Your home can have a symphony of smells throughout it. Often, you’ll catch a whiff of something when you first enter the house from outdoors. Maybe it’s the baked salmon you made the night before, in which case, just get some fresh air circulating by opening a window. Or perhaps it’s time to take out the trash, or your garbage disposal may need cleaning. While most of the unappealing smells that pop up in your home may be easy to find the source and eradicate, some could be a tip-off of something much more serious.
Foul Odors That May Indicate Danger
Bad smells that stick around and worsen over time could be a sign that something’s wrong. Here are some house smells that, if they persist for several days, could point to potential hazards that won’t just dissipate on their own.
Musty smell
If you’ve ruled out dirty laundry as the culprit and there is still a mustiness lingering in your home, the reason could be mold or mildew. Unfortunately, mold is more than smelly. It can lead to health problems, ranging from allergic reactions to asthma attacks.
Mold issues could arise in many places wherever there is dampness including in your attic, basement, laundry room, carpets, walls, or HVAC system. Deep cleaning and subsequent prevention can help eliminate mold and the musty smell it causes. Remember that certain mold types, specifically black mold, are toxic and must be removed by experts. If you’ve recently had water damage or a serious roof leak, you’ll need professional mold remediation.
Rotten eggs
So, you’ve checked your refrigerator for expired eggs, and that doesn’t seem to be the issue. The source is likely not food. The rotten egg odor you may be smelling could be due to a natural gas leak in your home.
While natural gas is technically odorless, gas companies add mercaptan to the gas to give off a sulphur smell in the case of a leak so that it will easily be detectible for safety reasons. Because if there is one spark that occurs during a natural gas leak, it can cause a fire or even an explosion. Therefore, if you smell a sulphur-like odor in your home, you should immediately evacuate until a gas company checks and ensures the home is safe for reentering.
Unfortunately, there is no natural gas detector. The best way to protect yourself from this dangerous gas is to make sure to completely turn off stoves and other appliances that use gas when not in use. Also, it is a good idea to get your pipelines checked regularly by a professional to ensure that your gas stove, furnace, dryer, and other gas-operated items aren’t leaking.
Sewage
This unbearable stench could arise from a plumbing issue related to your toilet or the pipes designed to carry dirty water out of your home. Sometimes, you can correct this issue by running water down the shower or sink drain to ensure the p-trap has water. This bad smell is more common in bathrooms that don’t get much usage.
The funk could also be caused from a clogged drain in a sink or bathtub. Try using a drain cleaner to release it. And if you have a septic tank, it could be a sign that it’s full. If there are major plumbing problems, such as an issue with a damaged toilet seal or a vent pipe leaking sewer gas into the house, it’s best to call a professional plumber. Sewer gas can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness, so hire a professional to resolve this issue quickly to minimize harm to your family and pets.
Electrical burning
Do you smell something like burning rubber or plastic whenever you turn on your lights or run an appliance or other electronics? This could signify that there may be a problem with the electrical wiring that needs to be addressed quickly before it triggers a fire or electrocution. It’s a good idea to turn off the circuit breaker and call an electrician to help discover the source.
In some cases, it may be faulty wiring behind a wall, frayed or loose wires, or a number of other issues with sockets, wiring, fixtures, or the electrical system. The cause could also be an overloaded circuit, which can be common in older houses with outdated wiring. In other cases, it could be an aging appliance that needs to be repaired or replaced. Make sure to inspect all your electrical cords and outlets for damage and replace, if needed.
Remember that if you smell an odor like this from your dryer, it could be due to lint trapped in your lint filter or the dryer vent. Cleaning these regularly can help reduce the smell and prevent a fire.
Fishy smell
If you haven’t recently cooked fish or seafood, the source of a fishy smell could be an appliance overheating and melting the surrounding plastic or rubber, causing this odor. Try to identify the source by sniffing various appliances, such as an air conditioner, dryer, or dishwasher. Once you’ve ID’d what is causing the problem, unplug the appliance and get it repaired or replaced as soon as possible. The odor may also be coming from a wall switch or outlet. If that’s the case, switch off the circuit breaker and call an electrician.
Smoke
Where there is smoke, there is the potential of fire. As mentioned, electrical problems could cause burning smells and even give off smoke. Aside from this, if you notice smoke coming from your oven, it could be because it needs to be cleaned or there is grease or food dripping that is burning.
Often homeowners note a burning smell the first time they turn on the heat for the season, which is just the odor of burning dust, which is harmless and will go away. However, if the odor persists, that could be a sign that the furnace filter needs to be replaced or there’s a bigger issue with the furnace. Try to pinpoint the source of the smoke and call a professional to address the issue immediately.
Another consideration to note: While fireplaces are known for their smoky scent, if the smokiness coming from the fireplace is more intense than usual, it could be due to a buildup of creosote, which could cause a chimney fire. Before continuing to use your fireplace, it is wise to get a chimney inspection and have a certified chimney sweep clear out dirt, ash, and other debris.
Dead animal smell
Do you notice an overpowering foul odor that smells like roadkill but can’t figure out why? Likely an animal entered your home and died, probably in a place that you don’t frequent. Birds, bats, squirrels, raccoons, and mice have been known to get into attics, crawlspaces, basements, and even can get trapped inside walls. Some decaying animals may also produce a strong ammonia-like odor.
Whether you’re smelling decomposition or ammonia, a pest control expert can scope out the problem, remove the dead body, clean and seal up any areas where critters can get into your home to prevent this from happening in the future.
Chemicals
Have you recently painted a room in your home? The house could have an odor that lingers for days or weeks after you’ve painted. These odors are caused by the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leaving a strong smell in your home long after you’ve painted. In some cases, certain new composite-wood furniture or cabinets, rugs, vinyl flooring, and upholstered or foam products can produce off-gassing, too.
Unfortunately, VOCs can be very dangerous for the indoor air quality in your home, triggering allergies, asthma, eye irritation, dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Ideally, you should purchase eco-friendly paint and other household products with low VOCs to minimize the lingering odor from these products. With furnishings that have a strong VOC odor, it’s ideal to set it outside to air out before bringing the items into the house or keep the home well-ventilated until the odor dissipates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common places to check if I detect a strange house odor?
Keep in mind that not all house smells may be dangerous, but getting to the root of odors and eliminating them by cleaning and disinfecting them can put your mind at ease. If you smell something weird in your house, give these areas a sniff to determine if they are the culprit:
- Drains
- Toilets
- Showers
- Garbage disposal
- Dishwasher
- Washer and dryer
- Refrigerators
- Trash cans
- Heater vents
- Sump pumps
- Garage
- Laundry room
- Basement
- Crawlspaces
Can I minimize odors associated with electricity until an electrician arrives?
Yes. Avoid using the appliance or lights that could be causing the smell since the burning could lead to a fire. Also, to be extra cautious, you can cut off the breaker to that area of the house.
