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Unknown Smell in Room

Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:52 am
Posted by lsujro
north of the wall
Member since Jul 2007
3925 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:52 am
So we have a weird issue in one of my kids' rooms in our house (built around 2005). There is an odd smell coming from the room that I find hard to describe. My wife is certain it is mold, but to me it's closer to the smell of asian beetles. It's just kind of a stale smell. It has not always been there. I'm looking for ideas to check on what it could be to remedy the issue. It doesn't seem to be anything we have added to the room (furniture, etc.).

The room has a spigot on the outside wall that has a leak when opened. The brick below the spigot gets soaked. However, the smell has come on in the last few months and I have not used the spigot much in that time. We pulled up carpet in corner of room where the spigot is and don't see any sign of mold.

I have also checked the attic above the room, and do not notice the smell nor do I see signs of water/pests.

Anybody got an idea? My wife is ready to rip out the drywall to hunt for mold, but I would love to avoid that if there are other potential sources of the smell.
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
43186 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:03 am to
Termites.
Posted by The Nino
Member since Jan 2010
21521 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:09 am to
quote:

My wife is ready to rip out the drywall to hunt for mold, but I would love to avoid that if there are other potential sources of the smell.

Why not use one of those air test kits for mold? If it's mold and you can smell it, the test should come back positive
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9822 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:14 am to
How is the airflow in the room?
Posted by lsujro
north of the wall
Member since Jul 2007
3925 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:17 am to
quote:

Why not use one of those air test kits for mold?


Didn't know this was a thing, thanks! I will try this next.

Also didn't know termites have a smell. My house is termite treated and regularly sprayed, so I would be surprised if that's it, but I will have it inspected if mold comes back negative.

Both good ideas thank you
Posted by lsujro
north of the wall
Member since Jul 2007
3925 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:18 am to
quote:

How is the airflow in the room?


I think it's pretty good. It's a small/medium size bedroom with single duct and return in hall right outside.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9822 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:21 am to
Have a gap under the door for return air?
Posted by lsujro
north of the wall
Member since Jul 2007
3925 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:25 am to
quote:

Have a gap under the door for return air?


Yes, about 3/4". I just checked and door was closed. When I open it the smell hits you like a wall. You stop noticing it after a second, but it is certainly distinct from the rest of the house.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
9822 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:55 am to
Animal die in a wall?
Posted by nes2010
Member since Jun 2014
6771 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 10:42 am to
I wouldn't use a mold test. There is always mold around and there aren't any set standards on what level is too much. Maybe get a moisture meter, mold has to have moisture.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15228 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 11:53 am to
Where are you located? Reason I ask is after Katrina and into 06 there was a lot of Chinese drywall coming into the area that people used to repair or build their houses with and that stuff turned out to be a disaster for the building trades with lots of problems had by the people that used it.

Not saying that is the issue since if it was used, it would likely be throughout your entire house, not just one room.

Just a thought.
Posted by jfw3535
South of Bunkie
Member since Mar 2008
4677 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 12:14 pm to
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30100 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 12:30 pm to
quote:

Unknown Smell in Room


take his porn away and tell him to watch where he lets his jiz fly after jacking
Posted by LSUJML
BR
Member since May 2008
45813 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 12:35 pm to
Have you looked under the bed?
Aunt couldn’t figure out why my cousins room had a terrible smell, found a bowl of cereal milk shoved under it that had been there awhile
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
25047 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 1:21 pm to
How old is your son?
Posted by bluedragon
Birmingham
Member since May 2020
6651 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 1:42 pm to
tennis shoes and a pair of old socks ....
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15228 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 4:14 pm to
quote:

Aunt couldn’t figure out why my cousins room had a terrible smell, found a bowl of cereal milk shoved under it that had been there awhile



Reminds me of something I saw on TV once about a guy complaining about his wife's nasty habits and his main pet peeve was her "mice" under the bed.

Turns out she would put her used tampons in tissue paper and toss them under the bed. Bitch was totally disgusting to do that.
Posted by Bama and Beer
Baldwin Co, AL
Member since Oct 2010
80945 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 5:31 pm to
Posted by DoctorTechnical
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2009
2798 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 8:06 pm to
quote:

asian beetles
Here in Birmingham we have a subset of those nasty critters called Kudzu Bugs. Just brush one and your clothes will have the faint smell of death...

God forbid you step on one.

This post was edited on 11/7/23 at 8:08 pm
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
56095 posts
Posted on 11/7/23 at 9:36 pm to
If it ever rains again, go into the attic with a flashlight and check for leaks.
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