By nature, houses have tons of smells. Smell from pets you are raising, smell from the laundry detergent you use, smell from vegetables and herbs you grow… etc. Every house and family has a signature smell. These are common, and we “accept” them in our daily life.
Of course, when something produces unusual smells, we are bound to notice it. For instance, the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven will always grab your attention.
But there are house smells that are not good at all. These suggest something is seriously wrong around the house. And you should never ignore them. If you have small kids and pets, this is a must. Just keep you and people around you safe!
1. Gassy Smell
Gassy smell comes first in here. Technically, gas has no smell, but additives are put in it to give it a skunk-like odor. This enables you to smell it if there’s a leak.
If you smell gas, make sure that that your stove isn’t leaking and, whatever you’re doing, don’t light a match! Immediately call your gas company and emergency services.
2. New Paint Smell
I just hate new paint smell. It’s unexpectedly pleasant at all. All you should do is NOT to sniff it.
According to How Stuff Works, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in paint are released as it dries and create hazardous chemicals to breathe.
Most paints these days contain safe levels of VOCs, but it’s something worth noting when purchasing paint.
3. Rotten Egg Smell
The smell of sulfur and rotten eggs is so infamously unpleasant that it’s practically synonymous with bad odor.
According to Hunker, this smell could indicate something wrong is happening around your home. First, it could suggest that your garbage disposal or sewage pipes are backed up and releasing a rotten odor.
It could also mean that a buildup of sewer gas in your plumbing system.
People who have sump pumps on site should be particularly alert to this, because the last thing you want is seepage or leaking into your own water supply.
4. Cigarettes
A cigarette smell may mean that you or your neighbor is a smoker, but what if there aren’t any cigarettes that you know of around?
According to the Mayo Clinic, it may be third-hand smoke, or the cigarette smell that can last for years after a smoker has left the premises.
Tobacco residue gets stuck on surfaces and in carpets. It can become activated at random times. All it takes is to deep-clean your carpet to get rid of this smell, and to prevent any impact on your health.
5. Musty Smell
The musty smell probably makes you think about mothballs. However, if it’s coming from your kitchen, bathroom, or basement, you may have a serious problem on your hands.
You should check whether or not you aren’t suffering from a plumbing leak from your kitchen sink.
Quick and Dirty Tips suggests turning off your water supply while you take care of the problem and letting your under sink storage dry.
If you detect mold anywhere, particularly black mold, call in a professional for removal.
6. Smoky, Burning Smell
We all fall in love with smoky, burning smell coming from your fireplace at dinner time. But otherwise, it’s something to be worried about.
If you don’t have an obvious fire, it might be happening out of sight in your walls or an appliance.
Kolb Electric suggest you check your outlets to see if any are sparking. You may notice this when plugging something in, or you may notice burn marks around the outlet.
This is an indication that the wiring needs a repair and that you should call your electrician.
7. Bathroom Odor
You and I, and all of us do not want anywhere in their home to smell like sewage.
As such, if your bathroom odor seems a little too pungent, consider calling your plumber right away.
According to How Stuff Works, the smell can be a sign of sewage backup in your plumbing system.
Other than smelling bad, it can also be dangerous due to the buildup of highly flammable methane.
8. Stinky Dog (Especially If You Don’t Have A Dog)
If you are raising a dog, you will have probably even learned to love all of their smells.
But the dog smell gets especially bad is the different thing. And your dog is well-bathed, then it could be something else.
It’s worth noting that a stinky dog or slight rotting meat smell is probably coming from rodents or other small animals dying in your walls. Search for and remove it right.