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  1. #1

    Exclamation What is that smell?

    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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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts
    1,217

    Default Re: What is that smell?

    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?

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  3. #3

    Lightbulb Re: What is that smell?

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


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Connecticut
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    Default Re: What is that smell?

    Smells like teen spirit


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Southern Vancouver Island
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    Default Re: What is that smell?

    Quote Originally Posted by wayne soper View Post
    Smells like teen spirit.
    That's funny,

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

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  6. #6
    mathew stouffer's Avatar
    mathew stouffer Guest

    Default Re: What is that smell?

    Burnt rubber, check the carpet.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Southern Vancouver Island
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    Default Re: What is that smell?

    Quote Originally Posted by mathew stouffer View Post
    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.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  8. #8
    Philip's Avatar
    Philip Guest

    Question Re: What is that smell?

    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?.


  9. #9

    Red face Re: What is that smell?

    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.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
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    Default Re: What is that smell?

    "Do you smell gas? The last time we were here, we thought we smelled gas..."

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    Michael Thomas
    Paragon Property Services Inc., Chicago IL
    http://paragoninspects.com

  11. #11

    Default Re: What is that smell?

    No smell of gas at the home here in Sacramento.


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