Stuffy smell bedroom only

binft

Hi guys,

I am trying to find out what is causing this stuffy/musky smell in my bedroom in my 1 bed flat. It only seems to be the bedroom and sometimes the kitchen that are effected (they are directly opposite each other). I can only describe the smell as stuffy or musky like not horrible but smells like someone hasn't left the room for a few days. The other rooms hallway/living room/bathroom all seem to smell fine. The smell only goes away if I have the window open quite far for a few hours letting all fresh air in. Whilst that is fine it's tough during the winter to leave it open all day obviously because it's freezing!

Anyway, i'm trying to figure out what would be causing this? The bedroom was recently re-decorated full new carpets + underlay, walls fully painted. Basically everything in there is new. I noticed now as it's getting colder a lot of condensation builds up on the window overnight so I initially thought a dehumidifier would work. It seems like it has to an extent but I have the thing on 24/7 and I still come home from work to a musky smell in the bedroom. I change all the bedsheets regularly so it can't be those. There is a gap behind the radiator which exposes the bottom of the wall because there is no skirting in front of it, could it be coming in from there perhaps? I noticed if I don't clean the condesation off the windows mould builds up very quickly so I am drying those daily now when I wake up and I have even cleaned that whole area with vinegar/bleach etc with no luck. Not sure what else could be causing it. Maybe the flat is prone to it due to ventilation. I don't remember smelling it when I moved into the flat in summer time but then again I had the windows open all day and only had a month or so before it got too cold to leave them open.

Ant555

How recently was it painted?   Extra moisture could be partly related to everything drying out?

NSG666

Sound like a lack of ventilation and moist air - if you have trickle vent then open them or put the window on the latch when you are in to allow some air movement. Have you got the dehumidifier in the bedroom? If not I'd put it in there and run it except when you are in bed.

twopenny

I open the bedroom window most of the day. Depending I may turn the radiator off and just have the window open for a shorter time in the evenings.
If you're sleeping 8hrs and no ventilation at any time it's going to smell grim.
I put the heating on when i get up..
The kitchen and bathroom are warm enough on rising.
My bedroom smells the best of any of them....
I'd fix that gap though. Couldn't be doing that first thing in the morning.

another_casualty

Have the kitchen and bathroom got windows? 
If not , then they should have extractor fans fitted . 

coffeehound

binft said:

There is a gap behind the radiator which exposes the bottom of the wall because there is no skirting in front of it, could it be coming in from there perhaps? 

Is it an upper floor flat?  Could stale air be being drawn up from a flat below?

binft

Hi guys,

To answer, yes I have a dehumidifier going and leave it on all day (not a huge though). I painted the room around 3 months ago. it's a first floor flat. The kitchen and bathroom both have extractor/windows in them.

I have also noticed the sealing around my windows is starting to peel off. I think I need to reseal them all properly. Wondering if that is what's causing the room to get quite cold and the mass condensation on the windows.

NSG666

binft said:

Hi guys,

To answer, yes I have a dehumidifier going and leave it on all day (not a huge though). I painted the room around 3 months ago. it's a first floor flat. The kitchen and bathroom both have extractor/windows in them.

I have also noticed the sealing around my windows is starting to peel off. I think I need to reseal them all properly. Wondering if that is what's causing the room to get quite cold and the mass condensation on the windows.

How often are you having to empty your dehumidifier? Twice per week? Some have a filter for the air being pulled through them which needs cleaning out every now and then otherwise it won't work properly. We used to have an old one without a filter and the heat exchanger used to get chock full with dust and I had to dismantle it and vac it out. 

another_casualty

As a temporary measure in the meantime , have you thought of getting the neutradol version of shake 'n 'vac?  Also the neutradol jars . Not very expensive but may make an improvement . Also putting a few drops of fragrance oils into an empty dehumidifier may help..

TripleH

A few drops of fragrant oil on a light bulb as well (for any room you're in when have a light on) as a cheaper way of adding fragrance to a room.

Slinky

Did you use Valspar paint? I had some horrible smelling Valspar kitchen and bathroom paint that I painted my downstairs loo and entrance lobby with that smelt pretty evil. Didn't fade after several weeks and I had to paint over it with something else.

Could it be a filter in the dehumidifier that's gone smelly and is pumping nasty smells around?

Can you leave the bedroom door open at nighttime?