At Pur360, we specialize in helping our customers remove mold, mildew, and unpleasant smells. Satisfied clients around the country have benefited from our energized oxygen treatments. People love it when their homes smell fresh and clean.
When your house smells like yesterday’s fried fish, you know the source of the odor. However, other household smells can be more challenging to track. If there is an odor you cannot quite identify, it could point to a serious issue. Scented candles can cover up smells, and our process will eliminate standing odors, but the stink will return if you don’t get to the source of the problem.
Tips for Tracking Smells
Some smells seem to permeate the house. Eliminating such chronic scents is where Pur360 shines. When trying to find the source of a smell, several tools and tactics can aid your search.
Your senses adapt to smells, so it is easy to become nose-blind if your search takes too long. If you are having trouble, head outside to clear your nose and reset your sense of smell. Walk quickly past the areas you have eliminated as you start again.
Turn off any fans and shut the windows. When air moves, it disperses the scent molecules. This motion is helpful when you are airing out a room, but it makes the hunt for a scent more difficult.
As you search for the smell, notice its timing. Does it remain at a constant level or vary over time? An unpleasant odor that becomes more prominent when the shower runs could indicate a plumbing problem. If it stinks whenever the furnace runs, you may need an expert to examine your ducts.
Employing some technology will also aid your search. A UV light can help you spot the source of biological smells like pet urine. It will also help you track the signs of a rodent infestation.
Rotten Eggs
There are some smells you should never ignore. Natural gas is odorless by nature. However, gas companies add an unpleasant scent to alert homeowners to gas leaks. If you are connected to a natural gas line and notice the smell of rotten eggs or cabbage, do not hesitate to act.
At the first indication of a gas leak, it is time to get you and your loved ones out of the house. Then, contact the gas company from a cellphone or a neighbor’s phone. Leave it to the professionals to find and manage the leak. This situation can be extremely hazardous with the potential for a gas explosion.
Sewage
Plumbers design your water system so that waste smells do not vent into your home. If you notice sewer odors inside, it may indicate a blockage somewhere in the system. A partially clogged pipe may capture waste products and allow the smell to come up the drain. A blocked venting pipe will also send odors back into your home.
Sewage smells can also indicate a leak somewhere in the system. You may notice that this smell becomes worse when someone takes a lengthy shower. The gray water leaking behind your walls or in your basement will stir up the sources of the unpleasant aroma.
Wet Dog
The smell of a wet dog may just indicate that your canine companion took a walk in the rain. However, pet smells are more problematic if there are no animals in your family. When part of your house smells like a wet animal, it may indicate a rodent infestation. As you locate the source of the smell, you will probably see other gifts left by raccoons, rats, mice, and other home invaders.
Another animal-related smell happens when a rodent expires in your vents or walls. The smell of decay is hard to escape. If an animal dies beneath your floorboards, the smell will disappear as the organic components break down. You must decide if you want to tear up the floor to remove the carcass or endure the smell. A treatment from Pur360 will also remove the odor after decomposition.
When you discover an animal infestation, you will want to contact a professional exterminator. These experts can trap larger animals and eliminate rodents.
New Paint and Other Chemical Smells
Volatile organic compounds include a host of chemicals used in everyday products. Most of these substances have an odor when you first apply them. Paints, adhesives, and lubricants all bring a distinctive scent. If you read the packaging, they will warn you to use them in well-ventilated spaces. When you let in some fresh air, the smell should vanish as the product dries.
Without adequate ventilation, these compounds can build up in your atmosphere. High VOC levels may cause headaches, trouble sleeping, and a general sense of feeling unwell. You must turn on your exhaust fans and do what you can to move these substances from your living spaces.
A chronic chemical smell deserves your attention. The most common culprit is a container that has not been properly closed. Sealing these products not only prevents the unpleasant odor, but it also helps the products last longer in storage.
Leakage can also be an issue if you have chemicals that have been in storage for too long. If the container starts to break down, the contents will slowly spill. Check with your disposal service to find the responsible way to throw out old paints and chemicals.
Electrical Smells
Smelling smoke when you don’t have a fire in the fireplace is always a concern. A smoky smell indicates an uncontrolled heat source somewhere in your home. When you are looking for the smell, start with your appliances. A faulty part can cause sparking and melting plastics.
The unknown smoky smell may also come from a sparking electrical outlet or fixture. If you notice flickering anywhere in your home, turn off the breaker to that part of the structure and contact an electrician. Unless you have the training, you should not attempt to handle electrical problems by yourself.
Rotting Wood
When you go for a walk in the woods after a spring rain, the smell of wood breaking down on the forest floor is common. This odor is part of the natural cycle, returning nutrients to the soil for the next generation of trees. However, it is not a smell you want to encounter indoors.
The scent of rotting wood inside your home typically indicates water damage. In the kitchen, this smell frequently happens when a leak beneath your sink moistens the wood cabinetry. In other parts of the building, the smell could indicate a leaky roof or cracked pipes in the walls.
Whenever you have uncontrolled moisture in your home, mold and mildew are not far behind. The dark cabinet beneath your sink is the perfect place for a mold colony to grow. When you discover the water source, contact a plumber to stop the drip. Then, Pur360 can use its patented technology to remove the mold, mildew, and nasty odors.
A Partner for Odor Elimination
If you are struggling with smells in your house, Pur360 is ready to come to your rescue. Our safe, chemical-free process will remove odors from carpets, furnishing, and every other surface of your property. Our team also provides UV sanitization services for complete cleaning. In addition, we can assist with carpet removal, drywall removal and repair, painting, and attic stain removal. Our company is headquartered in Chicago, but we have other locations in Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. For more information about our unique odor-removing process and other services, contact Pur360 today.
