Calling all Home Builders.... can ya help me with this?

diamdave

diamdave

Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Messages
3,283
We have a small Georgian-style home in Chicago. Second floor has three bedrooms and a bathroom.

We are getting this metal / metallic smell or odor

* only in OUR master bedroom
* Only on sunny days (!)
* Only around noon-1, or sometimes 1-2pm, again only on sunny days, etc.

Since the attic covers the whole second floor, I assume if it was something in the attic, we'd get it in every room. Also, we flushed our toilet vents this past summer so I don't think its any kind of waste blockage in those stacks.

Windows are fairly new and closed tight. Nearby factories could be source, but then why again only in one room on that floor? Don't smell it anywhere else in the house.

The roof is a few years old, but this started last year sometime. We have no idea what it could be. It eventually fades, and again is absent when cloudy.

ANY THOUGHTS? Thank you in advance.
 
An overheated motor sometimes has a metallic smell to it. If it's hot and you have a ceiling fan or AC on, it might be from a motor/blower. Try sticking our nose by the fan or air duct. Might want to sniff around any lighting too.

Other possibility is a problem with vents/sewer gas stuff. How old is the house? If it's old and has had some renovations done to it or went from septic to sewer, it's possible something wasn't capped properly or is leaking. Those can be a son of a gun to track down.

Just my lousy DIYer noob thoughts.
 
Do you have painted metal window blinds. I had a problem with them smelling like that in summer. Just a thought.
We had it in only one bedroom too but after awhile figured out it was the side that got all the sun.
 
We have no metal window blinds, we do have one of those Home Depot pleated temporary black shades over our regular, non-light blocking white shade. Maybe its the glue on the top of the temp shade? Hmmm.....
Ceiling fan... we have them in every room, certainly don't use them now, nor last winter, so I can't imagine it smelling unless it was on.

Anything else?
 
Sniff test electric outlets light fixtures, lamps, etc. "ELECTRIC Anything and everything in room". Also around window/s that have direct exposure to sun at said times Caulking sealer etc. Is attic accesable if so check there at said time as well as the room directley under culprit room. take the light bulbs out of fixtures and clean bulb base and check for any sign of arcing (black etc). Closet and bath room In said room also should be looked at!!

As has been stated "ANY" plumbing work since ownership or recorded prior to ownership (that is a tough one) new construction or older?

Keep digging because YOU stated it is isolated to one room!!;)
 
When you notice it stick your head up in the attic and see if it smells the same. I have been in a few too many attics and especially with older insulation in the heat, just the stagnant air will have a somewhat metallic smell. You might have a small leak to the attic and if there is any kind of whole house fan it can pull air out into the room.

A loose central air vent can also blow attic air into the room.

Just some more thoughts.

Edit: Another thought, is the bath in the master bedroom? If so that could be a reason why it is only showing up in the one room if it is plumbing related.
 
We have a bath next to the master bedroom, but you have to go outside the bedroom to enter the bathroom.

I went into the attic, I don't smell it up there.

I smell it near the windows. I opened up the windows. At first I thought it was the shade, but its not. I think it could be sunlight interacting with... the inside bottom plastic strip that a closed window rests on.. the bottom inside window sill That seem to be giving off a smell. Any idea what the hell that is? I know they either use metal stabilizers in the vinyl, or other volatile compounds in the adhesives.
 
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Any hardwood floors? Sniff those too. Forced air vents, radiators. check ceiling and walls for wet/soft spots. Is it an old house (being Georgian)?
 
Diamdave, So you seem to have isolated the smell to widow? The windows in question are they vinyl,wood or aluminum? also are they thermally broke (if aluminum)[you can tell this if after opening lower sash there appears to be a black shinny material sandwiched between an outer and inner frame]. Vinyl when heated WILL give an offensive odor,is the glass single or double pane maybe even triple, the seal you speak of is a weather seal and is usually replacable. does the window close/seal tight at the bottom (not out of square).as I mentioned earlier some types of caulk do SMELL and depending on exposure N,S,E,orW could be worse than others obvisiouly time of day is when the sun is at the peak and most intense other posibilitey is (if multiple pane) the seal between the glass is/has failed does the glass fog/have moisture in between?

Keep looking we will figure it out.:D

PS:I have built my own house from the dirt up, 90% by myself and have been involved in all phases of Residential Construction. ( not tryin to toot my own horn just some credience to what I'm saying);)
 
Wintermute.... your ideas are good. The house is circa 1954. There are no wet spots. nor radiators, just a forced air vent and of course the return vent. Thing is, I don't understand how sunshine could affect any of that if that was somehow the cause.

6.0stroker....I know when I lift my window the smell hits me. In the room it is more metallic like. By the window its stronger, less metal, sort of a burnt smell. It's something in there. I"m going to check what 6.0stroker suggested and will report back in a few minutes.( Gotta wait for my wife to get home to handle our toddler.)
 
OK, I am 90% sure it is the window sill, that is the internal white bottom strip that the window rests on when it is closed. That seems to be the strongest smelling area. Windows do not seem to be thermally broke from what I can tell. These are Republic Acoustic Windows, featuring a 1/4" glass, space, screen, and 1/8" glass, plus a storm window.

Seems to lock tight, no jiggle room, no drafts. I also don't think it is the caulk, smell seems direct from this white shiny bottom area.

I spoke with a guy in the home inspection business here who suggested I put something reflective on it, like aluminum foil, rather than cloth or paper towel, and cover that bottom area and see if it reacts as on a cloudy day.... that is, without smelling.

I hope this isn't vinyl chloride that I"ve been breathing. I read nasty stuff about it. Although, this again was a metal or burnt smell, whereas vinyl chloride is described as a mild, sweet smell.
 
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Typical vinyl window frames are made of PVC you guessed it Poly vinyl chloride BUT they are infused with ultra violet light stabilizers which is supposed to prevent break down under extreme sunlight:confused:( reason why I used the confused smily) "there is nothing that "DOESN'T" over time deteriorate when exposed to sunlight period!!!! It would be interesting to know the corralation of install date/ maufacture compared to the Republic window CO.s demise not to be alarmist but as the Co was failing corners were more than likely cut:grumpy: to save $$$$


Now I am not sure I would advise aluminum foil directley on thye sill metalic material touching vinyl material is NO GOOD and aluminum is one of the best heat conductors three is short of copper. That is why your home wiring is or should be COPPER and a house of your vintage needs to be checked for aluminum wiring as they have a BAD tendency to corrode lose contact and arc there fore causing some MAJOR fire issues. IS THERE an outlet under the window??? SMELL USUALLY RISES!!
 
Republic went out of business last year. We had the windows installed Feb. 5, 2004.

There is no outlet under or near the window. Wouldn't aluminum reflect heat better than conduct it? Thatis why we cover our food when cooking in the oven...?

Some good news.... although Republic, the manufacturer is out of business, I just found my order and paperwork including the 'lifetime warranty' from the seller and installer here in Chicago. I just emailed them and am going to follow up with a call first thing in the morning.
 
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Some good news.... although Republic, the manufacturer is out of business, I just found my order and paperwork including the 'lifetime warranty' from the seller and installer here in Chicago. I just emailed them and am going to follow up with a call first thing in the morning


:thumbup:That is GOOD and ONE of the reasons folks should save paper work!!!:D

Let us know how it turns out.


And yes aluminum is reflective BUT it is also conductive.;)
 
According to some, uPVC used in vinyl windows has no pthalates, the bad cancer-causing substances. Manufacture is hazardous and disposal/burning is highly toxic, but it is relatively inert as a window.
Which leads me then to another possibility... volatile organic compounds (VOC) found in adhesives and binders, includes formaldehyde and toulene, bad stuff... maybe its some adhesive or 'glue' that is being released by the sunlight, rather than any metal stabilizers added to the uPVC....?

any chemists online tonight?
 
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I am a window and siding installer and I have worked in construction for 11 years .I think is may be the seal or weather strip on the bottom of the lower sash ,I am not sure why but some really stink,old and new .I would try cleaning the bottom of the lower sash with warm soapy water then rinse with clean water and let them dry and see if that helps. I have no clue what some of those parts are made of but they can stink to high hell sometimes ,cleaning helps because they often have a coating on them to keep them slippery or to help in forming and placement and that can be a smelly greasy film.
 
diamdave said:
According to some, uPVC used in vinyl windows has no pthalates, the bad cancer-causing substances. Manufacture is hazardous and disposal/burning is highly toxic, but it is relatively inert as a window.
Which leads me then to another possibility... volatile organic compounds (VOC) found in adhesives and binders, includes formaldehyde and toulene, bad stuff... maybe its some adhesive or 'glue' that is being released by the sunlight, rather than any metal stabilizers added to the uPVC....?

any chemists online tonight?
Click to expand...

uv rays do "cure" some plastics
 
UPDATE.. had the window technician out today. He strongly agreed that the smell was bad and should not be so. Took some pics, examined the window, seems to be coming either from the bottom track, 'jamb rails'? and also noticed that the outer screen stunk too. That appears to be made of metal. Weird. I don't know if the screen is absorbing the smell, or itself reacting with sunlight.

He is talking to his service people, said they'd let me know by Monday what to do. I hope I"m not breathing vinyl chloride! Interesting guy... he was quite sympathetic to my plight, and at the same time very frank in his disgust with the company. He is the ONLY full time technican, to his dismay! His exact opinion was that you can't patch a problem like this like you can sometims do with wood wiindows, and that this window "... is toast." Getting the company, however, to do what is right, replace it, is another matter.

THE BRAIN: I did take some Dawn and warm water, and washed the lower sash as well as pretty much the whole window. Unfortunately the smell was still there the next day. Thank you though. IF you think of anything else, I'm all ear.

Stench could be coming also from the far left and far right bottom corner, there is a small opening on each side, I presume for drainage. It is really so hard to pinpoint. I took off the screen, so we will eliminate that. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, if it still smells we will know it is not the screen.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if it was the screen, some of those old metal screens had a weird smell to them strong, metallic/chemically smell, and not a good one at that.
 
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