Left skylight open in rain- now there' a strange smell

nwrmartin

Yesterday I left my skylight (velux style) open all day whilst I was at work, through several heavy rainstorms. The skylight is at the top of a lightwell, above the landing at the top of my stairs.

Two little rivulets of water had trickled down the wall of the lightwell, leaving a brown stain which came off with a damp sponge, and there was a steady drip of water from the side of the skylight on to the carpet, which didn't touch thge walls and stopped as soon as I clsoed the skylight (which removed the water which had pooled on it)

Soon after I closed the skylight, I noticed a smell which is hard to describe- a musty, slightly fishy smell, a bit woody, a bit like freshly baked wheaten bread. It is not coming from the damp carpet. It is at its stongest directly underneath the skylight.

The attic (which the lightwell obviously penatrates through) also has this smell. It disipates really quickly if I open the skylight or attic hatch, but returns really quickly when I close them.

Has anyone any ideas what this might be? Should I be worried?

Many thanks in advance for your help. I am a bit puzzled!

olias

Sound just like the water has got somewhere you can't see and it's the damp scent you can smell. As it was just a small amount of water for a short period, my guess is it will go within a few days. If the rain stays off then make sure to keep the skylight open together with other nearby windows to help air the area (obviously only when you are present to close it should it cloud over!)

olias