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Gas, ammonia and more unexpected options that should be on the lookout.
1. The smell of gas
Natural gas does not smell like anything but it add sulfur compound mercaptan, which gives a characteristic unpleasant aroma. If it appeared in your house, there may have been a leak somewhere.
Close the gas valve, open the windows and call the emergency services as soon as possible on 104 or 112. Call from a mobile phone, not a landline. Do not turn on lights and electrical appliances. This is important because the smallest spark can turn into a flash.
2. The smell of dampness
It can signal the appearance of mold in the house. Moreover, it not only gives off an unpleasant smell, but is also capable lead to exacerbation of asthma and allergies.
Mold loves damp places like bathrooms and kitchens, so inspect them first.
3. The smell of sewage
If the whole apartment smells like a sewage treatment plant, there may be a burst sewer pipe somewhere in the house. Biogas produced in sewage collectors, contains toxic explosive components: hydrogen sulfide and methane. So contact the management company or call a plumber without delay.
4. The smell of smoke
Even a faint smell of smoke should not be ignored. If you only feel it when you press a certain switch or use an electrical appliance, it may indicate a wiring problem. They in turn create a risk of ignition and fire, so call an electrician as soon as possible.
5. The smell of fish
If you haven't bought or cooked seafood, and the smell is present in the house, this may be a sign that some electrical appliance is overheating. A pungent, fishy smell appears when plastic, rubber or other material near this appliance starts to melt. It can also cause a fire, so call an electrician to find out and eliminate the cause of the smell.
6. The smell of paint
Many paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — harmful substances that evaporate during the drying process. They can call up health problems: irritation of the respiratory tract, headache, damage to the nervous system.
Therefore, be sure to ventilate the room during painting and after, and also try not to be inside while the coating dries. And next time, look for low-VOC paints.
7. The smell of ammonia
Or, as it is also called, the smell of cat urine. If you don't use ammonia for cleaning and you don't have a cat, it could be the refrigerant. Ammonia used to be used in this capacity, so if you have an old refrigerator, check if it is the source of this smell. Remember that ammonia is a toxic substance, and do not try to fix the problem yourself, but call a professional.
Another reason is that a rodent died somewhere in the apartment. It is safe and the smell will gradually go away by itself. But you may have to deal with mice or rats.
8. The smell of an unwashed dog
If you don't have a dog, you probably have rats or mice in your house. They can become carriers of diseases, so do not let things go by themselves. You can try to get rid of the rodents yourself or ask your management company for help.
9. The smell of stale sweat
If you have an air conditioner, it is most likely the problem. Inside the device there is a filter that collects dust, dirt and bacteria. It needs to be cleaned or changed periodically. If you haven't done it in a while, give it a try, it might help.
