What could be causing the smell?!

HU-592089055

25 days ago

We have an airing cupboard in our master bedroom, it sits above our utility (with dryer, washing machine and boiler in) and behind our shower, one side wall of it is the external wall. it has a radiator in the bottom which is broken and constantly on the same temperature. the house is 130 years old. the smell varies - often its a metallic sort of engine smell, today its eggy and very strong. it doesnt smell damp (weve lived in a few damp houses so on high alert for this! We are also getting the faint smell of the dryer too as youd expect although we ventilate the utility with an open window and our velux on the stairs is always open. we cant see anything on the walls to suggest a leak. any ideas on what might be causing it? carbon monoxide detector is in the cupboard too as i wanted to rule that out.

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Comments (4)

Isla Cherry
25 days ago
last modified: 25 days ago
Eggy smells are usually standing water. I would get the radiator fixed as soon as possible or replaced if not. Has it ever been flushed? Have you called a plumber to investigate the smell?
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Sarah L
24 days ago
Yes, probably the radiator. You can't smell carbon monoxide.
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I worry that the quoted £60k will leave you with a warm safe house with a new kitchen….. but no floor coverings, no window treatments, no light fittings and no furniture. So perhaps the thing to do is cost up all those finishing jobs and then see what’s left for the builder. You might conclude that some of the wardrobes and bedroom carpets can stay at least for a while so that you can concentrate budget on rooms you are going to use more. (That flowery bedroom carpet is probably still in amazing condition and the fancy panelling on the wardrobes can likely be stripped off for a more contemporary look). You should also prioritise the heating and wiring and any repairs. You should also do all the dusty jobs now….. so I would probably put a door into the kitchen opposite the front door, and take down the internal wood cladding. I would probably strip out the skirtings, architrave, doors and banisters and replace them all with new as the originals will need significant time and effort to get looking good- plus your new wood floors will have tidier edges if you put the skirtings on after the floors are laid. And although on other another thread there has been some discussion about the total costs of some of the jobs I suspect that there is an economy of getting it done quickly and moving in.
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Jonathan
24 days ago
Mercaptan is put in your gas supply to help you identify it. This harmless chemical does smell of sulphur (rotten egg smell).

I would have a gas engineer investigate- if it’s an old house you might find disused gas pipes under the floor from long removed heaters. You might even find you had gas lamps as they were in some homes in the early 20th century.
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Oraanj Interior design
21 days ago
last modified: 21 days ago
Hello,

It sounds like you’re dealing with a puzzling issue! Given the age of your home and the combination of plumbing, heating, and ventilation elements around your airing cupboard, there could be a few potential culprits for the smell.

Here are some possibilities to consider:
1. Ventilation Pathways: Since the cupboard sits above your utility room and near your shower, odors may be drifting up from these spaces, especially if there’s any gap or weakness in the flooring or wall. Dryer smells, for instance, can sometimes travel through small crevices, especially in older homes where airtight seals may not be as effective.
2. Radiator: The broken radiator could be part of the issue. If it’s malfunctioning and constantly on, it could be causing metal components to overheat, leading to a metallic or even burnt smell. Given that it doesn’t turn off, we’d recommend having it checked to avoid further issues or inefficiencies.
3. Plumbing and Pipework: Even if you don’t see signs of damp, any nearby plumbing—especially in an older home, could be causing an unusual odor if there’s a minor leak or if piping is exposed to fluctuating temperatures. The eggy smell may point to a gas-related issue or stagnant water within the pipes.
4. Insulation and Exterior Wall: With one wall being external, sometimes drafts or even animals can affect air quality. Small animals sometimes nest in cavities, which can lead to intermittent smells, especially with temperature changes.
Since you have a carbon monoxide detector in place, that’s a good start for safety. For next steps, we’d recommend a professional inspection of the radiator and the plumbing, and possibly the exterior wall cavity, to be sure everything is functioning properly and sealed. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or if we can assist further with any design adjustments for comfort and air quality.

Wishing you all the best in getting this resolved!

Warm regards,
The Oraanj Interior Design Team
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What could be causing the smell?!

Comments (4)

Isla Cherry

Sarah L

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Jonathan

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