Every homeowner has probably encountered walking into a room in their house then suddenly smelling something foul or nasty out of nowhere. If it came from your garbage can or disposal, then it’s easy enough to get rid of. However, if you’re not sure what you’re smelling and where it’s coming from, then you may need to be more thorough when looking for the source of the smell. To help you find all of the nasty stenches in your home, we listed some of the common sources of bad smells and where you can find them.

Rotten Eggs

The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs is never a good sign if you encounter it at home. The stench alone can be quite unpleasant and overwhelming, so you need to get rid of whatever’s causing it as soon as possible. 

The most obvious assumption is that you have some old eggs sitting around from a couple of Easters ago. Another possibility is that you may have a serious gas leak or electrical problem. This is because faulty electrical components like an outlet can have a smell similar to that of rotten eggs. The same goes for a natural gas leak. Make sure you check these areas of your home to see if any of them could be causing that rotten egg smell.

The Stench of Sewers

Smelling raw sewage in your home could be a sign that you have a dried-out P-trap. To those unfamiliar with a P-trap, it’s the little curved section of piping that helps create a seal from the sewer gas that lurks behind it. A P-trap has a little section that needs to be filled with water to create the necessary blockage. Without it, your P-trap can quickly dry out and cause that awful stench reminiscent of sewage. To avoid this from happening, make sure you use all of the sinks in your house every few days so that P-trap will always have a decent amount of water in it, preventing it from drying out.

Fish Smell

The smell of fish isn’t always unpleasant, but it can be quite unsettling to something fishy even if there’s no fish in sight or near you. That fishy smell can be caused by a number of things like burning plastic, wiring, even electrical components. To check your electrical system, it’s best to turn off the power first at your breaker box and call an electrician as soon as possible. Have them check all your wires and outlets to see if any of them is causing that fishy smell.

Stale Air

If you ever pick up the smell of something stale in your home, it’s very likely that there are air leaks around your house. One of the first things you should check is any recessed lights that you have at home. If you have a leaky attic and it’s connected to your recessed lights, the smell of stale air can easily spread throughout your home. The only way to fix this is to go into your attic and seal any leaks left in there.

Conclusion

Whatever bad smell you may have encountered at home, make sure to find and check whatever the source is as soon as possible. Any foul stench you smell could either be harmless or completely dangerous, so make sure you don’t leave any stone unturned and seek help from a professional when needed.

CANDU Plumbing & Rooter offers an extensive range of plumbing fixtures and services to our valuable customers. As San Fernando Valley’s premier plumbing experts, we repair and fix everything from leaking pipes and faulty faucets to sewer lines. If you ever need the help of an emergency plumber in Canoga Park, contact CANDU Plumbing & Rooter to request a service!