What is that smell?

**Curtis Hopper** · 06-06-2010, 09:17 PM

Last week I had two different inspections that involve strange smells. There is a smell of fish in an empty laundry room. No window, no sink, only a standpipe drain and a small drain to the drain pan.
The other house had a roof leak last November. They repaired the roof, but now there is a burnt rubber smell in the wall.

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**Bruce Breedlove** · 06-07-2010, 11:19 AM

Regarding the first house (with the smell in the laundry room) could the water in the traps have evaporated allowing sewer gasses to enter the house?

**Curtis Hopper** · 06-07-2010, 08:50 PM

The house has been vacant. That would most likely explain the fishy or anarobic bacterial smell. Thanks Bruce.

**wayne soper** · 06-08-2010, 05:26 AM

Smells like teen spirit

**John Kogel** · 06-09-2010, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by wayne soper

Smells like teen spirit.

That's funny,

But burning rubber smell could be a wire that is damaged and arcing. That is scary.

mathew stouffer · 06-09-2010, 07:15 PM

Burnt rubber, check the carpet.

**John Kogel** · 06-09-2010, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by mathew stouffer

Burnt rubber, check the carpet.

"They repaired the roof, but now there is a burnt rubber smell in the wall."

Ah..yep. Well, maybe a rat installed some carpeting in the wall?

Sounds like the rat pad has electric heat to me.

Philip · 06-09-2010, 08:17 PM

Subjective judgements are hilarious. When did sewer gas begin to smell like fish? (I know there is a hundred replies to that including God who asked Adan how he was supposed to get that smell off of the fish). John, if sewer gas smells like fish to you, then I am not sure you are smelling burnt rubber in the wall. And in the wall? How did you determine the odor was emanating from there?.

**Curtis Hopper** · 06-10-2010, 07:54 AM

Turns out the burnt rubber smell is coming from the furnace.
As to the smell in the other house's laundry room; yes sewer gas that does not get any oxygen can have either a musty dirt smell or other including "fishy" smell. I'm still wainting to hear back from the buyers to see if putting water back in the drain trap will help. They don't own the house yet. Please stand by.