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Message |
    
kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:14 pm: | 
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I haven't gotten any responses to this post in the Please Help section, so perhaps Home Fixit is where it should be:
A week or so ago, the unfinished room in our basement suddenly developed an odor that resembles paint thinner. We have searched it pretty thoroughly and cannot find a source. Haven't even been able to pinpoint a location within the room. Datapoints that may be relevant:
1) We had a refrigerator put into the basement room a couple of weeks ago. Could it be leaking something? It is still keeping things cold. The smell often seems to be stronger on the other side of the room.
2) A drainpipe outside the house (under the driveway) was clogged, and it was dug up a week or so ago and a section cut out and replaced. The trench was refilled with gravel but has not yet been paved over. Could something be in there? Wouldn't it have dissipated by now? Wouldn't it be noticeable outside rather than inside?
We are completely mystified. Any suggestions as to where else to look would be welcome. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10391
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:42 pm: |
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Kathy, is the drain hooked into the sanitary sewer system? Someone might have dumped paint thinner into their drain. Also if the repair was glued with solvent you might be smelling that. Is there a drain in the basement hooked to where the repair was done?
Is the refigerator new or used? Possibly it is leaking refrigerant.
Common sense would say that this has to linked to either the refrigerator or the drain because of the timing. But then common sense is an over rated commodity. 
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kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 1238
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 6:36 pm: |
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Bob, thanks for your reply. Exterior perimeter drains (what was dug up) go I'm not sure where--but there was no detectable odor outside. Any solvent/glue on the repair should have dried/dissipated by now, I would think--again, no smell detectable outside. French drains under the basement floor go into a sump and pump which pumps water up and out a discharge pipe onto the driveway, whence it runs down to the back of the property. No smell detectable at the discharge point outside. The sump itself has a cover which is screwed on. There is no open drain in the basement floor.
The refrigerator is new. Smell does not seem to be stronger behind or around the refrigerator. It is still working fine (cold). What is being used for refrigerant these days? Would it smell like paint thinner?
It seemed today as if the smell might be a little less strong than a couple of days ago, but perhaps we are all losing our ability to smell it  |
The Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 1331
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 7:09 am: |
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Kathy, ask your husband if that's where he disposed of his first wife.... |
kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 1239
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:28 pm: |
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I am his first wife. And the house is less than 2 years old.... |
mimi
Citizen
Username: Mimi
Post Number: 197
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:39 pm: |
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kathy,
odd. i noticed the same thing a couple of days ago in our basement. i'm in the tuscan section of town. you, too, by any chance? thought it was just my pregnant nose exagerating things. perhaps not...
m
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kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 1240
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:52 pm: |
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Hi Mimi, I don't actually live in NJ any more--lived in South Orange for more than 18 years but moved to Maryland a year and a half ago. But this message board is still a great source of information! |
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