We all have to deal with the occasional bad or strange smell in the home, especially when we’ve been cooking, cleaning, or it’s been raining recently. However, while sometimes, simply cleaning up, propping open the windows, and spraying some air freshener might do the trick, sometimes, a smell can signal something else that’s wrong. Here, we’re going to look at five examples you should keep your nose out for.
Musty Smells
The leading cause of persistent musty smells in the home is hidden moisture problems, such as damp and mould. Even if you can’t see it, it might be growing behind walls, under carpets, or in other hidden spots. Over time, this can weaken wooden structures, damage plaster, and impact your air quality, posing a real risk to the health of the home. Airing out the room, cleaning, and spraying air freshener may help, but finding and eliminating the source of the damp, be it a leak or poor ventilation, will ensure it doesn’t come back just as easily.
Rotten Egg Smells
Rotten egg smells should signal the need for immediate action. It could be a sign of a natural gas leak, as utility companies intentionally add sulphur-like odours to this otherwise odourless gas specifically so that we’ll recognise it. If you smell this and there’s no obvious source (like sewer gas running up from your drains), you should leave the home and call a qualified gas-safe professional immediately.
Sewage Odours
Sewage odours coming up from your drains can also sometimes smell like rotten eggs. But just because it’s not gas doesn’t mean it’s not worth fixing. Sewage smells could suggest plumbing issues like blocked drains due to waste, grease, food, and other debris building up over time. These problems can lead to issues with wastewater, stressing out your pipes and leading to overflows. If chemical cleaners don’t solve the issue, you will likely need a professional to clear the blockage for you.
Burning Smells
Unless you’ve overcooked something (and turned off the cooker), a burning smell should never be ignored. Especially if it smells like scorched plastic or melting rubber. This is often due to electrical faults, resulting from aging wiring, overloaded sockets, or damaged appliances. If you suspect that’s the case, don’t try to fix it yourself; this requires professional attention. A qualified electrician can help you assess your risk and make any replacements or repairs that can prevent further faults or fires.
Smoky Smells
If you find a lingering smoky smell in the home, even if you don’t have a fire lit, then you might have an issue with your ventilation or chimney that could become a health hazard down the line. Blocked chimneys and damaged flues make it hard for smoke to escape, meaning that it, and the harmful gases that make it up, get trapped indoors. A blocked chimney is also a serious fire hazard, so it’s worth getting it inspected.
Not every new smell is going to be a cause for concern, but it’s typically a good idea to be able to identify the source, regardless of what it is, and to check out whether it might need a little closer attention.
We all have to deal with the occasional bad or strange smell in the home, especially when we’ve been cooking, cleaning, or it’s been raining recently. However, while sometimes, simply cleaning up, propping open the windows, and spraying some air freshener might do the trick, sometimes, a smell can signal something else that’s wrong. Here, we’re going to look at five examples you should keep your nose out for.
Musty Smells
The leading cause of persistent musty smells in the home is hidden moisture problems, such as damp and mould. Even if you can’t see it, it might be growing behind walls, under carpets, or in other hidden spots. Over time, this can weaken wooden structures, damage plaster, and impact your air quality, posing a real risk to the health of the home. Airing out the room, cleaning, and spraying air freshener may help, but finding and eliminating the source of the damp, be it a leak or poor ventilation, will ensure it doesn’t come back just as easily.
Rotten Egg Smells
Rotten egg smells should signal the need for immediate action. It could be a sign of a natural gas leak, as utility companies intentionally add sulphur-like odours to this otherwise odourless gas specifically so that we’ll recognise it. If you smell this and there’s no obvious source (like sewer gas running up from your drains), you should leave the home and call a qualified gas-safe professional immediately.
Sewage Odours
Sewage odours coming up from your drains can also sometimes smell like rotten eggs. But just because it’s not gas doesn’t mean it’s not worth fixing. Sewage smells could suggest plumbing issues like blocked drains due to waste, grease, food, and other debris building up over time. These problems can lead to issues with wastewater, stressing out your pipes and leading to overflows. If chemical cleaners don’t solve the issue, you will likely need a professional to clear the blockage for you.
Burning Smells
Unless you’ve overcooked something (and turned off the cooker), a burning smell should never be ignored. Especially if it smells like scorched plastic or melting rubber. This is often due to electrical faults, resulting from aging wiring, overloaded sockets, or damaged appliances. If you suspect that’s the case, don’t try to fix it yourself; this requires professional attention. A qualified electrician can help you assess your risk and make any replacements or repairs that can prevent further faults or fires.
Smoky Smells
If you find a lingering smoky smell in the home, even if you don’t have a fire lit, then you might have an issue with your ventilation or chimney that could become a health hazard down the line. Blocked chimneys and damaged flues make it hard for smoke to escape, meaning that it, and the harmful gases that make it up, get trapped indoors. A blocked chimney is also a serious fire hazard, so it’s worth getting it inspected.
Not every new smell is going to be a cause for concern, but it’s typically a good idea to be able to identify the source, regardless of what it is, and to check out whether it might need a little closer attention.
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