Mystery odor

[Shane]

The last few days we've had a strange odor in our house, and we can't figure out where it's coming from. Smells kinda like ammonia or skunk, but not as strong as either of those and not exactly either of those. Doesn't smell like rotten eggs (natural gas). I first thought it was a skunk outside, but I haven't seen any tracks and there is no smell outside. Just inside. One day the smell was in the garage too, but most of the time it's just in the house.

It's strongest around the west end of the house, which is where the gas meter is. The gas heat/AC unit is in the attic above that area. The gas water heater is in the garage. The only other gas line in the house is in the slab and goes to the fireplace. I checked that, and it's turned off and the smell doesn't appear to be coming from the fireplace.

Driving me crazy. Maybe we have a skunk coming through during the night and the smell gets into the house and stays while it disperses outside in the wind. I may set up a trailcam to see if that's it.

Any ideas?

[Playa]

I'd call your gas company just to be safe.

Any chance you have abandoned homes or buildings in the vicinity?

[Razorback01]

We had a bad smell during the springtime a few years ago. Finally the source, one of our flowering shrubs. Mr poulan took care of it, no more smell.

[tbgascorer]

Check the garbage disposal. Those things have some strange smells sometimes.

[Jaybo31]

dead rat will smell like ammonia. Sometimes water heater will stink too.

[chewjr]

You might have a gas leak. The gas company puts a nasty odor in the gas because natural gas has no odor. I'd call your gas company and have them come out asap.

[Shane]

I'd call your gas company just to be safe.

Any chance you have abandoned homes or buildings in the vicinity?

Yeah, I probably should have the gas company come check. Nothing abandoned around us.

Check the garbage disposal. Those things have some strange smells sometimes.

I have stuck my nose down in the sink above the disposal, and it doesn't appear to be coming from there. I've bleached the heck out of it too, just in case. I smelled around the drain for the washing machine as well, and doesn't appear to be that either.

I've checked potted plants inside the house - nothing. Checked for spilled/leading cleaning products under the kitchen sink - nothing. I climbed up in the attic to see if a skunk somehow got up in there - no smell up there.

Driving me crazy.

[louieagarcia]

Neighbor two doors down had a gas leak, found out it had been leaking since the evening before! Scary stuff, just to be on the safe side you should contact your gas company as mentioned above.

[Playa]

Driving me crazy.

Maybe its your upper lip

[dustoffer]

One other possible source of odor--is the seal bad on your toilet? That wax ring can break down and allow sewer gas out--

[TXHUNT3R]

Stop growing pot in that part of the house and it will go away....

[#11]

Do you have inside cats? I only ask, because if you do and they have a UTI, they will **** on any carpet, rug, towel, clothes, etc that is left on the ground. If no cats, I would call a gas company, first, then ask for opinions on the green screen, as to what it might be. Just being honest.

Good luck finding your smell and hope nothing is too wrong.

[Todd-ty729]

Water heaters sometimes get a bacteria that grows inside the tank. It smells awful!

See if you can run hot water early in the morning before anyone uses and give it a smell.

[br549redneck]

Check your drain line on the ac unit. If it is plumbed into the sewer system the trap may have dried out during the winter with no condensation from the ac unit allowing some sewer gas into the house.

[Shane]

One other possible source of odor--is the seal bad on your toilet? That wax ring can break down and allow sewer gas out--

We had that a year or so ago. Sewer smell was different. But that's been fixed, and the smell isn't as strong in the bathrooms, which are on the other side of the house.

Just called the gas company, so I'm gonna go home and meet them there to check. Maybe is skunk gas.