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What smells like gas but probably isn't gas?
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QuackDuck
Dec 7, 2012, 12:03:00 PM12/7/12
to
Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
I live in a 140 year-old(ish) granite building that at some point has
been converted into four flats. Because it was all one big house before,
we do get noise and cooking smells etc travelling between floors.
Anyway, about 4 weeks ago now we noticed a gas-like smell in the
communal ground floor hallway, and we also seemed to get 'clouds' of it
moving through our (first floor) kitchen and hallway, above where the
ground floor smell was. It dispersed quickly when we opened the communal
hallway window, though.
A week later the smell was coming more frequently (3 out of 7 days) and
our neighbour called the Emergency Gas line. We had a couple of SGN guys
come out and test everything. Unfortunately the smell had mostly
dispersed by the time they arrived and they detected nothing after a
thorough examination.
A week later we called them out again, and more or less the same thing
happened - smell had mostly gone by the time they came, and again they
tested all along the gas pipes, everyone's boilers, cookers, etc -
everything they could think of. They found nothing, and said it couldn't
be gas, it's just something else with a similar smell.
Another two weeks on and we're still getting the smell, although not
every day. It's almost always there when we come home in the evening,
and seems to disperse as we open a window (or when everyone else in the
building comes home and fresh air gets in). No-one is usually in the
building during the day, and our boilers are not usually on either (yet
it appears anyway). Once the smell disperses, it doesn't reappear during
the night or early morning (also a time when no fresh air gets into the
building).
I imagine that it's a small amount of some sort of gas (not necessarily
natural gas since it tested negative) getting in and building up during
the day, as it does go away quickly when fresh air circulates. I am
concerned about the week over Christmas because no-one in the building
will be at home. If whatever it is is left to build up over a week...
Of course we could leave a communal hallway window open over that week
when no-one is around, but we are worried about pipes freezing. Also, I
just hate not knowing what it is! The emergency gas guys told us not to
worry, it will probably go away by itself in time, and it couldn't be a
gas pipe leak as that would be constant. But I've read that sewer gas
and so on can also be combustible, so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
Thanks very much, and sorry about the long post. I just wanted to make
sure I gave as much detail as possible :)
ETA: We have a carbon monoxide detector in the area of our flat where
the smell is, and it's happy enough and staying quiet.
--
QuackDuck
stuart noble
Dec 7, 2012, 3:23:05 PM12/7/12
to
and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
found the source.
Bill Wright
Dec 7, 2012, 3:36:50 PM12/7/12
to
QuackDuck wrote:
> Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
>
> I live in a 140 year-old(ish) granite building that at some point has
> been converted into four flats. Because it was all one big house before,
> we do get noise and cooking smells etc travelling between floors.
Natural gas has the smell added to it artificially. It doesn't smell
> Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
>
> I live in a 140 year-old(ish) granite building that at some point has
> been converted into four flats. Because it was all one big house before,
> we do get noise and cooking smells etc travelling between floors.
like coal gas at all. Which type of gas does yours smell like?
The smell added to natural gas is like rotten eggs. Could there be
something rotting away under the floor or behind the fridge or in a
void? I had a problem with a smell like that. Eventually it stopped.
That must have been when all the flesh had gone. I found the cat's
skeleton a few years later.
I dimly remember the tapwater in a college hall of residence smelling
slightly of hydrogen sulphide. Maybe that was sulphur.
If you have sewage pipes behind boxing-in they might be leaking a bit. I
had this problem in the basement. The smell was only there now and then.
I only found out what was happening when the sewer blocked outside and
that caused it to block inside, so the plywood had to come off, and the
outside of the stack was damp.
Bill
Another Dave
Dec 7, 2012, 4:01:57 PM12/7/12
to
On 07/12/12 17:03, QuackDuck wrote:
> Anyway, about 4 weeks ago now we noticed a gas-like smell in the
> communal ground floor hallway, and we also seemed to get 'clouds' of it
> moving through our (first floor) kitchen and hallway, above where the
> ground floor smell was. It dispersed quickly when we opened the communal
> hallway window, though.
Odorous chemicals are added to Natural Gas (and coal gas in the old
> Anyway, about 4 weeks ago now we noticed a gas-like smell in the
> communal ground floor hallway, and we also seemed to get 'clouds' of it
> moving through our (first floor) kitchen and hallway, above where the
> ground floor smell was. It dispersed quickly when we opened the communal
> hallway window, though.
days) to serve as a warning and to help trace leaks.
Mercaptans are the usual ones and are variously described as smelling of
rotten eggs or, more commonly, rotting cabbage.
So I suppose the answer to the question in your subject line is rotting
organic matter.
Another Dave
newshound
Dec 7, 2012, 4:04:55 PM12/7/12
to
sulphide at all. I think it might be methyl mercaptan. Something similar
was added to coal gas too (although I agree, coal gas had a sort of
"gas-works" smell, for those old enough to remember gas works!)
The normal sewer or drains smell is hydrogen sulphide: it's formed by
bacteria in the black slimy sludge which you find in ditches and other
places with stagnant water.
My money would be on it either being from a sewer or soil pipe with some
sort of fault or a sink / washing machine drain without a functioning
trap, or something dead and decaying. Rat under the floorboards? Pigeon
in the loft?
Andy Champ
Dec 7, 2012, 4:12:06 PM12/7/12
to
On 07/12/2012 17:03, QuackDuck wrote:
> I imagine that it's a small amount of some sort of gas (not necessarily
> natural gas since it tested negative) getting in and building up during
> the day, as it does go away quickly when fresh air circulates. I am
> concerned about the week over Christmas because no-one in the building
> will be at home. If whatever it is is left to build up over a week...
FYI the smell in gas isn't natural. They call it a "stencher" (or at
> natural gas since it tested negative) getting in and building up during
> the day, as it does go away quickly when fresh air circulates. I am
> concerned about the week over Christmas because no-one in the building
> will be at home. If whatever it is is left to build up over a week...
least I think they do, though googling doesn't find it) and it's one of
the mercaptans - similar to a skunk. It's not at all like the smell from
a drain - or at least, not to my nose.
If you all think it's like the gas from the cooker that's probably what
it is.
Your CO detector won't pick it up. There are gadgets that will - like this:
<http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mains-Powered-Household-Gas-Detector/dp/B000NVRBYE>
in case that wrapped
<http://tinyurl.com/cayer3q>
Andy
polygonum
Dec 7, 2012, 4:24:20 PM12/7/12
to
On 07/12/2012 21:04, newshound wrote:
<>
>
> You are right about the smell being added, but it isn't like hydrogen
> sulphide at all. I think it might be methyl mercaptan. Something similar
> was added to coal gas too (although I agree, coal gas had a sort of
> "gas-works" smell, for those old enough to remember gas works!)
>
Anyone in the house taken to eating asparagus?
<>
>
> You are right about the smell being added, but it isn't like hydrogen
> sulphide at all. I think it might be methyl mercaptan. Something similar
> was added to coal gas too (although I agree, coal gas had a sort of
> "gas-works" smell, for those old enough to remember gas works!)
>
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1989 May; 27(5): 640–641.
PMCID: PMC1379934
Odorous urine in man after asparagus.
C Richer, N Decker, J Belin, J L Imbs, J L Montastruc, and J F Giudicelli
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379934/
--
Rod
charles
Dec 7, 2012, 5:13:20 PM12/7/12
to
In article <Gesws.462546$g62....@fx06.am4>,
main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
residual gas would come to the surface.
--
From KT24
Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18
stuart noble <stuart...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
> found the source.
we used to get that close to home, The smell came from the old - disused -
> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
> found the source.
main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
residual gas would come to the surface.
--
From KT24
Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18
polygonum
Dec 7, 2012, 5:38:37 PM12/7/12
to
regular basis. As all I was doing was driving through, I rather assumed
that the people who live and work there had reported it. (Anyway, I
somehow always forgot by the time I got home!) But it continued for many
months - maybe years.
After a few particularly smelly days, the gas people turned up and did
some fairly significant digging. Thereafter they seemed to have one part
or another of the road dug up for months - and not always the same
patch! I'd guess there were at least six separate areas where the mains
were replaced.
I would have expected that scale of gas loss to show up on some sort of
metering. Maybe that is expecting too much of their meter accuracy and
reading skills.
--
Rod
Lobster
Dec 7, 2012, 7:12:47 PM12/7/12
to
and (ii) what you are apparently smelling is actual gas, not "burnt gas"
which is where CO comes in.
> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
> found the source.
along and dig another hole outside our house and cause chaos for a
couple of days, then bugger off again. Very odd.
David
Jethro_uk
Dec 7, 2012, 9:04:03 PM12/7/12
to
in France when they started using natural gas.
I was tickled pink, when I used to work for British Gas to come across a
stash of "scratch 'n' sniff" cards they used to give out in the old Gas
Board shops to older customers, to get them used to the different smell
of "high speed gas" as it used to be known.
On a more serious note, the chemical they chose for the smell was very
carefully chosen to be detectable in low concentrations. So a slight
whiff of gas shouldn't be ignored.
Andy Cap
Dec 8, 2012, 1:19:17 AM12/8/12
to
On Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:04:55 +0000, newshound <news...@fairadsl.co.uk> wrote:
>My money would be on it either being from a sewer or soil pipe with some
>sort of fault or a sink / washing machine drain without a functioning
>trap, or something dead and decaying. Rat under the floorboards? Pigeon
>in the loft?
>
I've certainly had experience of a washing machine occasionally smelling rank
>My money would be on it either being from a sewer or soil pipe with some
>sort of fault or a sink / washing machine drain without a functioning
>trap, or something dead and decaying. Rat under the floorboards? Pigeon
>in the loft?
>
during it's cycle. Never did really get to the bottom of it. Is one of the
occupant running one during the day?
Andy C
Grimly Curmudgeon
Dec 8, 2012, 2:08:29 AM12/8/12
to
On Fri, 7 Dec 2012 17:03:00 +0000, QuackDuck
<QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
>what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
Bloody cabbage eaters. All you need is a few odds and sods of cabbage
<QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
>what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
bits lobbed in a corner or a whole cabbage forgotten about and the
whole place has a whiff of gas.
Or a rat under a floorboard - takes a while for the smell to go away,
but can pong for months.
polygonum
Dec 8, 2012, 3:15:19 AM12/8/12
to
On 08/12/2012 02:04, Jethro_uk wrote:
<>
>
<>
>
> On a more serious note, the chemical they chose for the smell was very
> carefully chosen to be detectable in low concentrations. So a slight
> whiff of gas shouldn't be ignored.
>
A number of years ago they reduced its concentration. Seems that people
<>
>
<>
>
> On a more serious note, the chemical they chose for the smell was very
> carefully chosen to be detectable in low concentrations. So a slight
> whiff of gas shouldn't be ignored.
>
were reporting insignificant leaks which resulted in what they
considered an excess of calls.
--
Rod
Chris J Dixon
Dec 8, 2012, 4:08:52 AM12/8/12
to
newshound wrote:
>On 07/12/2012 20:36, Bill Wright wrote:
>> Natural gas has the smell added to it artificially. It doesn't smell
>> like coal gas at all. Which type of gas does yours smell like?
>> The smell added to natural gas is like rotten eggs.
>
>On 07/12/2012 20:36, Bill Wright wrote:
>> Natural gas has the smell added to it artificially. It doesn't smell
>> like coal gas at all. Which type of gas does yours smell like?
>> The smell added to natural gas is like rotten eggs.
>
>You are right about the smell being added, but it isn't like hydrogen
>sulphide at all. I think it might be methyl mercaptan.
Often described as smelling like rotting cabbage.
>sulphide at all. I think it might be methyl mercaptan.
Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
ch...@cdixon.me.uk
Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.
harry
Dec 8, 2012, 4:25:08 AM12/8/12
to
Could be something died. Bird, rat, mouse etc.
Carbon monoxide detector does not detect gas, only CO in combustion
gases.
The other possibility is a defective chimney, could be a neighbours
appliance in a communal wall. Look in roof space as well as elsewhere
for this. Cracked pointing etc
Could be defective drains, faulty manhole cover, empty water trap on a
sink/toilet letting sewer gas into the place.
Or could be gas from a leaking gas main outside the property coming
through the ground.
Lobster
Dec 8, 2012, 4:38:02 AM12/8/12
to
On 08/12/2012 02:04, Jethro_uk wrote:
> Board shops to older customers, to get them used to the different smell
> of "high speed gas" as it used to be known.
I remember that now - why "high speed" gas? In what way was it 'faster'
> of "high speed gas" as it used to be known.
than the old 'town' gas?
David
Dave Plowman (News)
Dec 8, 2012, 6:28:05 AM12/8/12
to
In article <eop5c8d9ad07lrkao...@4ax.com>,
Yup - had a dead rat once and it did smell like gas. Which would account
for the 'sniffer' not finding anything. That smell also came and went.
--
*I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few*
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
for the 'sniffer' not finding anything. That smell also came and went.
--
*I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few*
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
polygonum
Dec 8, 2012, 7:30:42 AM12/8/12
to
calorific value and is delivered at a higher pressure.
--
Rod
Gordon Henderson
Dec 8, 2012, 7:35:36 AM12/8/12
to
In article <2rm5c89lrbu5jib2g...@4ax.com>,
Gordon
Andy Cap <atjn...@trashmail.net> wrote:
>I've certainly had experience of a washing machine occasionally smelling rank
>during it's cycle. Never did really get to the bottom of it. Is one of the
>occupant running one during the day?
Too many "eco" washes at 30C. Run a boil wash through it once a month..
>I've certainly had experience of a washing machine occasionally smelling rank
>during it's cycle. Never did really get to the bottom of it. Is one of the
>occupant running one during the day?
Gordon
Mr Pounder
Dec 8, 2012, 9:04:42 AM12/8/12
to
"QuackDuck" <QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote in message
news:QuackDuc...@diybanter.com...
Somebody cooking sprouts? They smell and taste disgusting.
Onions can also stink.
Any Asians? Their food stinks. I am not a racist .................
Bod
Dec 8, 2012, 10:03:25 AM12/8/12
to
Mr Pounder
Dec 8, 2012, 10:09:47 AM12/8/12
to
"Bod" <bodr...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:k9vks7$p35$1...@dont-email.me...
Mr Pounder
Dec 8, 2012, 10:52:33 AM12/8/12
to
"Grimly Curmudgeon" <gri...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:eop5c8d9ad07lrkao...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 7 Dec 2012 17:03:00 +0000, QuackDuck
> <QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
>>so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
>>what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
>
> Bloody cabbage eaters. All you need is a few odds and sods of cabbage
> bits lobbed in a corner or a whole cabbage forgotten about and the
> whole place has a whiff of gas.
>
+1
> <QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
>>so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
>>what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
>
> Bloody cabbage eaters. All you need is a few odds and sods of cabbage
> bits lobbed in a corner or a whole cabbage forgotten about and the
> whole place has a whiff of gas.
>
george - dicegeorge
Dec 8, 2012, 10:58:52 AM12/8/12
to
On 07/12/12 17:03, QuackDuck wrote:
>
>
> Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
some electrical things smell funny when they're getting a bit burnt/old?
> help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
>
>
polygonum
Dec 8, 2012, 11:03:18 AM12/8/12
to
on various kit - including an old Laserjet 4. Some days, maybe one in
four but without any obvious pattern, it would stink for a while. A
strange "organic chemical" smell - towards petrol but not quite.
--
Rod
harry
Dec 8, 2012, 11:33:58 AM12/8/12
to
I seem to remember the comparison they were making was with
electricity which at that time had solid hotplate cookers
Murmansk
Dec 8, 2012, 12:06:51 PM12/8/12
to
I had to have British Gas out once (in the days before Transco)when I thought I smelt gas, the bloke who came also thought it was gas, but it turned out to be coming from next door where an Asian family lived and was a cooking smell.
There's certainly one spice called asafoetida that really pongs as I remember buying some and everyone at work was commenting on the smell even thought it was inside my rucsack inside two plastic bags!
There's certainly one spice called asafoetida that really pongs as I remember buying some and everyone at work was commenting on the smell even thought it was inside my rucsack inside two plastic bags!
polygonum
Dec 8, 2012, 12:10:13 PM12/8/12
to
On 08/12/2012 17:06, Murmansk wrote:
> I had to have British Gas out once (in the days before Transco)when I thought I smelt gas, the bloke who came also thought it was gas, but it turned out to be coming from next door where an Asian family lived and was a cooking smell.
>
> There's certainly one spice called asafoetida that really pongs as I remember buying some and everyone at work was commenting on the smell even thought it was inside my rucsack inside two plastic bags!
>
It is used by ENT consultants to check people who claim to have lost
> I had to have British Gas out once (in the days before Transco)when I thought I smelt gas, the bloke who came also thought it was gas, but it turned out to be coming from next door where an Asian family lived and was a cooking smell.
>
> There's certainly one spice called asafoetida that really pongs as I remember buying some and everyone at work was commenting on the smell even thought it was inside my rucsack inside two plastic bags!
>
their sense of smell!
When I have consumed a relatively large amount of it (in truth a tiny
fraction of a teaspoonful), even I can smell it in my sweat for a day or
two after.
--
Rod
QuackDuck
Dec 8, 2012, 11:29:14 AM12/8/12
to
Thank you very much everyone for the replies! There are so many so I'm
not going to quote them all, but that has given me a lot to investigate.
And yes, it smells like the cooker gas, so it's definitely that chemical
that's added to gas (or something that smells similar - I have also
noticed that garlic residue under my fingernails after cooking dinner
smells like that!).
Dead animal: we did have mice in summer, so it could be that. It did
occur to me but I didn't think it could last for four weeks and come and
go, but if someone has experienced this with a dead rat then it's a
possibility.
Washing machine: I've done a couple of "service washes" with mine
recently using soda crystals and 95C water, hasn't made a difference but
could be one of the neighbours.
A leak outside: another possibility - BT came and dug up our street a
few weeks ago (1.5 weeks after smell had started) and seemed to be using
water pumps. Our phone line had gone crackly so I think the heavy rain
had flooded something underground. Surely if they had noticed gas they
would have smelled it though, and we can't smell it outside (but then,
it's not an enclosed space).
One of the neighbours' boilers is under the stairs, actually. The flue
outside stinks of gas when it's on, but the gas guys tested the boiler
along with everything else and said it was fine. I suppose it could be
the flue smell, but I don't see why a) it would come back inside, and b)
it would suddenly start now, after being fine for years.
--
QuackDuck
Java Jive
Dec 8, 2012, 3:30:57 PM12/8/12
to
Because the flue now has a leak indoors?
On Sat, 8 Dec 2012 16:29:14 +0000, QuackDuck
<QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
> One of the neighbours' boilers is under the stairs, actually. The flue
> outside stinks of gas when it's on, but the gas guys tested the boiler
> along with everything else and said it was fine. I suppose it could be
> the flue smell, but I don't see why a) it would come back inside, and b)
> it would suddenly start now, after being fine for years.
--
=========================================================
Please always reply to ng as the email in this post's
header does not exist. Or use a contact address at:
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/JavaJive.html
http://www.macfh.co.uk/Macfarlane/Macfarlane.html
On Sat, 8 Dec 2012 16:29:14 +0000, QuackDuck
<QuackDuc...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
> One of the neighbours' boilers is under the stairs, actually. The flue
> outside stinks of gas when it's on, but the gas guys tested the boiler
> along with everything else and said it was fine. I suppose it could be
> the flue smell, but I don't see why a) it would come back inside, and b)
> it would suddenly start now, after being fine for years.
--
Please always reply to ng as the email in this post's
header does not exist. Or use a contact address at:
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/JavaJive.html
http://www.macfh.co.uk/Macfarlane/Macfarlane.html
m...@privacy.net
Dec 8, 2012, 7:59:14 PM12/8/12
to
On 8 Dec,
Faster than electric for heating the pans, no lag.
--
B Thumbs
Change lycos to yahoo to reply
--
B Thumbs
Change lycos to yahoo to reply
m...@privacy.net
Dec 8, 2012, 8:03:40 PM12/8/12
to
On 8 Dec,
supposedly wood preserving product) the fence. The smell leaks into the house
from the garage and has sent me looking (sans match!) for the gas leak.
harry <harry...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On Dec 7, 5:03 pm, QuackDuck <QuackDuck.b080...@diybanter.com> wrote:
> > Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> > help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> > website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
> >
[snip]
> On Dec 7, 5:03 pm, QuackDuck <QuackDuck.b080...@diybanter.com> wrote:
> > Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> > help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> > website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
> >
>
> Probably accumulates when the windows are all closed up.
>
> Could be something died. Bird, rat, mouse etc.
>
> Carbon monoxide detector does not detect gas, only CO in combustion
> gases.
>
> The other possibility is a defective chimney, could be a neighbours
> appliance in a communal wall. Look in roof space as well as elsewhere
> for this. Cracked pointing etc
>
> Could be defective drains, faulty manhole cover, empty water trap on a
> sink/toilet letting sewer gas into the place.
>
> Or could be gas from a leaking gas main outside the property coming
> through the ground.
I've been taken in several times when SWMBO has creosoted (or some other
> Probably accumulates when the windows are all closed up.
>
> Could be something died. Bird, rat, mouse etc.
>
> Carbon monoxide detector does not detect gas, only CO in combustion
> gases.
>
> The other possibility is a defective chimney, could be a neighbours
> appliance in a communal wall. Look in roof space as well as elsewhere
> for this. Cracked pointing etc
>
> Could be defective drains, faulty manhole cover, empty water trap on a
> sink/toilet letting sewer gas into the place.
>
> Or could be gas from a leaking gas main outside the property coming
> through the ground.
supposedly wood preserving product) the fence. The smell leaks into the house
from the garage and has sent me looking (sans match!) for the gas leak.
polygonum
Dec 9, 2012, 3:44:30 AM12/9/12
to
--
Rod
mogga
Dec 9, 2012, 5:48:58 AM12/9/12
to
On Sat, 8 Dec 2012 15:52:33 -0000, "Mr Pounder"
<MrPo...@RationalThought.com> wrote:
>> Bloody cabbage eaters. All you need is a few odds and sods of cabbage
>> bits lobbed in a corner or a whole cabbage forgotten about and the
>> whole place has a whiff of gas.
>>
>
>+1
>
>Or a rat under a floorboard - takes a while for the smell to go away,
>> but can pong for months.
>
More annomia-ish - but more easy to track down.
<MrPo...@RationalThought.com> wrote:
>> Bloody cabbage eaters. All you need is a few odds and sods of cabbage
>> bits lobbed in a corner or a whole cabbage forgotten about and the
>> whole place has a whiff of gas.
>>
>
>+1
>
>Or a rat under a floorboard - takes a while for the smell to go away,
>> but can pong for months.
>
Dead bodies smell a bit cabbagey-drainy after a week. Any neighbours
not appeared recently?
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk
Mike Barnes
Dec 9, 2012, 4:36:35 AM12/9/12
to
charles <cha...@charleshope.demon.co.uk>:
>In article <Gesws.462546$g62....@fx06.am4>,
> stuart noble <stuart...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
>> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
>> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
>> found the source.
>
>we used to get that close to home, The smell came from the old - disused -
>main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
>residual gas would come to the surface.
Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
was an underground gas pipe there.
--
Mike Barnes
>In article <Gesws.462546$g62....@fx06.am4>,
> stuart noble <stuart...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
>> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
>> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
>> found the source.
>
>we used to get that close to home, The smell came from the old - disused -
>main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
>residual gas would come to the surface.
Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
was an underground gas pipe there.
--
Mike Barnes
Bill
Dec 9, 2012, 8:14:32 AM12/9/12
to
In message <U5cfAxqj...@g52lk5g23lkgk3lk345g.invalid>, Mike Barnes
<mikeba...@gmail.com> writes
>
>Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
>we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
>washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
>But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
>concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
>was an underground gas pipe there.
>
Maybe a scary thought, but what was there before the houses were built?
Any chance that there are some nasty chemicals that are getting lifted
to the surface with the rain?
Any one who knows Widnes will know about contaminated soil :-) I
always thought that one area smelled of cress, the sort that you have
with salad, but it was just the mix of chemicals that had been dumped
over the years.
--
Bill
<mikeba...@gmail.com> writes
>
>Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
>we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
>washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
>But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
>concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
>was an underground gas pipe there.
>
Any chance that there are some nasty chemicals that are getting lifted
to the surface with the rain?
Any one who knows Widnes will know about contaminated soil :-) I
always thought that one area smelled of cress, the sort that you have
with salad, but it was just the mix of chemicals that had been dumped
over the years.
--
Bill
Mr Pounder
Dec 9, 2012, 9:02:55 AM12/9/12
to
news:8k39c8d27ckce9ie4...@4ax.com...
I lied.
I'm white and I'm a racist.
> On Sat, 8 Dec 2012 15:09:47 -0000, "Mr Pounder"
> <MrPo...@RationalThought.com> wrote:
>
>>>> Any Asians? Their food stinks. I am not a racist .................
>>>>
>>>>
>>> You're not !?
>>
>>Of course not, I am a nigger.
>
> Don't be daft, you don't have to be white to be a racist.
> <MrPo...@RationalThought.com> wrote:
>
>>>> Any Asians? Their food stinks. I am not a racist .................
>>>>
>>>>
>>> You're not !?
>>
>>Of course not, I am a nigger.
>
I lied.
I'm white and I'm a racist.
Mike Barnes
Dec 9, 2012, 2:36:26 PM12/9/12
to
Bill <Bi...@birchnet.demon.co.uk>:
>Any chance that there are some nasty chemicals that are getting lifted
>to the surface with the rain?
Funnily enough the outside bogs were in about the right place.
--
Mike Barnes
>In message <U5cfAxqj...@g52lk5g23lkgk3lk345g.invalid>, Mike Barnes
><mikeba...@gmail.com> writes
>
>>
>>Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
>>we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
>>washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
>>But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
>>concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
>>was an underground gas pipe there.
>>
>
>
>Maybe a scary thought, but what was there before the houses were built?
Open fields (in 1801).
><mikeba...@gmail.com> writes
>
>>
>>Interesting. We get a very localised gas-type smell here after rain, and
>>we've never tracked it down. I've entertained the theory that it's being
>>washed out of the soil, and it's good to hear about something similar.
>>But although there is an currently above-round gas pipe in the area
>>concerned, which has been checked twice, it's unlikely that there ever
>>was an underground gas pipe there.
>>
>
>
>Maybe a scary thought, but what was there before the houses were built?
>Any chance that there are some nasty chemicals that are getting lifted
>to the surface with the rain?
--
Mike Barnes
harry
Dec 10, 2012, 8:25:37 AM12/10/12
to
> Well the neighbour with the boiler in the cupboard under the stairs with
> the smelly flue has agreed to get it serviced on Tuesday. The smell is
> always in the stairwell area or in the part of our flat that's directly
> above the stairwell, so I'm back to thinking it is gas from that boiler.
> The flue is stinking right now but the smell isn't around inside, so
> it's definitely an on/off smell even when the boiler is on.
> The emergency gas guys tested it twice already and found nothing,
> although both times they arrived to test it the smell had disappeared.
> Since the boiler servicing will be during the day while the smell is
> usually not around, that might not unearth anything either. I suppose
> all we can do is make sure the neighbour makes the boiler engineer aware
> of what's been going on...
> --
> QuackDuck
That likely won't fix the problem. If the flue is faulty, it needs
fixing.
If the flue gas is leaking into your house, this is a very dangerous
situation. You could be gassed.
> the smelly flue has agreed to get it serviced on Tuesday. The smell is
> always in the stairwell area or in the part of our flat that's directly
> above the stairwell, so I'm back to thinking it is gas from that boiler.
> The flue is stinking right now but the smell isn't around inside, so
> it's definitely an on/off smell even when the boiler is on.
> The emergency gas guys tested it twice already and found nothing,
> although both times they arrived to test it the smell had disappeared.
> Since the boiler servicing will be during the day while the smell is
> usually not around, that might not unearth anything either. I suppose
> all we can do is make sure the neighbour makes the boiler engineer aware
> of what's been going on...
> --
> QuackDuck
That likely won't fix the problem. If the flue is faulty, it needs
fixing.
If the flue gas is leaking into your house, this is a very dangerous
situation. You could be gassed.
js...@ntlworld.com
Dec 10, 2012, 8:49:55 AM12/10/12
to
It is not sufficient to test gas pipework.
NG inspectors should insist they test all services.
For example supply cable entering via a duct will track a gas leak some distance away from the house into that house. BT damaging an underlying gas pipe in this way led to a large explosion some years back.
This is one reason they dig up many areas to find a leak because it can track - clay is the worst for this, rain opens up clogged areas and the leak can be hundreds of yards away.
Rotting organic material can give a gas smell, but it does not have the same additive. However, vapourised paraffin can have a similar smell - greenhouse & similar burners can create unusual smells. Someone who is not used to the house when walking in can typically spot the smell of a gas leak well, because it is very distinct.
That it has undergone conversion could mean there is pipework no longer connected, this CAN hold a gas smell for some time and only release it occasionally if vented only at the bottom. An example being open at the bottom but still containing lighter than air gas right up through the house.
It is not uncommon for lead gas mains to run under houses, so beware. There can be faults out of sight resulting in occasional release of gas trapped under an otherwise impermeable layer during rain. Gas leaks into the sewer network are very bad news - but usually obvious re a stinky area due to people's soil pipe vents.
NG inspectors should insist they test all services.
For example supply cable entering via a duct will track a gas leak some distance away from the house into that house. BT damaging an underlying gas pipe in this way led to a large explosion some years back.
This is one reason they dig up many areas to find a leak because it can track - clay is the worst for this, rain opens up clogged areas and the leak can be hundreds of yards away.
Rotting organic material can give a gas smell, but it does not have the same additive. However, vapourised paraffin can have a similar smell - greenhouse & similar burners can create unusual smells. Someone who is not used to the house when walking in can typically spot the smell of a gas leak well, because it is very distinct.
That it has undergone conversion could mean there is pipework no longer connected, this CAN hold a gas smell for some time and only release it occasionally if vented only at the bottom. An example being open at the bottom but still containing lighter than air gas right up through the house.
It is not uncommon for lead gas mains to run under houses, so beware. There can be faults out of sight resulting in occasional release of gas trapped under an otherwise impermeable layer during rain. Gas leaks into the sewer network are very bad news - but usually obvious re a stinky area due to people's soil pipe vents.
js...@ntlworld.com
Dec 10, 2012, 8:52:53 AM12/10/12
to
On Saturday, December 8, 2012 11:28:05 AM UTC, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> Yup - had a dead rat once and it did smell like gas.
Would you stick to eating greens, much healthier :-)
> Yup - had a dead rat once and it did smell like gas.
whisky-dave
Dec 10, 2012, 8:56:22 AM12/10/12
to
The only other thing Students ;-)
>
>
>
> >
>
> >
Andrew Gabriel
Dec 10, 2012, 11:40:45 AM12/10/12
to
In article <dBvws.792141$vW7.4...@fx19.am4>,
Lobster <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> writes:
> On 07/12/2012 20:23, stuart noble wrote:
> and (ii) what you are apparently smelling is actual gas, not "burnt gas"
> which is where CO comes in.
Many gas appliances release unburned gas into the flue when
lighting up. If the appliance is burning the gas well, you
won't get enough CO in the flue to be dangerous, so there's
no guarantee a CO alarm will go off when exposed to the flue.
>> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
>> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
>> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
>> found the source.
>
> It's been happening in our street for years. Every few months they come
> along and dig another hole outside our house and cause chaos for a
> couple of days, then bugger off again. Very odd.
It can be carried a long way underground in other service
ducts. There was an occasional smell of gas at a road junction
near me. Gas board had been along several times making small
holes in the road and pavement, but obviously couldn't find
the source. One day I walked past, and all the BT inspection
covers were off. They were digging up about 150 yds further
down the road where the leak was, but it was being carried
in BTs ducting and escaping from the manholes around the
junction.
Telephone exchanges have special provision to prevent any gas
which has got into the ducting from leaching into the building.
Sometimes you'll see a tall vent pipe outside which is venting
the ducts before entry to the exchange. A couple of ones I know
it's just a streetlamp column with nothing on the top of it.
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
Lobster <davidlobs...@hotmail.com> writes:
> On 07/12/2012 20:23, stuart noble wrote:
>> On 07/12/2012 17:03, QuackDuck wrote:
>
>>> ETA: We have a carbon monoxide detector in the area of our flat where
>>> the smell is, and it's happy enough and staying quiet.
>
> Not relevant as (i) CO doesn't smell (that's why you need a detector)
>
>>> ETA: We have a carbon monoxide detector in the area of our flat where
>>> the smell is, and it's happy enough and staying quiet.
>
> and (ii) what you are apparently smelling is actual gas, not "burnt gas"
> which is where CO comes in.
Many gas appliances release unburned gas into the flue when
lighting up. If the appliance is burning the gas well, you
won't get enough CO in the flue to be dangerous, so there's
no guarantee a CO alarm will go off when exposed to the flue.
>> I smelt gas in a public park recently. Stopped and asked a dog walker
>> and he said the gas co had been investigating the smell for a "few
>> years". Every now and then they dig something up but so far haven't
>> found the source.
>
> along and dig another hole outside our house and cause chaos for a
> couple of days, then bugger off again. Very odd.
It can be carried a long way underground in other service
ducts. There was an occasional smell of gas at a road junction
near me. Gas board had been along several times making small
holes in the road and pavement, but obviously couldn't find
the source. One day I walked past, and all the BT inspection
covers were off. They were digging up about 150 yds further
down the road where the leak was, but it was being carried
in BTs ducting and escaping from the manholes around the
junction.
Telephone exchanges have special provision to prevent any gas
which has got into the ducting from leaching into the building.
Sometimes you'll see a tall vent pipe outside which is venting
the ducts before entry to the exchange. A couple of ones I know
it's just a streetlamp column with nothing on the top of it.
--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]
dochol...@gmail.com
Dec 10, 2012, 2:09:07 PM12/10/12
to
On Friday, December 7, 2012 10:13:20 PM UTC, charles wrote:
<snip>
<snip>
> we used to get that close to home, The smell came from the old - disused -
> main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
> residual gas would come to the surface.
>
I think you'll find the mercaptans they use for the smell can hang around in old pipes and in the soil around where there was a leak, even though the actual gas has long gone. Any disturbance or ground water movement can then bring them to the surface.
> main pipe which was still in the ground. after heavvy rain a tiny bit of
> residual gas would come to the surface.
>
QuackDuck
Dec 10, 2012, 9:52:23 AM12/10/12
to
'whisky-dave[_2_ Wrote:
> ;2975778']On Saturday, December 8, 2012 3:58:52 PM UTC,
> diceg...@hotmail.com wrote:-
> On 07/12/12 17:03, QuackDuck wrote:
> -
> -
> -
> Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for-
> -
> help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about
> every-
> -
> website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.-
>
>
>
> some electrical things smell funny when they're getting a bit
> burnt/old?-
>
>
> some electrical things smell funny when they're getting a bit
>
> The old ceramic type holders from the 60s & 70s I think although
> normmaly only smell when they get hot,m but smells more like cats ****
> The old ceramic type holders from the 60s & 70s I think although
> IIRC.
>
> The only other thing Students ;-)
> -
>
> The only other thing Students ;-)
> -
> -
> -
> --
Ah yes, I know that cat pee smell from faulty electrics. Definitely not
that. Nah this does smell like cooker/flue gas.
I think it's a very small amount building up during the day, because it
disappears quickly when we open the window in the communal hallway when
getting home in the evening. If it builds up when no-one is around for
that week at Christmas though, that could be bad news. I'm leaving my
neighbour a detailed note for the boiler servicing tomorrow - hopefully
that will turn up something. If not, assuming we all survive until then,
we're moving out in the new year!
--
QuackDuck
m...@privacy.net
Dec 10, 2012, 8:07:28 PM12/10/12
to
On 10 Dec,
with a PO employee (who also posts here) a few minutes after the bang (we
were queueing in the nearby chinese takeaway on the way back from the pub
when the bang occured, he was the first BT employee at the scene). Gas Board
person was swearing it wasn't gas (for insurance purposes) whilst his gas
detector was screaming. then there was a roar from the ground which was
eveloping to a crescendo of a bang. This was repeated with a louder bang,
and flame from a manhole where people were digging, resulting on one being
hospitalised with severe burns. For some unexplained reason, the assembled
crowds retreated by several fathoms after that.
A section ofthe roof of the exchange re-appreared in the attic of a house at
least a hundred yards away.
Telephone service took several months to restore with about 7 temporary
exchanges located on the same site and at a neighbouring exchange.
Stench pipes started to appear at all exchanges shortly afterwards to vent
the cable chamber, which then had updated seals into the building.
and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
> Telephone exchanges have special provision to prevent any gas
> which has got into the ducting from leaching into the building.
> Sometimes you'll see a tall vent pipe outside which is venting
> the ducts before entry to the exchange. A couple of ones I know
> it's just a streetlamp column with nothing on the top of it.
I remember visiting (Circa 1973) the one that led to that provision, together
> Telephone exchanges have special provision to prevent any gas
> which has got into the ducting from leaching into the building.
> Sometimes you'll see a tall vent pipe outside which is venting
> the ducts before entry to the exchange. A couple of ones I know
> it's just a streetlamp column with nothing on the top of it.
with a PO employee (who also posts here) a few minutes after the bang (we
were queueing in the nearby chinese takeaway on the way back from the pub
when the bang occured, he was the first BT employee at the scene). Gas Board
person was swearing it wasn't gas (for insurance purposes) whilst his gas
detector was screaming. then there was a roar from the ground which was
eveloping to a crescendo of a bang. This was repeated with a louder bang,
and flame from a manhole where people were digging, resulting on one being
hospitalised with severe burns. For some unexplained reason, the assembled
crowds retreated by several fathoms after that.
A section ofthe roof of the exchange re-appreared in the attic of a house at
least a hundred yards away.
Telephone service took several months to restore with about 7 temporary
exchanges located on the same site and at a neighbouring exchange.
Stench pipes started to appear at all exchanges shortly afterwards to vent
the cable chamber, which then had updated seals into the building.
QuackDuck
Dec 30, 2012, 5:21:39 PM12/30/12
to
Hi everyone, I just wanted to update to say the problem is now solved. I
thought it would be polite to do so, in case anyone finds this
discussion in the future while doing a search on the same problem, so
they will know how it worked out in the end!
It turns out that the mystery gas smell was in fact the fumes from the
flue of my neighbour's boiler downstairs. Since it was already burned
(although as discussed there's never perfect combustion) the gas
detector guys and our CO alarm never picked it up, and what we smelled
was just the unburned chemical additive to make the 'gas smell'.
Although the flue fumes had never bothered us before, it started to do
so because the boiler was situated in an outdoor shed attached to the
back of our building, below where we were smelling the gas. The shed had
started falling to bits, and the boiler exhaust had turned really,
really rusty (the guy poked a hole in it with a biro pen to
demonstrate), so the fumes were coming back inside and travelling up to
our flat that way. So our neighbour is rebuilding the shed and has even
arranged to get a brand new boiler installed.
So a happy ending, and thank you very much for all the help :)
--
QuackDuck
Message has been deleted
Weatherlawyer
Dec 31, 2012, 2:47:18 PM12/31/12
to
On Dec 8, 9:25 am, harry <harry130...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On Dec 7, 5:03 pm, QuackDuck <QuackDuck.b080...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 7, 5:03 pm, QuackDuck <QuackDuck.b080...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind my first post being a request for
> > help, but I've been trawling the internet for days and read about every
> > website/forum post there is about gas smells in buildings.
>
> > I live in a 140 year-old(ish) granite building that at some point has
>
> > been converted into four flats. Because it was all one big house before,
> > we do get noise and cooking smells etc travelling between floors.
>
> > Anyway, about 4 weeks ago now we noticed a gas-like smell in the
> > communal ground floor hallway, and we also seemed to get 'clouds' of it
> > moving through our (first floor) kitchen and hallway, above where the
> > ground floor smell was. It dispersed quickly when we opened the communal
> > hallway window, though.
>
> > A week later the smell was coming more frequently (3 out of 7 days) and
> > our neighbour called the Emergency Gas line. We had a couple of SGN guys
> > come out and test everything. Unfortunately the smell had mostly
> > dispersed by the time they arrived and they detected nothing after a
> > thorough examination.
>
> > A week later we called them out again, and more or less the same thing
> > happened - smell had mostly gone by the time they came, and again they
> > tested all along the gas pipes, everyone's boilers, cookers, etc -
> > everything they could think of. They found nothing, and said it couldn't
> > be gas, it's just something else with a similar smell.
>
> > Another two weeks on and we're still getting the smell, although not
> > every day. It's almost always there when we come home in the evening,
> > and seems to disperse as we open a window (or when everyone else in the
> > building comes home and fresh air gets in). No-one is usually in the
> > building during the day, and our boilers are not usually on either (yet
> > it appears anyway). Once the smell disperses, it doesn't reappear during
> > the night or early morning (also a time when no fresh air gets into the
> > building).
>
> > I imagine that it's a small amount of some sort of gas (not necessarily
> > natural gas since it tested negative) getting in and building up during
> > the day, as it does go away quickly when fresh air circulates. I am
> > concerned about the week over Christmas because no-one in the building
> > will be at home. If whatever it is is left to build up over a week...
>
> > Of course we could leave a communal hallway window open over that week
> > when no-one is around, but we are worried about pipes freezing. Also, I
> > just hate not knowing what it is! The emergency gas guys told us not to
> > worry, it will probably go away by itself in time, and it couldn't be a
> > gas pipe leak as that would be constant. But I've read that sewer gas
> > and so on can also be combustible, so I wonder if anyone has any ideas
> > what this could be, so we can get it sorted before everyone goes away?
>
> > Thanks very much, and sorry about the long post. I just wanted to make
> > sure I gave as much detail as possible :)
>
> > ETA: We have a carbon monoxide detector in the area of our flat where
> > the smell is, and it's happy enough and staying quiet.
>
> > --
> > ETA: We have a carbon monoxide detector in the area of our flat where
> > the smell is, and it's happy enough and staying quiet.
>
> > QuackDuck
>
> Probably accumulates when the windows are all closed up.
>
> Could be something died. Bird, rat, mouse etc.
>
> Carbon monoxide detector does not detect gas, only CO in combustion
> gases.
>
> The other possibility is a defective chimney, could be a neighbours
> appliance in a communal wall. Look in roof space as well as elsewhere
> for this. Cracked pointing etc
>
> Could be defective drains, faulty manhole cover, empty water trap on a
> sink/toilet letting sewer gas into the place.
>
> Or could be gas from a leaking gas main outside the property coming
> through the ground.
It could be someone with a food allergy or it could be that the sewer
> Probably accumulates when the windows are all closed up.
>
> Could be something died. Bird, rat, mouse etc.
>
> Carbon monoxide detector does not detect gas, only CO in combustion
> gases.
>
> The other possibility is a defective chimney, could be a neighbours
> appliance in a communal wall. Look in roof space as well as elsewhere
> for this. Cracked pointing etc
>
> Could be defective drains, faulty manhole cover, empty water trap on a
> sink/toilet letting sewer gas into the place.
>
> Or could be gas from a leaking gas main outside the property coming
> through the ground.
stack pipe is too low or close to a window or fan/vent. It only blows
into the house if the wind direction allows it to.
Converting the building into four apartment will have radically
changed the mechanics of the building. And of course the services will
be totally different than in its better days.
Grimly Curmudgeon
Dec 9, 2012, 8:14:02 AM12/9/12
to
Why this is marked as abuse? It has been marked as abuse.
Report not abuse
Ratman
Sep 11, 2017, 1:45:12 PM9/11/17
to
replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote:
Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can assure you
that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always report
the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about it!
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/what-smells-like-gas-but-probably-isn-t-gas-856137-.htm
Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can assure you
that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always report
the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about it!
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/what-smells-like-gas-but-probably-isn-t-gas-856137-.htm
NY
Sep 11, 2017, 1:57:19 PM9/11/17
to
"Ratman" <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote in
message news:CYztB.1665122$fz3.8...@fx07.am4...
couldn't be mains gas because the nearest gas main is about a mile away, and
it was only in our house, not outside or in a neighbour's house.
And yes, it was a dead rat in the loft. Fortunately it had died within arm's
length of the edge of the floorboarding because the pillocks who had boarded
our loft had glued all the 1x2 metre boards down as well as screwing them
down. Since I'd no idea where the smell was coming from, I'd have had to
destroy every board in turn by cutting along both sides of the rafter till I
found the corpse. Luckily I found it after only searching between a few of
the rafters. Dragging it out using a turned--inside-out plastic bag and then
triple-wrapping it in more bags was not the nicest job in the world.
Is bottled propane and butane "scented" with similar chemicals (mercaptans,
IIRC) as mains gas so leaks can be detected?
message news:CYztB.1665122$fz3.8...@fx07.am4...
> replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote:
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can assure
> you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
I can remember us getting a very strong pong of gas in our house. We knew it
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can assure
> you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
couldn't be mains gas because the nearest gas main is about a mile away, and
it was only in our house, not outside or in a neighbour's house.
And yes, it was a dead rat in the loft. Fortunately it had died within arm's
length of the edge of the floorboarding because the pillocks who had boarded
our loft had glued all the 1x2 metre boards down as well as screwing them
down. Since I'd no idea where the smell was coming from, I'd have had to
destroy every board in turn by cutting along both sides of the rafter till I
found the corpse. Luckily I found it after only searching between a few of
the rafters. Dragging it out using a turned--inside-out plastic bag and then
triple-wrapping it in more bags was not the nicest job in the world.
Is bottled propane and butane "scented" with similar chemicals (mercaptans,
IIRC) as mains gas so leaks can be detected?
F
Sep 11, 2017, 1:59:18 PM9/11/17
to
On 11/09/2017 18:45, Ratman wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote:
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can
> assure you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
>
In reply to a post from 31 December 2012... can't we just ignore the
> replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote:
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can
> assure you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
>
crap that comes from the super crap that is Homeownershub?
--
F
Fredxxx
Sep 11, 2017, 2:31:13 PM9/11/17
to
On 11/09/2017 18:45, Ratman wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote: Having spent more than 21 years
> in the pest control industry I can assure you that the most likely
> cause is dead rodents. That said you should always report the smell
> of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about it!
>
Don't you think the smell would have gone away by now?
> in the pest control industry I can assure you that the most likely
> cause is dead rodents. That said you should always report the smell
> of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about it!
>
This might assist you with posting to a newsgroup, albeit through a website:
https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1855
- If you are sending a reply to a message or a posting be sure you
summarize the original at the top of the message, or include just
enough text of the original to give a context.
Brian Reay
Sep 11, 2017, 3:44:20 PM9/11/17
to
at least in fuel applications. The Butane used in things like aerosols
(since CFCs were banned) is left unodourised. I seem to recall that not
everyone can smell Mercaptan. Some say it smells like rotten eggs but
not I don't think so.
NY
Sep 11, 2017, 4:29:12 PM9/11/17
to
"Brian Reay" <no...@m.com> wrote in message
news:op6p2f$r4h$1...@dont-email.me...
to me they smell like a combination of rotten eggs and dogshit.
The only thing that is worse is the chemical that smells of vomit (or rather
vomit contains this chemical, hence its smell - let's get cause and effect
the right way round). I remember in my year off before university (thirty
five years ago - time flies) I worked in a chemistry research lab, and
someone was using this chemical (butyric/butanoic acid) - in a
well-ventilated fume cupboard. And he dropped the vial that he was
extracting it from. Even a few mls, inside a fume cupboard with a large
inrush of air, managed to produce a noticeable pong in the lab. And this
happened a few minutes before the MD was bringing round a group of VIPs. The
MD walked in, retched at the sudden smell, as did all his guests (we'd had a
few minutes to get used to it) and spluttered "Is everyone... all right...
in here. Has anyone been "ill"?" and ushered the VIPs out again quickly.
news:op6p2f$r4h$1...@dont-email.me...
> Yes, the various LPGs are all odourless and have Ethyl Mercaptan added, at
> least in fuel applications. The Butane used in things like aerosols (since
> CFCs were banned) is left unodourised. I seem to recall that not everyone
> can smell Mercaptan. Some say it smells like rotten eggs but not I don't
> think so.
I suppose if someone has no sense of smell, they can't smell mercaptans, but
> least in fuel applications. The Butane used in things like aerosols (since
> CFCs were banned) is left unodourised. I seem to recall that not everyone
> can smell Mercaptan. Some say it smells like rotten eggs but not I don't
> think so.
to me they smell like a combination of rotten eggs and dogshit.
The only thing that is worse is the chemical that smells of vomit (or rather
vomit contains this chemical, hence its smell - let's get cause and effect
the right way round). I remember in my year off before university (thirty
five years ago - time flies) I worked in a chemistry research lab, and
someone was using this chemical (butyric/butanoic acid) - in a
well-ventilated fume cupboard. And he dropped the vial that he was
extracting it from. Even a few mls, inside a fume cupboard with a large
inrush of air, managed to produce a noticeable pong in the lab. And this
happened a few minutes before the MD was bringing round a group of VIPs. The
MD walked in, retched at the sudden smell, as did all his guests (we'd had a
few minutes to get used to it) and spluttered "Is everyone... all right...
in here. Has anyone been "ill"?" and ushered the VIPs out again quickly.
Brian Gaff
Sep 12, 2017, 4:24:46 AM9/12/17
to
As this one came from the Home owners club interface the rat is probably so
old by now that its ceased to smell altogether!
Brian
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"NY" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:v7CdnQ8HQ7nhUyvE...@brightview.co.uk...
old by now that its ceased to smell altogether!
Brian
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"NY" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:v7CdnQ8HQ7nhUyvE...@brightview.co.uk...
Tricky Dicky
Sep 12, 2017, 5:17:25 AM9/12/17
to
One possible cause of gas like smells that nobody has mentioned are stink horns. This fungi has an uncanny resemblance to male genitals with a white root ball out of which protrudes a phallus like growth. At its most pungent it looks like a phallus post "coitus interruptus " covered in a sticky liquid that smells like rotting flesh thus attracting flies who spread the spores. These are usually found under hedges and undergrowth and wooded areas. We had problem at our last house as the next door neighbour had a large wooded garden that along side ours was very much a wilderness. I had gas engineers trying to locate leaks which would waft in doorways or Windows when opened only to eventually discover it was the stinkhorns.
Richard
Richard
Andrew
Sep 13, 2017, 6:51:06 AM9/13/17
to
On 11/09/2017 18:45, Ratman wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Ratman wrote:
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can
> assure you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
>
Why are you only now replying to a post made FIVE years ago ?.
> Having spent more than 21 years in the pest control industry I can
> assure you
> that the most likely cause is dead rodents. That said you should always
> report
> the smell of gas to the appropriate authority. Absolutely no doubt about
> it!
>
The date shows very clearly, so you cannot miss it.
Did you suddenly feel bored one day ?.
Everglade
Dec 21, 2017, 10:44:04 PM12/21/17
to
replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is coming
from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the hallway... We
don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The smell is
never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it comes
and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
eliminate it, would love to hear.
This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is coming
from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the hallway... We
don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The smell is
never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it comes
and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
eliminate it, would love to hear.
tabb...@gmail.com
Dec 21, 2017, 11:24:22 PM12/21/17
to
On Friday, 22 December 2017 03:44:04 UTC, Everglade wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
sometimes rot smells like gas, sometimes not.
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
NT
Brian Gaff
Dec 22, 2017, 2:45:15 AM12/22/17
to
The original was posted years ago.
posted on December 7, 2012, 5:03 pm
So if they have not died, blown up or fixed it by now they must have gone
nose blind as the commercial says.
Brian
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"Everglade" <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote in
message news:5c%_B.104370$wk7....@fx28.am4...
posted on December 7, 2012, 5:03 pm
So if they have not died, blown up or fixed it by now they must have gone
nose blind as the commercial says.
Brian
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message news:5c%_B.104370$wk7....@fx28.am4...
Brian Gaff
Dec 22, 2017, 2:47:45 AM12/22/17
to
Yeah dead animals, rot, some Fungi, .
Maybe its the rotting remains of the designer of the home owners club web
site?
:-)
news:067d7683-dcdb-4eef...@googlegroups.com...
Maybe its the rotting remains of the designer of the home owners club web
site?
:-)
Brian
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<tabb...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Brian Reay
Dec 22, 2017, 3:02:40 AM12/22/17
to
sulphur, others rotten eggs.
I wouldn't be surprised if the glues etc used in making the compressed
chipboard have an 'interesting' collection of compounds which some
people can smell.
If you notice a film on the inside of your windscreen, it contains some
chemicals which have 'gassed off' from the plastics in the car- more so
when the car is new, when it is hot etc. Eventually, things become
brittle and crack etc. The 'new car smell' is all kinds of chemicals.
--
Suspect someone is claiming a benefit under false pretences? Incapacity
Benefit or Personal Independence Payment when they don't need it? They
are depriving those in real need!
https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
Martin Brown
Dec 22, 2017, 3:57:58 AM12/22/17
to
On 22/12/2017 03:44, Everglade wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
You might want to check to see if it was recently repainted with B&Q's
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
finest Valspar made paint. They had a big problem with a batch this year
that lacked a crucial antifungal agent and goes seriously mouldy with
odd smells like dead cat and urine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/20/bq-customers-compensated-complaining-paint-smells-like-cat-urine/
Other paint manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank.
--
Regards,
Martin Brown
The Natural Philosopher
Dec 22, 2017, 4:23:23 AM12/22/17
to
On 22/12/17 03:44, Everglade wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
Probably outgaqssing from the plastics (melamine?) used in the cabinets.
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
Like a dead mouse, in time the smell will go
--
“It is hard to imagine a more stupid decision or more dangerous way of
making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people
who pay no price for being wrong.”
Thomas Sowell
Cynic
Dec 22, 2017, 3:24:05 PM12/22/17
to
The smell from the Granox rendering plant was quite entertaining.
Dan S. MacAbre
Dec 22, 2017, 4:45:29 PM12/22/17
to
Everglade wrote:
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
We had a smell of gas that took a long time to track down. Even the
> replying to QuackDuck, Everglade wrote:
> This sounds EXACTLY like what we have been experiencing since moving into a
> completely renovated home last year. We are pretty sure the smell is
> coming
> from the cabinets in the kitchen, hallway and bathrooms. Suspect it's from
> the stain but not positive. As you said, when we leave windows open it
> quickly leaves. It has a "gassy" smell but isn't gas. It moves around the
> house being worse sometimes by a door, above the stove, in the
> hallway... We
> don't know if it is toxic but it sure smells like it would be. The
> smell is
> never in the two rooms of the house that have no new cabinets, so highly
> likely it's coming from the cabinets. Very hard to pin down because it
> comes
> and goes and moves around. If anyone knows what this might be or how to
> eliminate it, would love to hear.
>
British Gas bloke said the loss was too small to investigate, but the
faint smell in one corner of the room was annoying. I knocked out some
plaster where it had been chased into the wall, and at the top, I could
see where the pipe bend had been hammered so that it could more easily
be plastered over (it would otherwise have stuck proud of the wall).
Over the years, the plaster had corroded the weakened (and unprotected)
copper, until it eventually started to leak. It was only a tiny leak,
but the mercaptan is, of course, very noticeably smelt.
Brian Gaff
Dec 23, 2017, 3:26:25 AM12/23/17
to
When I was young in and around SW London. you got things like
Strong smell of beer, coffee in Putney, many places smelled of gas and one
particular place smelled like candles. Smells can be very evocative.
Brian
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"Cynic" <johnje...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3f780885-ac4c-4fb7...@googlegroups.com...
Strong smell of beer, coffee in Putney, many places smelled of gas and one
particular place smelled like candles. Smells can be very evocative.
Brian
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