Sewage smell. ... "These are chemicals associated with a ⦠This smell is actually a safety precaution and it ⦠It probably is coming from a drain. This sometimes is confused with the rotten-egg smell described in the box on page four, but itâs less âeggyâ and more like the smell of an outhouse or a portable toilet. A musty or dusty smell is often a sign of mold or mildew, especially in humid or moisture-prone environments like the basement, laundry room, kitchen, or bathroom. You see, most wires, circuit breakers, etc. Smelling disorders, including phantom smells and a lack of smell, can be a sign of serious health problems. Use your nose to determine which oneâit could be the drain of a toilet, sink, tub or shower. It can involve heating, plumbing, animal control, pesticide application, hot water tanks, cleaning products, furnishings, appliances, mold and a host of other causes that even professional tradespersons may not recognize. Nothing. The right scent can instantly make a room feel fresher, cleaner, and more inviting. are made with heat resistant chemicals. âAnother two months after that, I started smelling chemicals and my food also started tasting like chemicals. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Certain smells that used to smell so nice now smell like something rotten. Natural gas is odorless, so in order to make it detectable, the chemical mercaptan is added, which creates that classic ârotten eggâ odor. My house suddenly smells like paint/chemical, but we have not done any work to the house. House odor identification is a complicated issue because it is usually the result of several causes working together. Old house smell: Those three dreaded words evoke something rather frightening and repellent to most homeowners. 2 days. You can often smell the odor throughout the house, but it is more intense near the breaker box ⦠The other, more dangerous, cause of a rotten egg smell in the home is a gas leak. While there are tons of store-bought products that can help achieve this goal, commercial air fresheners and cleaners made from harsh chemicals aren't the only way to get a great-smelling home.DIY alternatives provide a simple approach to deodorize and scent your space the natural way. Reader Question: How do I rid our home of ânew constructionâ smell? Manufacturers add a chemical to natural gas and propane to give it a distinctive odor, as they are naturally colorless and odorless. Gas smell in house. Ask an Expert is an occasional feature where we pose a question submitted by a reader to our Healthy Home Director Carl Grimes, HHS, CIEC.. What a âfishyâ smell in your home really means. When a circuit breaker overheats, the plastics and heat-resistant chemicals used to make the breakers, as well as outlets or wiring insulation, may emit a fishy or urine-like odor. Nine times out of 10, a fishy smell throughout the home means you have overheating electrical components (circuit breakers, outlets, wiring, etc.). I - Answered by a verified Home Improvement Expert.