Help! Mystery smell in our new house!

Kimlock

Hi guys

I hope someone might be able to shed some light on this.

We recently bought a house and have just moved in. (The house is not new - it was built in 1903).

On the first day, we noticed a strange smell in the house, almost like rotten eggs. It seems to come in bursts every now and then, it's not constant. Maybe for a minute or two about twice a day. It only occurs downstairs in the living room.

I immediately thought it might be something to do with the boiler/gas leak so I called someone to do a full service and to investigate. The smell didn't occur while he was there but he gave the boiler a full service and did readings for gas leaks/ carbon monoxide and everything was normal. (We have a carbon monoxide alarm anyway). He also checked the flues.

I thought it might be the drains but I have cleared them out with numerous different things and the smell is still happening. The smell doesn't seem to be coming from the sink or the drains as far as we can tell.

Its very frustrating because we cannot seem to pin down where the smell is originating from!

If anyone has any ideas/advice it would be greatly appreciated because we're going mad trying to figure this out.

wallbash

Thinking its electrical, something is getting warm. Switch on one item at a time.

moneyistooshorttomention

Does it coincide with the heating coming on? Presumably there are central heating pipes down underneath the floorboards?

Add those two facts together and I would be wondering what else might be under those floorboards and maybe having a look?

Marktheshark

Is it a solid or wood floor ?
Rotting chipboard smells similar.
Might be damp/water under the floor.

Horizon81

Do you have wooden floors in the living room? Could something be dead under there?

I_have_spoken

Dog in the house? Silent, but deadly! _pale_

Kimlock

Thanks guys.

I think it might be a solid floor but I'll lift the carpet up tonight to have a look.

Now that you mention it, I think it might coincide with the heating coming on. I will double check that this evening.

I don't think it's electrical. The first time we smelled it is when we first visited when we got the keys. There was nothing in the house at that point.

And we don't have a dog

ellie99

For quite a while I had a smell which would come and go, took me ages before I realised what it was.

The old bakelite fuse box in the understairs cupboard was melting.
The smell was the casing slowly melting, thank goodness I found it before it set the house on fire!

Have you got anything electrical near the "smell area"?

brightontraveller

Plaster board, plaster releases hydrogen sulphide rotten egg smell, electrical tends to produce a more fishy type smell not uncommon for new homes or recently decorated refurbished to smell when heated as materials dry out come into contact with source of heat

If your unsure of source call/write to the builders or ask the previous seller if and what works took place before your move in If your worried you could check out electrics etc

Kimlock

My other half is convinced it is coming from a wall which has a radiator on it.
Apparently the previously sellers did no works on the house in the time they owned it. (seven years)

Horizon81

As above, could be a bakelite ceiling rose. Are there any discoloured/yellowed patches on the light fitting?

Is the radiator painted? Perhaps whatever they painted it with is giving off the smell.

Rotting flesh of a mouse/vole under the floor or in a wall void can stink a bit like gas, but i'd expect the smell to linger for longer than a few mins at a time.