Who to call for chemical smell in house

Whether you own your home or rent, you probably have some firmly held ideas about how you like your space to look and feel. However, if you're not paying attention to how your home smells, you could be putting your health and safety at risk. Read on to discover the odor in your home that could tip you off to a serious problem—and why it's a sign you should evacuate immediately, according to experts.

Table of Contents Show

Burning Dust
Electrical Odors
Rotten Eggs
Oily Smells
Chemical Smells

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If you notice the scent of rotten eggs wafting throughout your home, but there's no sign of a carton past its expiration date in your fridge or trash, it's time to clear out of your house immediately. This scent can be an indication of a natural gas leak that could put you at risk of serious injury or death, says Lee Devlin, managing director at Homecure Plumbers, a London-based gas, water, and heating maintenance and repair company.

"This may result in the onset of serious health symptoms such as sickness, nausea, and suffocation," Devlin explains. If you notice this scent, leave the house and bring anyone else who lives there, including pets, with you. However, since natural gas can easily ignite, natural gas company Peoples cautions against smoking, turning on electrical switches, opening windows or garage doors, or using a phone inside, as these may provide a potential ignition source or cause the leak to spread.

However, if your gas has been checked and you still smell sulfur, there could be another danger in your home—albeit a less pressing one. "If your drinking water has an unusual taste, sulfur-like smell, and/or cloudy appearance then there is a fair chance that it has been contaminated," explains Devlin.

This could be the result of decaying material in a well, sulfur bacteria, pollution, or a chemical reaction within your pipes or water tank. "The consumption of such water could cause a variety of health issues, including diarrhea, vomiting, and respiratory difficulties," says Devlin.

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That ammonia smell in your home might be the result of something far more serious than some spilled cleaning products.

"A sewer gas leak will involve the release of decaying waste and exposure to gases such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane," explains Devlin. If you remain in a space with a sewer gas leak, you may symptoms ranging from headaches to asphyxiation, Devlin cautions.

If you notice methane or ammonia smells in your home and have noticed either foundation cracks or plumbing problems at the same time, leave the space immediately and call a plumber.

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If you notice a sweet, slightly chemical odor in your home, it's time to call in an expert. While freon, a type of coolant used in air conditioners and refrigerators, is odorless, when it leaks it can create a sweet smell with an odor resembling chloroform, or an oily odor when it mixes with refrigerant oil, according to the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.

Devlin notes that even if you don't smell anything strange, a hissing noise coming from your fridge or AC can tip you off to the problem. "The continuous inhalation of freon is likely to result in nausea, headaches, and other health symptoms. Those with a history of heart issues will be at particular risk," he explains.

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If you don't notice any particular odor, but start feeling sudden dizziness, nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, or blurred vision, leave your home immediately, as this may be a sign of a carbon monoxide leak.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be the result of a malfunctioning appliance, blocked fireplace chimney or flue, a venting failure, or running fuel-burning power tools, vehicles, or generators in your home, says Marla Mock, VP of operations at Aire Serv, a Neighborly company. Carbon monoxide poisoning can quickly result in unconsciousness and death, so it's important to leave your home immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.

"A carbon monoxide detector is truly the only way to know carbon monoxide is in the home. It is impossible to identify carbon monoxide without the help of a device," says Mock.

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February 25, 2019

By One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Baton Rouge

Keeping your HVAC system up and running is critical if you want to keep your Baton Rouge, LA home at a comfortable temperature. Sometimes your HVAC system will let you know there is something wrong or a breakdown is about to occur by the smells that it emits. If you notice any of the seven smells below coming from your HVAC system, it is important to call your HVAC technician immediately.

Burning Dust

Burning dust is a common smell that can come from your HVAC system, especially if it is the first time that you are starting it up for the year. If you notice the smell of burning dust after starting your system, odds are that it is dust buildup burning off of your heat exchanger and you don’t need to worry. However, if the smell persists after running the system for a while, it could be a signal of other complications that need to be addressed.

Electrical Odors

Electrical odors coming from your HVAC system can occur for a number of reasons. It could be a sign that there is bad wiring somewhere in the system that needs to be addressed by an electrician, or it could be a sign of a more complicated problem such as your motor beginning to burn out. Any electrical smell should be addressed by a professional to prevent your system from breaking down and to reduce your risk of fire.

Rotten Eggs

One of the most nefarious signs that there is a major problem with your system is when you detect the odor of rotten eggs. The gas company puts an additive into your gas so that this smell will be noticeable when there is a leak in your home. If you detect this smell in your home, shut down your system, open up the windows, and go to a safe place outside of the home to call for help.

Oily Smells

Another smell to watch out for from your HVAC system is an oily smell. These smells can have multiple causes, some of which are minor concerns and others which can be a sign of a major problem. No matter the case, these problems should be addressed immediately to prevent further damage. The most common cause of oily smells is an oil leak, which usually requires some tightening of valves. The smell could also mean a clogged burner which can result in a dangerous situation if not fixed.

Acetone

The smell of acetone, similar to that of strong nail polish remover, can come from your air conditioner, ductless mini-split system, or heat pump when there is a leak in the refrigerant. A refrigerant leak is often accompanied by reduced temperature control and should always be handled by a professional to ensure proper disposal.

Decay

In cooler weather you’re not the only one trying to warm up; pests and rodents are also looking to escape the cold. Sometimes these unwanted visitors will end up making their way into your ducts or other parts of your HVAC system trying to seek warmth. Not only can their leavings ruin the quality of air in your home, but if they die in your HVAC system, you can be greeted with the putrid odor of decay coming from your vents. If you smell this, it is best to have your system checked and the pest removed. Your HVAC technician will be able to check the system to make sure they did not cause damage to any of the components.

Chemical Smells

Any type of chemical smell coming from your HVAC system should be investigated. A cracked heat exchanger can emit a smell of formaldehyde and is a serious issue. The heat exchanger is the part of your furnace that will transfer the heat from the combustion chamber. If this part becomes cracked or damaged, it can release dangerous carbon monoxide fumes into the air that can circulate through your HVAC ductwork and out into the air in your home. This can result in a chemical smell throughout your home. If you detect this smell, shut off your system and contact your HVAC technician immediately.

If you notice any of the smells above coming from your HVAC system, don’t let a small problem turn into a large one that can cause damage to your system. Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Baton Rouge at (225) 320-4162 today.