It’s not hard to notice a new smell that has come into your home. Some new smells are pleasant, like coffee being brewed or bread being baked. Other smells we would rather avoid at home, like pet accidents or spilled milk. Some smells, good or bad, can be confusing if you don’t know they’re coming from.
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When you’re faced with a lingering, mysterious smell in your home, whether you think it might be Septic Tank Odor or spilled food that you’ve missed, what are your options? How do you know which smells are a cause for concern and which can be sorted out with a deep clean? Learn more about the cause of the unexplained smell in your home, and what you can do to get rid of it.
Could That Mysterious Smell Be Dangerous?
When you find a new, unexplained smell in your home, the first thing that you need to do it make sure that the smell is not going to cause immediate harm to your family. Some lingering odors could suggest some serious health hazards and should not be ignored. Maintaining your indoor air quality is important, and you should take care when dealing with certain household smells.
Signs Of A Gas Leak: Rotten Eggs Or Sulfur
If you notice a smell of rotten eggs or sulfur in your home, then it could mean that you have a gas leak, especially if you notice the smell in your kitchen or near appliances that use gas. This could just mean that a burner valve has been left slightly open, or that a pilot light is out. If this is the cause, this could be an easy problem to put right yourself.
However, if the source of the gas smell isn’t easy to find, or if you can hear the sound of escaping gas, the safest course of action is to leave your home immediately. Call your gas company from outside, using your mobile or the phone of a neighbor. Don’t try to turn off any electrical outlets or appliances. Don’t change your thermostat, use automated garage doors, smoke, or light matches.
Top Tip
Propane gas naturally has no smell. However, gas companies add in an element called mercaptan, which is what gives gas the distinctive smell. This is done to help to protect consumers by making a gas leak much easier to detect.
Signs Of An Electrical Fire: A Burning Or Fishy Smell
There are a few different reasons that you might be able to smell smoke in your home. If you can’t see a fire, remember that there could still be one behind your outlets or in the wall. When electrical wiring begins to overheat, it can produce a burning smell.
Check your outlets to see if any of your outlets are sparking. This is especially important if you notice that the smell is only present when you use a certain appliance or outlet. If the burning smell is strong and you can’t find the cause, the safest thing to do is to leave the house immediately and call 911 once your family is safely outside. Do not go back into the house until the fire department tells you it is safe to do so.
Top Tip
Some electrical components give off a fishy smell when they’re exposed to high temperatures. If you notice an unexplained fishy smell in your house, check your outlets and appliances, just as you would for a burning smell.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is odorless, but it is very, very dangerous. Room heaters, fireplaces, faulty automobile engines, and some stoves have the potential to create this dangerous gas. You might not notice symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning before they turn severe. These symptoms include:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Chest pain
Confusion
Severe carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to losing consciousness, and even death.
The best way to keep yourself and your family safe from carbon monoxide is to install a carbon monoxide detector in the house. These detectors are easy to buy at most hardware stores. You should have one installed on every floor of your home. Check them regularly to make sure they are working according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Other Lingering Smells
If you know the odor isn’t a sign of a dangerous problem, the next step is working out what is causing it.
For example, paint and carpet can both hold onto smells from past accidents or spills even after that have been cleaned. A deep clean or replacing your carpets can help, as can a fresh coat of paint.
