Roger Kautz
07-01-2008, 01:50 PM
Client from 18 months ago called to see if I could help find someone who could identify and fix a bad smell in the house. House is 18 years old and seemed in good shape. He characterizes the smell as "acid metallic" and says it is year round but stronger in summer. They notice it in the basement and one second floor bedroom. He said it is not a sewer smell nor a sulfur smell. It does not seem to be linked to the water system or heating system. He has had a plumber and HVAC person there to look (smell) around. He has cleaned the heat ducts, the floor drain, the sump, the sanitary sump, and the basement surfaces. (I believe the regular sump is not sealed.) I might have thought aldehydes, like from some heating systems, but would have thought the HVAC visit would have ruled that out.
There is a well, which he will chlorinate this week, but he says the odor does not seem to originate from the water system.
My report at the time indicated that the house seemed to have excess moisture - I had a note saying it should not need a humidifier in winter in our climate. He said they use two humidifiers ( he did not tell me what prompts them to believe they need them), but the basement has no seepage and the sump pump runs no more than once a day, even with our heavy rains.
I plan to go over there and smell for myself, but wondered what ideas folks might have as to what to look for.
For lack of better idea now, I gave him a lead to one of our Wisconsin IAQ friends.
There is a well, which he will chlorinate this week, but he says the odor does not seem to originate from the water system.
My report at the time indicated that the house seemed to have excess moisture - I had a note saying it should not need a humidifier in winter in our climate. He said they use two humidifiers ( he did not tell me what prompts them to believe they need them), but the basement has no seepage and the sump pump runs no more than once a day, even with our heavy rains.
I plan to go over there and smell for myself, but wondered what ideas folks might have as to what to look for.
For lack of better idea now, I gave him a lead to one of our Wisconsin IAQ friends.