If you’re greeted by an unpleasant aroma when you walk through your front door, you’re going to want to identify the problem quickly. We all know how comforting the scent of freshly brewed coffee or cookies baking is, but an unpleasant stench can have the opposite effect. If you’re eager to keep your home smelling fresh, take a look at these common causes of unpleasant odors now
Plumbing Problems
If something goes wrong with the plumbing in your property, your nose will probably be the first to know about it. Plumbing problems can cause vile smells to permeate throughout your home, so it’s vital to identify the cause and get it resolved as swiftly as possible.
One of the first places you’ll want to check is your kitchen sink. It’s not uncommon for food debris to get stuck in the drain or garbage disposal, which can cause a horrible smell to appear when they begin to rot. Cleaning out the garbage disposal, removing large debris from the top of the drain, or clearing blockages can eliminate the problem.
If your kitchen sink isn’t the source of the smell, then check other drainage areas in your home. Sinks, toilets, and tubs typically have a P-trap installed, which simply means that water is held in the drain to prevent gas from the sewage pipe from entering the home. However, if this water evaporates, you may be able to smell sewage, which could be the cause of unwanted stench.
Damp and Mold
When you notice a musty or stale smell in your home, there’s a good chance that there is damp somewhere. If you don’t deal with it quickly enough, mold will soon begin to grow. As many homeowners don’t realize they have a problem until mold is present, it’s likely you’ll need to remove the mold at the same time as resolving the damp problem. However, do be careful as mold removal can be harmful. If your property is badly affected, it’s always advisable to access professional assistance.
To prevent mold from returning, you’ll need to identify the cause. In most cases, this will be due to excess moisture in the air, the walls, flooring, or fabrics. If a gutter is leaking outside, for example, water can cascade down the side of your property and permeate the wall. At this point, insulation may begin to rot, and mold can form. As well as getting the mold removed, you’ll need to ensure that the gutter is fixed, and the affected area is properly dried out to ensure the problem doesn’t return.
Pests and Vermin
If you can smell a foul, rotten smell somewhere in your home, pests or vermin may be responsible. You won’t necessarily smell a pest infestation straight away but if a rodent dies somewhere on the property, you’re certainly going to notice it. If a particular area smells horrible and has a slightly sweet scent, there’s a good chance you’ve got a dead pest on the property.
In most cases, dead rodents will be trapped under floors or inside walls, so it won’t necessarily be easy to remove. What’s more – handling these creatures could pose a risk to your health, so it’s always advisable to use professional pest control services. As well as ensuring the cause of the smell is removed, professionals can tackle the active infestation and ensure that pests are eradicated.
In addition to this, a pest control professional can also help you to determine where pests are gaining entry into your property. Once you know this, you can take action to prevent it from happening. Sometimes, repairing chipped brickwork or replacing a missing roof tile is all it takes to keep your home properly protected from pests.
Electrical Issues
In some instances, the first signs of electrical issues will be faulty sockets, flickering lights, or fuses blowing but there are times when an unpleasant smell will alert you to potential electrical faults. If you can smell burning or smoldering, particularly if it seems to originate close to an electrical outlet, it’s important to take action quickly. Similarly, wires, plastic components, and electrical shielding can smell like fish or urine when they’re subjected to high heat, so this could be a sign that something is amiss.
Faulty electrics can put your life and property at risk, so don’t take any chances if you suspect there’s something wrong with your electrical system. By getting emergency assistance from a certified electrician, you can ensure your home is safe and remove the cause of the unpleasant smell at the same time.
Dirty Dishwashers
Although most dishwashers have an in-built cleaning setting, this isn’t sufficient to keep the entire machine germ-free. If you notice a horrible smell emanating from the dishwasher, stop using it and give it a thorough deep clean. The trap and the seals are notorious for harboring smells, so focus on these areas if you want to get rid of an unpleasant aroma.
Removing food debris is the first step, but taking the filter out and running it under a tap is a good idea too. If you clean your dishwasher regularly, using a sponge and water to wash out the seals may be sufficient. If not, there are specialist cleaning solutions you can use on this area. Alternatively, you may prefer to opt for a natural solution and mix a small amount of vinegar with water before wiping the seals down. However, it’s important never to mix chemicals or cleaning products, even if they’re natural, as they can emit dangerous gases.
Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
It might be tempting to cover unpleasant smells with air fresheners, sprays, and diffusers but this won’t eradicate the problem. Instead, you’ll need to identify the cause of the smell and take action to ensure it’s completely removed. Once you’ve done this, you can also carry out repairs or maintenance to ensure the smell can’t develop again. While hunting down the source of unpleasant smells may not be the best household chore, it will help to prevent unnecessary property damage from occurring and keep your home smelling fresh.
