odors: Articles tagged with “odors”

Q: I have a smell in my basement that is coming from the sump pump pit.

Q: I have a two-year-old two-storey home. My master bath has a dual vanity and there is a sewer gas odor coming from one of the sinks. I checked under the sink and there is a trap so water should block the gas odor.

My concern is a high repair bill if my builder says it is out of the one-year warranty. Any suggestions?

Q: In the last few days, a terrible odor has developed in our powder room. A neighbor suggested that maybe gases are leaking into the room from a pipe.

Q: We have a crawl space under our house with 100% coverage moisture barrier as recommended by an inspector. I recently had my annual termite inspection and was disappointed that there was no change in this condition. He said that the barrier was practically floating. With this problem, of course, there is fungus and mold not to mention the odor. I don't think it is plumbing related as I think my water bill would reflect this. They say there are many springs in this neighborhood. It is frustrating. We want to live here a long time. Who do I need to call to deal with this problem?

Q: Why does my house smell for several days after using the fireplace? The damper is always open, and the wood seems well seasoned and dry.

Q: How do I remove the odor of pet urine from my carpet? Some of the stains are old and I am constantly steam cleaning my carpets.

Pets are a treasured part of our lives. But what happens when they cause problems and odors in our homes?

Q. How does one remove pet odors (urine odor) from a brick floor in one's home?

When the weather turns colder, people keep their doors and windows closed and many homes develop a "shut-in" smell. The lack of fresh air going through the house allows odors from different sources to become more noticeable. Many things cause odors, so there are several ways to solve odor problems. Luckily, this also is also the best time of year to attack house odors at their sources and get rid of them once and for all.

The fireplace is a central meeting area in a home, a place for the warmth and friendship of old and a center piece for conversation. Even though they require very little maintenance, if problems do occur, there is help.

Refrigerator Temperature Settings

Temperature settings for refrigerator and freezer compartments are given arbitrary numbers for example (1 through 9, warmest to coldest) by manufacturers. Generally 37 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for the refrigerator compartment and 0 degrees F for the freezer. If you suspect a problem, test the temperatures with a refrigerator or outdoor thermometer.

Q: My basement is half dirt and half concrete, there was no ventilation down there and it had a strong, moldy dirt odor that could be smelled upstairs. I installed vents and the smell was reduced somewhat, but you can still smell the moldy dirt odor. What can I do to make it go away? Can I treat the dirt with something and cover it with plastic? What advice do you have?

Q: We had a roof leak that broke through the ceiling in the bedroom. We made the repairs but now we have this musty smell coming from the unfinished attic. Is there anything that can kill that smell?