Special offer

"You Know There's An Odor, But You Don't Know Why"

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

I was called by a couple to evaluate what might be causing a problem with their condo.  Over the phone I heard, "You know there's an odor, but you don't know why."

Everyone notices it.  There is no mold in the house.  There are no stains.  It is persistent.  We notice it as soon as we walk inside.

I heard this over and over during the conversation.

It had rained just a bit over night. 

Getting there is the morning the first thing I did was look at the outside.

I noticed three things.

First, a lot of square footage of roof came down one downspout.  You can see this downspout on the right center of the photo.

Second, it drains onto a small metal roof (good quality) but that the gutter is inclined improperly.

Notice how the gutter angles down and away from the downspout into which it drains?

Third, the brick work is wet, stained and mossy above and to the left of their living room window.  This has been happening for a while!  Is water getting into the unit?

It was then that I rang the doorbell!

Yes, I noticed upon entering, there is an odor!  And mostly in the living room near the door.  It disappears when I went up and into the second level of the condo.

But I was pretty sure I knew why.

It was time for Mighty Mo! 

When I break out the camera, I always demonstrate its power a bit for the client.  I show them the wall, on which they see nothing in the camera view screen.  Then, with a full hand, I touch the wall for less than 1/2 second and show them a very clear hand print at where I touched! 

The thermal camera sees in tenths of a degree.  Even though my hand print is only slightly warmer than the surrounding wall, the hand print is exceptionally clear and will linger for about a minute.

Clients love to look over my shoulder.  They were VERY IMPRESSED to see what was going on with their wall.  And to see my moisture meter register nearly 30% moisture.  That is after a small rain.

When it rains a lot, imagine how much water comes down that one lonely downspout onto that small metal shed roof!  And how much of that, therefore, is encouraged into the brick wall and the condo!

I think that's what is smelling!

Looking around the neighborhood, how many similar small gutters did you think I saw!!

The condo association people are going to LOVE to get my report!

My recommendation:  odors are among the most challenging things home inspectors are called on to investigate.  There have been times where I was unable to determine the source.  But in this case, it seems pretty obvious to me.  So, call a home inspector to at least try to find out!  And remember, thermographers are all really cute.

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments (108)

Mark Hoggard
Churchill-Brown & Associates - Nichols Hills - Oklahoma City, OK

Great info & reminder to keep your eyes open during inspections!

Mar 20, 2012 02:27 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Jay, very interesting technology.  I'll have to ask my inspector if he uses it.

Mar 20, 2012 04:24 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes to today's technology & inspectors that use them! I was interested to read what you found but I guess that will be a mystery for now. 

I once had a strange odor in a new house that was only there in the summer months.  I had EVERYONE in that house & everyone said they could smell 'it' but no one knew where it was coming from.  We thought animals had died in the vents, in the walls ??? We tried everything plus some things that we just guessed on & found nothing.  Then one day a guy said 'is your sump pump sealed'?  Well that was it!  A tube of caulk later - no smell.  What happened was the ejector pump was not sealed properly & the AC unit was drawing in the smell along the floor.  So the smell was there, then gone, then there. 

Just a story .....  I've lived thru it before.

Mar 20, 2012 04:47 AM
Ellen Kippel
Weichert Realtors - Suffern, NY
Licensed NY and NJ realtor 914-588-2365

Wow - it sounds like a case for Sherlock Holmes.  If not Sherlock Homes, then at least Mighty Mo and his special equipment to the rescue.  Thanks for all this info.  I love learning about what causes odors and all other home inspection tips. Have a great day!

Mar 20, 2012 05:05 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks Warren.  That will be a log of cataloging!

Steve - training and experience are the real key.  It is a bit art and a bit science.

Michael - not a mouse!  Hard to find, hard to figure out!

Jan - I bought mine about 9 years ago, when they were much more expensive.  But it paid for itself quickly.

 

 

Mar 20, 2012 05:28 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You're selcome Kimo.  We try to be instructive all the time!

Mark - I find AR to be a great learning site too.

Bob - if he did you would know!  He would have sent you marketing right away!

Lyn - no way the thermal camera would have found that one!

Ellen - as a tool, I find Mighty Mo to be the sharpest arrow in my quiver.

Mar 20, 2012 05:32 AM
Sandy McAlpine
RE/MAX EXECUTIVE - Cornelius, NC
Search Lake Norman Homes For Sale - Lake Norman NC

finding those issues takes a little bit of investigating, doesn't it? It's great that you found the problem, maybe not so great for the sellers

Mar 20, 2012 07:36 AM
Julie Babcock -Nook & Cranny Home Inspections
Nook & Cranny Home Inspections Tonawanda, NY - Tonawanda, NY

Isn't it funny how you can almost "see" a leak even when there's no water present?  Missing flashing, gutters tipped the wrong way, or a roof directing water right into a dormer or chimney...  Your client's defect was the same one that, after decades, rotted out the sillplate in my home.  A good inspector and his ol' moisture meter picked that up during my pre-purchase inspection (I wasn't an inspector yet).

Mar 20, 2012 08:24 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Sandy - these are the homeowners!  They moved in when there was nothing to detect and over time realized there is a problem!

Julie - thermal imaging is best done with a moisture meter as sometimes what one migh think to be moisture really isn't.  It's a bit art and a bit science.

Mar 20, 2012 10:26 AM
Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070
Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA
Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

Wow, what timing. An agent in my office is having an odor problem at a rental property. I'll pass on the blog in hopes it helps point her to the righ inspector. Thanks,

Mar 20, 2012 10:40 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I hope it helps Elisa!  Odors are often water related, but not always!

Mar 20, 2012 10:54 AM
Karen Steed
Tallapoosa, Bremen, Waco, Buchanan, Temple, Carrollton - Tallapoosa, GA
Associate Broker Haralson Realty

Jay - you are the MAN!  I always enjoy reading about your adventures.  I wish you were working in Tallapoosa, GA...of course you wuldn't make the big bucks here.

Mar 20, 2012 11:09 AM
Monique Ting
INET Realty Honolulu, HI - Honolulu, HI
Your agent under the sun

Very informative post! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Aloha!

Mar 20, 2012 12:27 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Great job.  What I like is you figured it out before you whipped out the fancy gear.

Mar 20, 2012 01:58 PM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Jay, I always enjoy your post as I always learn something. If AR ever holds a vote for our favorite blogger I would have to vote for you.

Mar 20, 2012 02:37 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Karen - we live in a "booming" market, by comparison to lots of areas around the country.  I wish I was making the big bucks here too!  I was far busier during the Bush Depression...

Ahola Monique.  Very cool to reach out to Hawaii!

Gene - it was somewhat evident because it had rained the night before and there was staining outside.  I would have suspected it, but had it not rained even the camera would not have been so demonstrative.

Thank you Wayne!  That is a very nice compliment, but I learn as much on this site as you do!

Mar 20, 2012 06:45 PM
Ken Anderson
Apex Results Realty Inc., Brokerage - Burlington, ON
Broker in Burlington, Ontario

While the thermography tool is impressive, it still was the keen experienced eye that notated the exterior problem first, and knew where to concentrate his investigation to start with.  Prior to having this tool, you would still have suspected this problem lied where it did and would have pinpointed it, albeit with a lot more troublesome effort.  The point is let's not give this handy tool all the credit.  There is no substitute for the experienced keen awareness of the man.

Mar 20, 2012 11:38 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks.  Like a previous post, Ken, I said you have to find the source.  Well, this water isn't starting inside the wall!

Mar 21, 2012 01:24 AM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Nice catch. I want one of those cameras. It will just be a novelty for me.

Oct 28, 2012 02:17 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Well, they are out there Wayne!  They aren't as easy as they look though.  I have spent thousands in training.

Oct 28, 2012 09:02 PM