Unexplained turps/glue smell in house - Any ideas?

Eliza1234

We live in a 1990's property in the country and around 5 weeks ago noticed a turps/white spirit smell in our living room. After a lot of sniffing around we found this was coming in with a draught between our skirting and hardwood flooring. On occasion this smell appears in other rooms (bathroom and cupboard so both small spaces) and we think this is to do with the change in wind direction and therefore the air circulating around the house and also where the floor is less sealed/gaps in skirting etc.
We have lifted some of the floorboards in the living room and see no evidence of much apart from a few mouse droppings.
Someone has suggested to us that it could be mice living in the wall cavity and they are moving the insulation and it is the glue from the insulation that is causing the smell. Thus, get rid of the mice and get rid of the smell. Has anyone heard of this? (We have phoned a couple of pest control experts who haven't heard of this and don't think we have an active mouse infestation as such).
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced a similar problem or who knows what it could be!

littlerock

What do you use for heating?

Eliza1234

Oil which is what we initially thought the smell was but have had the boiler serviced last week and the engineer who serviced it did not think it was a kerosene smell.

littlerock

Any interest?: "For the past few days both my and my neighbours bathrooms have smelt very strongly of something like paint thinners or kerosene. Initially I blamed a neighbours kerosene burner for putting out the fumes out of it's chimney but closer investigation by self and neighbour, lifting the sewer pipe covers in our gardens has revealed the source of the fumes to be the sewer that serves both of our properties. I contacted the water company and they said it can be quite common where work is being done to reline the sewer with resin sealant and the solvent isn't ventilated off properly."

We had a similar problem which was eventually attributed to this (sewer relining locally.) We had seen drain contractors in the road but not thought anything more of it at the time so did not check where they were working.

kazwookie

Have you had any builders in doing works, or have your neighbours, they could have dropped something that has soaked in.

Good luck in sorting the mice, can you borrow a cat to 'help'

Eliza1234

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I don't think it is the sewer system as we are on a septic tank (private sewage). So frustrating!

querylyn

Hi did you ever find out what or where the smell of turps/white spirits came from? My parents are having a similar problem in their house..oil central heating, septic tank sewerage system!! So wondering if you figured out what was causing it in your house? Any help gratefully appreciated. Thanks 

MissyJDream

Hi there.  I am also having a very strong smell of turps in the house.  It was here for 3 days about 6 weeks ago and then went away but it comes back on the odd occasion.  I have to open all the windows and doors to try and air the house.  I live in a mid-terraced house and none of my neighbours are getting the smell.  I have gas central heating and laminate flooring downstairs.  When the smell appears, I can smell it in the lounge coming from under the floor (I think).  It then moves into the small hallway and comes upstairs.  I have gone to bed and there has been no smell but when I open the bedroom door in the morning, it can be there.  I have had the drains checked which are OK.  Under the flooring there are floorboards, not a solid floor.  It is driving me crazy!  Any help gratefully received also!  Thank you. 

Apodemus

You've not got a cat or fox sheltering at night under the floor boards have you?  We once had a tom cat getting under the house and peeing in a corner.  Check that all the external under floor vents are properly grated (in a terrace, you may have to check your neighbours too).

TAllanHP

Please someone tell me you've figured this out. My house too...in the hallway.  Started 2 days ago. A little bit in cupboard under the stairs which we have now emptied out. But also, and maybe stronger smell in the downstairs loo next to it. I can't tell if it's turps or oil. Today it is also around the kitchen area. I've got windows and doors open. Checked drains. No idea where it's come from but it is driving me nuts!

laurieg95

Did anyone find the cause of the problem? Having the same problem here going on 3 weeks, had multiple people out to find issue but to no avail!