Hello,
A few months ago, we moved into a supposedly high-quality renovated apartment in a complex and unique three-family house (owner-occupied).
We keep noticing an unpleasant smell in the bedroom. (I know, the sentence sounds funny, but I’m serious…)
About the situation:
Built in the 1980s (high quality)
Calcium silicate walls, painted
Floating parquet floor
Several windows
Exposed roof beams almost up to the exterior insulation
Heating always off
If it’s not around minus 10 degrees Celsius (14°F), the windows are open
No visible mold
The smell is hard to describe. Sometimes it’s very strong, sometimes only a little, and it accumulates in the bedroom because we only notice it when we open the door at bedtime and practically walk into a cloud.
It smells a bit like musk or like when someone just opens a fresh beer.
It also reminds me of dog farts (from my girlfriend’s Boxer).
Yes, this post might seem amusing because of its content, but the problem is a serious concern for us.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Or experience with relevant reports and their approximate cost?
I’m grateful for any suggestions.
A few months ago, we moved into a supposedly high-quality renovated apartment in a complex and unique three-family house (owner-occupied).
We keep noticing an unpleasant smell in the bedroom. (I know, the sentence sounds funny, but I’m serious…)
About the situation:
Built in the 1980s (high quality)
Calcium silicate walls, painted
Floating parquet floor
Several windows
Exposed roof beams almost up to the exterior insulation
Heating always off
If it’s not around minus 10 degrees Celsius (14°F), the windows are open
No visible mold
The smell is hard to describe. Sometimes it’s very strong, sometimes only a little, and it accumulates in the bedroom because we only notice it when we open the door at bedtime and practically walk into a cloud.
It smells a bit like musk or like when someone just opens a fresh beer.
It also reminds me of dog farts (from my girlfriend’s Boxer).
Yes, this post might seem amusing because of its content, but the problem is a serious concern for us.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Or experience with relevant reports and their approximate cost?
I’m grateful for any suggestions.
Good morning,
even if I’m not sure this will help with your problem, you shouldn’t do this:
It’s better to ventilate briefly with windows wide open and heat in between. This especially helps remove moisture and, in my opinion, also odors more effectively.
even if I’m not sure this will help with your problem, you shouldn’t do this:
Sandrale schrieb:
Heating always off
unless it’s minus 10 degrees, then windows open
It’s better to ventilate briefly with windows wide open and heat in between. This especially helps remove moisture and, in my opinion, also odors more effectively.
I completely rule out dog waste.
Regular heating in the bedroom is not really an option for us, as we do not like or tolerate heated air. However, this was never a problem in any of our previous apartments, including those of my parents and grandparents.
And I have never smelled anything similar there.
Actually, not in any apartment so far.
We live near Wörth/RP.
Regular heating in the bedroom is not really an option for us, as we do not like or tolerate heated air. However, this was never a problem in any of our previous apartments, including those of my parents and grandparents.
And I have never smelled anything similar there.
Actually, not in any apartment so far.
We live near Wörth/RP.
I see two possible causes for the odor problem:
- A classic case: the unheated bedroom, tilt ventilation, cold exterior walls, condensation from warm, humid indoor air that flows in a rush into the cold bedroom in the evening, leading to mold growth. The description of the odor as "musk" fits this scenario quite well. The connections are almost obvious.
- Unknown building materials from the renovation phase that off-gas and cause indoor air pollution. This would require indoor air testing to check for contaminant levels.
To assess whether mold on cold, poorly insulated exterior walls is related to your occupancy habits, it is necessary to know the construction of the exterior wall and the quality of the roof insulation.
- A classic case: the unheated bedroom, tilt ventilation, cold exterior walls, condensation from warm, humid indoor air that flows in a rush into the cold bedroom in the evening, leading to mold growth. The description of the odor as "musk" fits this scenario quite well. The connections are almost obvious.
- Unknown building materials from the renovation phase that off-gas and cause indoor air pollution. This would require indoor air testing to check for contaminant levels.
To assess whether mold on cold, poorly insulated exterior walls is related to your occupancy habits, it is necessary to know the construction of the exterior wall and the quality of the roof insulation.
Hello "Sandrale".
From my own professional experience, I can say that no topic in the field of floor technology is more difficult to address than odor complaints or odor nuisances! In fact, at least in my view, no expert is able to give you a satisfactory answer based solely on technical analysis or even describe a clear solution. This is especially true because odors are perceived subjectively and therefore evaluated subjectively as well.
I would advise against pollutant analyses; the costs involved would be better donated to a charitable cause. The terms odor and pollutant should not be confused!
So what options are left?
If you are willing to invest some money, discuss the issue on site with a flooring installation expert—without commissioning an official report. Beforehand, check under which relative humidity and room temperature the odor you perceive is particularly noticeable, and when it is not. This will likely help the expert, as these results represent one of the small building blocks that make up the overall picture.
Otherwise, without additional costs, the only option is to remove all unnecessary movable objects from the affected room for several days, keep a record of temperature, humidity, and odor perception, and gradually reintroduce the furniture while monitoring and documenting it. At least that seems like a reasonable approach to me.
------------------------
Good luck: KlaRa
From my own professional experience, I can say that no topic in the field of floor technology is more difficult to address than odor complaints or odor nuisances! In fact, at least in my view, no expert is able to give you a satisfactory answer based solely on technical analysis or even describe a clear solution. This is especially true because odors are perceived subjectively and therefore evaluated subjectively as well.
I would advise against pollutant analyses; the costs involved would be better donated to a charitable cause. The terms odor and pollutant should not be confused!
So what options are left?
If you are willing to invest some money, discuss the issue on site with a flooring installation expert—without commissioning an official report. Beforehand, check under which relative humidity and room temperature the odor you perceive is particularly noticeable, and when it is not. This will likely help the expert, as these results represent one of the small building blocks that make up the overall picture.
Otherwise, without additional costs, the only option is to remove all unnecessary movable objects from the affected room for several days, keep a record of temperature, humidity, and odor perception, and gradually reintroduce the furniture while monitoring and documenting it. At least that seems like a reasonable approach to me.
------------------------
Good luck: KlaRa
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