE we list many sources of odors & smells in buildings - the list itself may suggest some candidates for you that can help tracking down your own complaint.

Separately at ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST, PROCEDURE we offer a procedural checklist that can help in tracking down an odor

How to Find Cures for Building Odors

Reader Question: how to find the cause of an odor in our condo

I found your site and have found it full of helpful possible explanations for an intermittent odor experienced in our condo rental After intuiting possible causes of the odor I was interested in what cures or remedies were suggested and could not find any. .

I haven't yet found any cures or remedies related to my suspicions I would like to describe our situation and see if I can be directed to a source or information that suggest possible cures or remedies.

We rented a condo where we are now living in May 2014.

Prior to signing a lease, I noticed an odor that was somewhat pungent but dissipated after being inside for awhile. I thought it was the previous occupant's belongings or poor choice of scented products that left a lingering odor.

The odor has never completely disappeared and is intermittent.

We've invited neighbors to witness it with some success and other times it disappeared too quickly for one to "smell".

We've complained to the owner and management but haven't found a source and no one takes responsibility to remedy. A contractor that claimed he can rid odors with a machine was summoned but wouldn't guarantee an outcome without figuring out a source. Here's what we've observed and what we've done to date:

Odor is pungent and most obvious upon opening front door and strongest in the foyer.

Holding our breath and walking into the unit past the foyer, the odor is not as strong unless the place has been closed up for a longer period of time, then it is everywhere.

HVAC, air filters, all plumbing, gas logs, washer, dryer vents etc have been checked.

Does not smell like gas, septic or mold. Pungent is our best adjective and on occasion can seem like a lingering body odor. I've painted with oil and latex numerous times and refinished furniture and it is not like those odors.

Have put out vinegar, washed surfaces, aired out daily with fans, open windows and running the HVAC fan.

Have left for an hour or two and upon our return it can be as strong as before airing out. OR we recently left for 7 days and it was hardly noticeable upon our return.

The condo is about 1500 square feet. Building contains flats with a total of 24 units. Believe there's concrete between the floors with HVAC ducts and sprinkler system between our ceiling and the units above and below.

The building was built in 2008. We believe the unit was empty for several years until it sold. The owner said she just thought it was new building smell and she lived in it for a couple years.

The hallways do smell of concrete but is different than what we are experiencing.

No other resident has complained.

Unit is on 2nd floor with one unit above, one unit below and garage below that.

There is a wood product floor and carpet. The foyer is the wood product, think it's wood flooring that's glued down to the concrete. Other materials are painted Sheetrock and wood trim, cabinetry, tile, plastic shower floor.

The building has had some gutter issues with rain leaks in other areas I've heard about.

The occupant above keeps a dog indoors and has had complaints about her trash and her doggie pads, but that's not the odor we have experienced.

I've kept a log on and off and think higher humidity/rain does impact the intensity.

I thought the test your site has with paper towels and aluminum foil was interesting but even if that does isolate it to our foyer floor for example, and it could be speculated where the location is, what are the possible remedies? How does one identify the odor itself?

Thanks for guidance you can suggest. - S.B. 10/3/2014

Reply: find & remove the odor source

There are no trivial or external "odor cures" that are valid, such as generic sprays or ozone.

Rather, the proper approach is to find the cause or source of the odor and remove that source by cleaning, sealing, or if necessary removing contaminated or outgassing materials, or where odors are traced to a mechanical system such as a leaky plumbing vent, fixing that problem.

A Summary of Building Odor Diagnosis & Cure Strategies:

You can start tracking down the cause or source of an odor in one or more of several ways:

1. ODOR DIAGNOSIS SIX STEPS - taking an orderly approach to odor source tracking
2. ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST - an easy checklist of stuff to examine or test - this article
3. ODOR EVENT / SOURCE LOCALIZATION LOG- to record odor observations that help track down the odor source
4. ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - includes a catalog of places to look when tracking down an odor source
5. 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 odor

If we confirm that that's the case, then depending on what the surface or material is we can decide on an appropriate action such as clean, seal, remove, or in some cases, cut open (a wall or ceiling cavity for example) to investigate further for a buried odor source such as a dead animal, a chemical leak into a cavity, or wet insulation such as some UFFI formulations that may outgas when moist or wet.

Check for Odor Transport from Other Locations

You might also want to look at the heating and air conditioning systems and also possible air leaks between your unit and neighbors to see if air movement or air delivery are transporting odors from another location (neighbor's pet, spills, etc.) For example

See DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS

"Pungent" Odor Sources?

I'm uncertain what different people really are experiencing when they describe "pungent" odors since that term is often used to describe smells that are "sharp" or "penetrating" - but you might want to look also

at CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCES that might have been left by use of a paint, cleaner, deodorant, spill, treatment, etc.

Keep an Odor Log to Identify Conditions or Equipment Operation that Relate to or Cause Smells

Keeping an odor log, some of which you've done in an incomplete form, can also help find an odor source that relates to weather, temperature, humidity, changes in building use, occupancy, or the operation of mechanical equipment - or other things that vary in or around a building.

Use either of the three files listed below to record various data that can help figure out the source of a mystery odor or smell - we recommend the first Odor Checklist Form listed below as it is the most detailed version. When using the Odor Checklist Form, also review our Checklist of Possible Causes/Sources of Odor or Smell Complaints that begins in this article, just below

• ODOR EVENT LOG & CHECKLIST FORM {PDF] - 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>
• ODOR LOG EXCEL Spreadsheet to record your observations for further analysis for those who perfer to work with spreadsheets to enter odor observation data
• ODOR LOG abbreviated form "short list" printer-friendly PDF file lists observations that can help track down an odor source.
• To prepare yourself also review our home page for the diagnosis and cure of building odors found
  
  at ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home, where we outline the overall approach to finding and removing odors in or around buildings, and listing most odor sources

Should You Try Removing Smells / Odors by an Ozone Generator Machine?

You cite a contractor who says he can remove odors by using a machine in your home.

Really? Without finding and curing the odor source you will not remove a smell from a building, though you might temporarily disguise it with a cover-up scent (not recommended). Worse, you might create a still more terrible and expensive odor problem in the building if you permit a mis-use of an ozone generator (by overdosing the building and oxidizing some of its contents).

See OZONE MOLD / ODOR TREATMENT WARNINGS

At "More Reading" below you'll find additional odor diagnosis and odor cure articles listed by topics or by common odor problem sources or types.

Find Mor Odor Cure articles at InspectApedia.com

By using the search box found near the top right (in the light blue area) or at the end of each InspectApedia article you can also find information that you did not see in the recommended links found at Continue reading.

Articles that describe cures for odors are referred to by just about any odor-related article or page you land-on at InspectApedia but can also befound by searching InspectApedia as I've described.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

I need more specific details on how to find the source of an odor

Hello- you posted a long, detailed story on this page from S.B. 10/3/2014 that I was very interested in as it sounds very much like a problem I am having with my house, but you never gave a reply that was at all specific or very helpful- just the very generic "find and eliminate the source".

I just wondered if you could provide a bit more detail for how you would approach this particular case- would you start with a patch test on the flooring?

In your experience, do these engineered floors outgas and cause odors problems when new or even more so when old?

I only have real wood in my house, most of it is unfinished (a timber-framed house with natural wood walls and ceilings) but the wood floors have a polyurethane finish that is over 20 year old- can that cause odor problems?

I also have vinyl wallpaper on some walls that dates from the late 1970s- some of it is painted over- is that known to degrade and cause odor problems over time? As with the poster, the odor in my house is definitely not gas, sewer, mold or a dead animal, smells which I am familiar with and would recognize quite easily (unless it is a type of mold I'm not familiar with).

It is more "pungent" sort of- not terrible but I don't like it- sort of subtle at times but I always smell it clearly (with dismay) when entering the house, even after fairly short times. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (Do you work in New England/Vermont?) - On 2020-11-16 by Anonymous -

Reply by (mod) -

Thank you - that's a helpful criticism, Anon. We'll edit the article accordingly.

Thing is, the remedy for an odor depends entirely on finding the odor source.

When people smell an odor and don't know where it's coming from, and I'm off here safely quarantined and I don't know a thing about the building, the best I can suggest is to try the 6 steps above on this page that give a (admittedly general) sequence of steps to home in on the odor source.

Sometimes finding an odor is also tricky because the odor is not constant, varying by time of day, weather, etc.

To sort that out we provide an ODOR EVENT / SOURCE LOCALIZATION LOG https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Odor-Source-Localization-Log.php that helps record what's going on in a building in hope that that becomes diagnostic. Like noticing that there is an odor at a window only when the sun is shining on that side of the building (offgassing from plastic siding or window screens perhaps).

When there is an odor that's traced to a specific room, what we do next depends on the room and the how we characterize the smell as well as what's going on in the building.

E.g. if the smell gets worse when heat is running that can point to a contaminant in the forced air heating system or offgassing from surfaces that are getting hot by any heating system.

In an area of plumbing (kitchen or bath for example) and where people think it's a sewer gas or septic smell we focus on finding dry plumbing traps, bad vent piping, leaks, loose toilets etc. - so we focus on the plumbing system
and
if there have been leaks we might look for hidden mold, too.

Having a general opinion about the type of smell is diagnostic.

In your home if the smell is plastic or chemical I might look at pints, coatings, vinyl wallpapers (yes some paint solvents may dissolve or soften vinyl).

If the smell takes you in that direction, and if simply sniffing close to a suspected surface doesn't give a strong clue, then yes, the smell patch test that we describe can be helpful. It's also so very inexpensive that you can test multiple surfaces, but don't try to smell them one immediately after another as the smell-person's sense of smell by one test can foul up another one unless there's a rest period of 15 minutes between trials.

If the odor isn't "mold-like" it's probably not mold as most people can recognize a "moldy" odor. (There are some funny exceptions like molds that smell like sweaty gym socks.)

SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE may make sense for the case you describe, but before just taping down foil-covered paper towels all over the house I'd try to localize the odor to a room or rooms where it's strongest.

Sorry I'm not available for onsite work. After decades of field investigation and forensic lab work, with exception of a few pro-bono or research assignments, I have retired from field work and also from forensic laboratory analysis work to concentrate full time on pure research and writing for InspectApedia.com.

InspectAPedia.com provides building and environmental diagnostic and repair information. In order to absolutely assure our readers that we write and report without bias we do not sell any products nor do we have any business or financial relationships that could create such conflicts of interest.

How do I find the source of leaks of neighbor's cigarette smoke into my condominium?

Bought a 1800 sq condo, and the neighbors attached to unit smoke. It is coming into condo, but where and how, not sure. Very strong at night. Had two Hvac people out that can not find the location. Need help - On 2020-10-29 by Cindy -

Reply by (mod) -

It sounds like you need an experienced building inspector who can do some air leakage testing as well as make a thorough visual inspection of your condo.

My mobile home smells like a dead animal

I’ve purchased a 1978 mobile home that has never been painted so has the original dark wood paneling + bathroom wallpaper. I’ve started the painting process, but have noticed an undeniable Odor but no one can seem to determine where it’s coming from. There was once several roof leaks, now patched, fix underway, but no known mold anywhere.

The vents and area underside have been checked out, & though there are “signs” of animal activity, no DEAD Animal was found. That’s the smell - like something’s died. I read about the “paper” & “foil” test, but didn’t see the details.

And I haven’t been able to find anyone to hire to help me solve this problem! Can you please detail any tests to me, or suggest ANYTHING that might help. Thank you. -On 2020-01-07 by Diane C. -

Reply by (mod) -

SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE - describes exactly what to do.

That procedure is for finding out which material or surface (like carpet or furniture) is an odor source.

It can't address figuring out which duct has a dead squirrel or whether or not mice have invaded the belly wrap insulation of the home. For those I'd make a very thorough visual inspection for indicators that an animal has got into the home somewhere (ceiling, walls, floor, ducts).

And see

ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in BUILDINGS 

for some suggestions.

I've been trying to get rid of dog and cat smells for two years

Ok I had a dog and cat, I've been trying to remove the smell for 2 years, new furniture new rugs painted floors with odor canceling paint before though and still the smell lingers much fainter now but still bad after a weekend away with no circulation but now i can't exactly pinpoint the source is there anyone who does that with some equipment thats much more sensitive than human noses. - On 2019-10-03 by stephen

Reply by (mod) - persistent dog and cat smells

Stephen

I'm doubtful that there is equipment that can detect low levels of animal odor and point to its source but there is a low-tech procedure that often works well. (Yes you'll need to use a helper who has superior sense of smell)

You might want to go to some of the larger surface areas such as ceilings or walls and go through the

SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Smell_Patch_Test.php

Also take a look at

- the indoor relative humidity level (is it over 50%?)

- the fresh air ventilation for the building

On 2019-10-01 by Anonymous I want help tracking down varying odors that are occurring in various parts of building,

Re-posting from private email:

In discussing tracking down varying odors that are occurring in various parts of building,

Anonymous wrote:

I've read so much on your website, but am still unable to resolve the odor issue im my apartment. I thank you for putting together such an extensive resource. You have done a lot of work, and I truly appreciate it.

I have an odor issue in the apartment I'm renting and the landlord's maintenance man and me are so far unable to pinpoint it.

I am desperately hoping that you can help us determine what it might be before I have to move out. Here are as many details and observations as I can recall:

- Sometimes I smell a slightly sweet/syrupy odor. It is only in the living room and dining/kitchen areas, which are connected and in the middle of the unit (which is an upper level with an attic above and another resident below).

- At other times I smell a slightly garbagy/trashy odor which is most strong in the rear stairwell which leads from the dining/kitchen area to the garage. The odor is definitely strongest in that rear stairwell, but I'm unsure if the odor originates there or just happens to collect there due to air flow.

- The odor is present with windows closed or open, although less strong with open windows.

- The odor tends to disappear if I run the hvac fan, but it is still present when I run the air conditioning.

- The AC unit was inspected and was told it is not leaking coolant or carbon monoxide.

- If I spend any time at all in the odor areas (kitchen, dining and living room), I will begin to have significant allergic reactions: itchy skin, itchy eyes, a light headache and after a while fatigue.

- I just moved into this place 2 weeks ago and the odor has been there since the first day. My old place never had this odor and I did not bring in any new furniture other than a new mattress to this apartment. The mattress smells fine. And the bedroom does not have this odor and I do not have allergy symptoms in the bedroom.

- The ceiling of the spare bedroom has a brown circular ring on it about the size of a basketball, as if something may have leaked, and a rectanglular line on the ceiling which looks like it was cut into at one time and re-drywalled.

- The maintenance man has been in the attic and inspected it. He found no signs of leaks or animals and tightened down a couple loose ducts. However, due to vaulted cieleings and low clearance, he could not inspect the entire attic.

- I am highly allergic to cats, but management assured me that there's never been a pet in my apartment. I am somewhat mildly allergic to short/wire-haired dogs. The people below me have two pugs.

- The building was built in 2012. Has carpet in living and bedrooms. The carpet is a couple years old. The unit has fake wood in dining and kitchen floors. The fake wood was original and installed in 2012.

- The garage also has an odor. It smells kind of like soap, but might be related to the odor in the apartment as the stairwell connecting the garage and unit always has the strongest odor presence. The maintenance man said he did wash the garage out with Fabulouso cleaner before I moved in.

- The fridge doesn't appear to be leaking coolant. It stays very cold and doesn't run that much. Same with the freezer.

- I notice that the place is a bit more humid than other places I've lived. The master bedroom is the farthest away from the Hvac unit, and is about 3 or 4 degrees warmer than the other bedroom that is closer to the AC unit. Also, the master bedroom struggles to get under 60% humidity on humid days when the AC is set to 70 degrees and all windows are closed.

- I am allergic to dust mites and cockroaches (allergist tested). But this place is much less dusty than my previous place. And I've placed about 10 sticky insect traps all around the unit and have only caught two spiders and an earwig.

- Before moving in, the carpets were steam cleaned and the entire place was repainted. Upon a good sniff, the carpet (including the carpet in the rear stairwell) smells like that soapy odor in the garage. Could it be soap residue from carpet cleaning that wasn't picked up completely on the stairs in the rear stairwell?

- When I come home and park in the garage, I immediately notice an odor. Something soapy or fragrant but not unpleasant. I then enter the stairwell from the garage and notice a similar odor there too. Once I go up the stairs to the kitchen/dining area, I don't smell anything unusual at first.

But after I go to another room for a while (or take a shower) where there's no weird odor and come back to the kitchen/dining area and rear stairwell, I notice the odor immediately. I think I can quickly become desensitized to the odor when I'm in it for a little bit.

- While inspecting the attic, the maintenance man noticed that the air vent at the top of the stairwell connecting the garage and kitchen/dining area had been worked on. He said there was all kinds of foam sprayed around that duct sealing it. He doesn't know why there was work on it before.

The air coming out of that vent doesn't seem to smell different from the air coming out of other vents, which smells clean.

- Other people have noticed the odor.

These are as many details as I can recall. I will tremendously appreciate any help or guidance you can provide. My next step is probably to move again!

Two more observations to add:

1) The attic has been inspected again. Two times total recently, and there is no sign of water damage or mold or animal infestation.

2) It has been brought to my attention that the lady who lives in the unit below me may be using several plug-in air fresheners.

Moderator reply:

Comments on use of odor air fresheners and air freshener scents migrating between adjoining building areas, apartments, attached homes:

In general "air fresheners" simply emit a cover-up odor. And using several of them of different odor types might indeed send scents into your living area, particularly depending on the building type, age, construction, air leakiness, and the physical juxtaposition of your space to the neighbour's space and principally on the direction and volume of air movement between those areas.

It's possible that such air movement varies considerably depending on factors such as

- wind conditions

- sun exposure

- indoor and outdoor humidity

- use of exhaust fans, air conditioners, forced air heating and cooling equipment

- opening/closing windows & doors

Sometimes using an ODOR EVENT LOG & CHECKLIST FORM https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Odor-Source-Localization-Log.php

can give added clues that point to the odor source by noting the surrounding condtions.

You also might experiment by asking if your neighbour will give up her odor emitters for a time as you're apparently quit sensitive to those airborne chemicals.

On 2019-05-20 by Colleen - can building renovations release previously trapped smoking smells?

Also, could the renovations have released smells trapped from when the place was a restaurant back when smoking was allowed? What can I check, clean, seal off in my place to prevent smoke from going upstairs?

I am not a heavy smoker and my apartment does not reek of smoke. The previous tenants moved out in January and the heat was probably off or at minimum. Wondering if that caused an updraft? I have electric baseboard heat so no vents are shared. Recently they did blow in insulation upstairs.

What could have changed? My landlord is furious and I am spending money I don't have to eliminate odor in my place. How can upstairs smell that bad? Help!!

I live in an apartment that was a restaurant before being converted into multiple apartments. In the ten yrs living here never had a complaint about cigarette smoke smell going into upstairs apartment. Landlord is now renovating it and claims smoke smell is intolerable. I have used vinegar to clean, washed curtains and got air purifier. Can the renovations have caused this problem? What to check/do to resolve issue?

Reply by (mod) -

I think you're saying that you're a smoker. It's certainly the case that people who smoke tend to become desensitized to the smell of the smoke so you can expect others to be more sensitive than you. You may be able to improve matters using fresh air ventilation and an exhaust fan.

But yes, renovations, if they disturbed materials such as drywall or insulation that had been permeated by cigarette smoking smells, odors, and tars, can cause those to become more noticeable in a building.

My study smells like an OXO Cube

Hello, I have a study with a computer, ottoman full of photos and some ornaments at the front of the house.

It constantly smells of an 'oxo' cube, or bovril type smell, despite defuses, calling out Thames Water to clear any drains (although it does not smell like sewage), airing by opening windows.

The rest of the house is 'smell free'. Is there any service we could book to come round and help us please. I have sniffed everywhere and cannot find this smell - feeling really upset at mo as rest of house is spotless. Thank you - On 2019-04-01 by jane usher-horder -

Reply by (mod) - 'oxo' cube, or bovril type smell,

Jane

To protect reader confidence we at InspectApedia.com do not sell ANY product nor service.

But it would make sense to get a local plumber to take a look at your drain and vent system to see that the venting is correctly installed, that there are no leaks, and if necessary, to install a check valve or backwater valve.

Is it possible that there are sewer line vents that run in walls near your study - one may be damged or poorly-connected or leaking sewer gases into the wall.

Watch out: at some concentrations sewer gases can explode.

Can you help my client get rid of smells and allergens in her home?

My client been getting all kinds of different smells in her house and making her very ill . She suffers from allergies and asthma and would really like to gets some test done to find out what this could be. Is this something you can do ?

Moderator reply

After decades of field investigation and forensic lab work, with exception of a few pro-bono or research assignments, I have retired from field work and also from forensic laboratory analysis work to concentrate full time on pure research and writing for InspectApedia.com.

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Finally, given the report of a great variety of smells or odors in the home it would make sense for your client to begin her investigation with her doctor.

In my OPINION she should ask the doctor if there is a medical or diagnostic significance to her report of a range of odor complaints, as well as asking the role of building odors or possibly other contaminants in her illnesses and health concerns. That discussion can sometimes help point an investigator in the direction of the most-significant possible indoor air quality issues for the specific individual.

Watch out: beware of simply ordering a "test". There is NO comprehensive odor screening test that can possibly cover all or even most potential building odor sources or other contaminants.

Worse, even if such a "test" (and they are very expensive) identifies specific chemical compounds you are not one iota closer to finding and solving the problem, because such a test result is diagnostic but not prescriptive.

Your client will have to hire someone all over again to do what was really needed: a very thorough inspection that includes a client interview, case history, building history of leaks, sprays, treatments, spills, paints, chemicals, contents, events that could relate to odor or IAQ or environmental problems, and a thorough visual inspection by someone competent to recognize possible problem sources, both visible or potentially hidden in building cavities or materials.

Conservatory is smelling like plastic when the sun shines on it

Hi our conservatory is smelling like plastic when the sun shines on it.

The conservatory is quite old 10yrs + but a couple of years ago we had the roof insulated with a wooden frame, insulation and plastic panels with spot lights.

I’m not sure if the issue is with the panels on the outside or the insulated roof but I am concerned about my family’s health. - On 2018-07-01 by Sally -

Reply by (mod) -

Sally

Sun-related odors is a helpful diagnositc: it's likely that the odor source (such as vinyl siding, plastic window screens, vinyl windows) is being warmed by the sun.

...

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 SIX STEPS FAQs - questions and answers about a quick and easy odor track down procedure posted originally at this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE - home
  • CHEMICAL ODOR SOURCES
  • ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK
  • 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
  • ODOR REMOVING DETERGENTS
  • ODOR SENSITIVITIY VARIES by PERSON
  • ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES
  • PLASTIC or VINYL ODOR EXPOSURE
  • SMELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE
  • VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
  • VINYL SIDING or WINDOW PLASTIC ODORS
  • VOCs VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Suggested citation for this web page

ODOR DIAGNOSIS SIX STEPS 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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