As soon as I walk in the house, it smells so rank that I want to cry. Even guests don't want to come in. Could it be the air conditioning? (central air - I live in AZ) The house doesn't stink in the winter. Or could it be the rust in the toilet tank? The whole house smells - I'm not sure how to describe it. Could it be mold? I don't have a lot of money so if anyone could give me their best guess so I only have to call one repair company instead of having to call several to come and check out the house. Thanks so much.
2007-04-07 18:25:56 · 11 answers · asked by Vickie 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I just wanted to add that I have a heat pump which works for both heating and air conditioning. But the house only smells bad in the summer.
2007-04-07 18:54:54 · update #1
Do a hard-core cleaning.
What does it smell like? Rotting stuff? Clean the garbage disposal, mop the floors, wash the trash bin out with hot, hot soapy water.
Just dust from the top down, vacuum things up, open windows to let in fresh air, mop the floors, clean the windows, vacuum furniture to help control dust and the sort...
Get some plants, yea, plants are nice. (real ones) They help clean the air.
After a serious cleaning if it still stinks you'll need to call someone about mold. I think, but I'm not certain, a plumber can check for mold because there could be a water leak that mold is growing around or something.
Cold be a number of things but go with the cleaning bit first--cheaper and you might find something that's causing it.
2007-04-07 18:31:17 · answer #1 · answered by rockerweenie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ouch sounds like it could be the A/C. Have you checked around your outside unit for dead animals or foul smelling weeds growing around it? If that's all clear then I would definitely call to have it inspected. It might be something simple that won't be costly to repair. I live in FL and we had a rat infestation in our attic after the hurricanes a couple of years ago and we started noticing a funky smell in the dining area and it turned out the rats were nesting there (in the attic above) and urinating all over the place. The A/C spread the odor when it cut on. I doubt it's rust in the toilet tank, but you can empty it and clean it with something like CLR; especially if it smells worse in the bathroom.
2007-04-08 04:22:35 · answer #2 · answered by ♥Raven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Arizona you have a air conditioning unit called a swamp cooler. Check the water in the cooler as it may have become moldy during the off season and may need a good cleaning now that it is starting to get hot there. Another thing to check is any underused sink or tub drains that may have dried out. Run a little water down each sink, toilet, tub, shower, to make sure the traps have water in them as this keeps sewer gasses from backing up into the house. Or your cat died and is under the frige and stinking up the place.
2007-04-08 01:40:17 · answer #3 · answered by Sheriff of Yahoo! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have a filter in the fan that needs to be changed out,or you may have your trash can by the air condenser out side of your house or you may have a dead animal in the attic. I don't think you will get a mold problem in AZ unless you have a water leak somewhere. I would start by doing a thorough cleaning and clean out the closets and under cabinets. Check for damp areas. Could be anything, Good luck
2007-04-08 01:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Yes. Yes. All except for rust in the tank. Sniff the a/c system & as said above clean, clean, & clean some more. Air out the house & when its not over taken with the smell then find out which room it is coming from & try to pin point it. Maybe one of the critters that came in to keep warm with you this past winter died.
2007-04-08 01:36:25 · answer #5 · answered by kingmt01 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do the sniff test.Wlk around the house and try to distinguish the different smells.Is it garbage?Mold? Mildew?Dirty dishes or laundry.Toilet needs cleaning?Kitchen and bathroom drains have odors.Lysol and bleach work wonders and not expensive.Also if you have window air conditioning units you must clean them often or replace.I know from personal experience walking into a funky and musty smelling house.Not a problem anymore.Good luck.
2007-04-08 01:48:13 · answer #6 · answered by honeypot0214 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
clean the place, bleach the loos and throw the rubbish out. Wash the bins with bleeach. Clean out the fridge, Buy some airfreshners. Mop the floor with disinfectant.
If you do all this regularly anyway, then yes, it may well be the air conditioning - these units are supposed to be serviced every year.
2007-04-08 01:28:50 · answer #7 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
might be central air. i had a problem like that in my apartment, after they came to clean the system, they told me to put an airfreshener behind the filter.
2007-04-08 01:30:35 · answer #8 · answered by Fili 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you checked under the house it could be a dead animal.
2007-04-11 20:46:35 · answer #9 · answered by razburch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a little spring cleaning. BLEACH kills mildue too. LYSOL has a great spray too.
2007-04-08 01:29:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋