Cleaning and Stain Removal - Fishy smell in new house
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paigetheoracle
02-27-09, 04:36 AM
Ever since we moved into our new house, nearly two years ago, one of the bedrooms on the first floor has had this strange smell about it: It never gets any better or any worse and is reminiscent of something (battery fluid?) that makes it smell awfully 'fishy' but in an artificial way - any ideas what it could be and how to get rid of it? Some kind of glue? Something left under the floor by the builders or under the carpet by the carpet layers? Something to do with the ceiling, walls or roof/guttering/ windows?.:confused:
Moderators, please move this if there is a more appropriate spot.:thumbdn::thumbup:
Moderators, please move this if there is a more appropriate spot.:thumbdn::thumbup:
Pilot Dane
02-27-09, 06:49 AM
Do you know if the previous owners had pets? The most common cause I see is pet urine. It often soaks into the subfloor so even if the carpet is replaced the smell still lingers.
If the carpet is new (after the animal mess) I'm afraid you would have to pull up the carpet and look for stains in the underlaying wood or concrete. If the carpet is older you might see a stain if you look very hard. You can also try getting a black light (the fluorescent type, the screw in light bulb type do not work well) and wait untill night, turn off the lights in the room and shine the black light on the carpet. The light will often make the stain visible so you know where to clean.
If the carpet is new (after the animal mess) I'm afraid you would have to pull up the carpet and look for stains in the underlaying wood or concrete. If the carpet is older you might see a stain if you look very hard. You can also try getting a black light (the fluorescent type, the screw in light bulb type do not work well) and wait untill night, turn off the lights in the room and shine the black light on the carpet. The light will often make the stain visible so you know where to clean.
Docduck
03-03-09, 01:51 AM
I just read an article in a professional cleaning magnizine...a restorer ran into this same type of smell after a water loss....it was a small electrical short..if its just in one room...it could be pet messes..but if its an artifical smell i would have the wiring checked...it could be something as simple as a loose connection burning a wire nut when a certain circut is on
carpet can also off gas..which will give off an annoying odor, but that is usually in newer carpets, its caused by a bad batch of latex...
so many different things it could be..if you dont find any pet messes...and you still think its the carpet...have it inspected
some contractors can IR cameras that could pick up hotspots in wiring as well without tearing into the structure
carpet can also off gas..which will give off an annoying odor, but that is usually in newer carpets, its caused by a bad batch of latex...
so many different things it could be..if you dont find any pet messes...and you still think its the carpet...have it inspected
some contractors can IR cameras that could pick up hotspots in wiring as well without tearing into the structure