#1474 - 11/17/05 07:40 AM
Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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There is a urine smell in my kitchen. I have no pets or children. No central air conditioning or duct work. No food or garbage disposal. I searched the kitchen for rotten food, signs of mold or pests. All I can see is some water stains on the sheet rock under my sink from a leaking seal on my back splash behind my kitchen sink. The sheet rock is not wet just stained. I can not find anything suspicious and I have searched in every cupboard, crack and corner. I have cleaned and scrubbed and wiped surfaces with bleach. The smell is in the air. It comes and goes. When it rains it is worse. It has been lingering a year now but getting worse by the month. All my appliances are brand new. I am the original owner of my home. It is a high ranch and was built in 1972. I have never had a flood or a leak anywhere. I called my plumber he tells me the smell has nothing to do with my pipes. I called a pest control person. He looked everywhere and no critters. I called a mold technical. He wanted to charge me $775.00 to clean dust and a small mold ball under my sink between the floorboard and shelf which I have since cleaned myself with bleach. What could this smell be? Could this smell be harmful to my health? I don’t know what else to do except call a contractor and have my walls ripped open! I sniffed and smelled everywhere and cannot find the origin. I am freaking out and need suggestions or advice or a plan of action. Thank you.
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#1475 - 11/17/05 11:03 AM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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provip
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/03/01
Posts: 1153
Loc: Victoria, BC, Canada
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WOW! you certainly have run the gamut.
Questions:
What's below you...a crawl space or basement...how about above you?
If it is a crawl space have you checked it out?
Has there been anything new done to your house recently such as insulating?
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Bart Blainey, B.E.R.
Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter
Building Envelope Specialist
Master Renovator
provip@prodeck.org
http://www.prodeck.org
Barton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
_________________________
Bart Blainey, B.E.R. Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter Building Envelope Specialist Master Renovator provip@prodeck.org http://www.prodeck.orgBarton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#1476 - 11/17/05 12:19 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thank you so much for responding to my post!
My house consists of two (2) floors. We call it “The Upstairs and the Downstairs” Part of the kitchen is above a large empty room. Nothing in it. No one lives or uses it. Part of the kitchen is also above a bathroom. No one uses it except for once in blue moon. No visible signs of leaks or stains on the ceiling, walls or floors. No floods - ever. I was told by the Pest Control person that the trap is dried up in the shower stall in the downstairs bathroom. I explained that to my plumber when I called. He told me that it is unrelated to the urine smell in the kitchen. However there is a slight sewage back up odor coming from the sink and stall in the downstairs bathroom but it smells nothing like the urine odor in the kitchen. Not even close to it. My upstairs kitchen sink does not have the sewage back up smell I described to you.
I have a crawl space under my landing and steps leading to the upstairs and downstairs portion of my house. However I would think the odor would be above the landing area which is the entrance to the house, not the kitchen. But I will check there as well. What should I be looking for when I go down there?
We had no work done to my house such as insulating. The only work done in the kitchen recently was installing all new appliances within the past year. New wall oven, New Dishwasher, New Refrigerator.
I am sending the pest control person on to my roof to look around for anything suspicious. He is nice enough to do this free of charge. I am also having my friend rip a piece of sheet rock off the wall under the kitchen sink to see what is on the other side.
I called the Dept. Of Health and spoke to someone who thinks it is NOT related to mold because he said mold does not smell like urine / ammonia. He said that mold smells musty. However I am still worried and very upset because and no one has any answers and in the meantime I have to live with this odor not knowing what it is and if it is harmful to my health. Every day I walk into my kitchen in fear. Thank you for your time and I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions you may have.
Originally posted by provip:
WOW! you certainly have run the gamut.
Questions:
What's below you...a crawl space or basement...how about above you?
If it is a crawl space have you checked it out?
Has there been anything new done to your house recently such as insulating?
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#1477 - 11/18/05 10:40 AM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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RemodelingGuy
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 914
Loc: Houston, Texas
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Mold in NO WAY smells like urine.
Two completely different fragrances.
However, if you do not have pets that could be the cause, you may want to contact an exterminator, as rodent urine will smell up an area.
My Thoughts!
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Jimmy McDonald
http://www.StartRemodeling.com
Jimmy@StartRemodeling.com
http://www.ToxicMoldUSA.com
McMoldMan@ToxicMoldUSA.com
Jimmy McDonald ( RemodelingGuy) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
_________________________
Jimmy McDonald http://www.StartRemodeling.comJimmy@StartRemodeling.com http://www.ToxicMoldUSA.comMcMoldMan@ToxicMoldUSA.com Jimmy McDonald ( RemodelingGuy) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#1478 - 11/18/05 01:10 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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I don't have pets and I did contact an exterminator and he found nothing.
Originally posted by RemodelingGuy:
Mold in NO WAY smells like urine.
Two completely different fragrances.
However, if you do not have pets that could be the cause, you may want to contact an exterminator, as rodent urine will smell up an area.
My Thoughts!
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#1479 - 11/18/05 01:18 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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RemodelingGuy
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 914
Loc: Houston, Texas
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On the lighter side! 
Reminds me of a joke -
What's 40 foot long and smells like urine?
A: Line dancing at a nursing home - 
I'll do more research and post a little later!
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Jimmy McDonald
http://www.StartRemodeling.com
Jimmy@StartRemodeling.com
http://www.ToxicMoldUSA.com
McMoldMan@ToxicMoldUSA.com
Jimmy McDonald ( RemodelingGuy) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
_________________________
Jimmy McDonald http://www.StartRemodeling.comJimmy@StartRemodeling.com http://www.ToxicMoldUSA.comMcMoldMan@ToxicMoldUSA.com Jimmy McDonald ( RemodelingGuy) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#1480 - 11/18/05 01:22 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thats a good one! Well I hope it is NOT mold and it is critters. After the pest control person gets up on my roof and has a look around I will let you know if he finds something - or not. He did however go in my attic and he didn't find anything. Thanks for trying to help. Please don't give up on me!
Originally posted by RemodelingGuy:
On the lighter side!
Reminds me of a joke -
What's 40 foot long and smells like urine?
A: Line dancing at a nursing home -
I'll do more research and post a little later!
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#1481 - 11/19/05 05:54 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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provip
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/03/01
Posts: 1153
Loc: Victoria, BC, Canada
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I mentioned insulation because some insulation products have formaldehyde which gives off a very pungent smell, something like urine.
Also many building products such as pressed wood used for cabinets and furniture, etc. have formaldehyde and some draperies, carpets and so on may have this chemical in them.
Formaldehyde was use a lot in the 70's and 80's in many products until the gas issue became prevalent.
Higher temprature and humidity will increase the release of the gases.
Just a little more info for you to consider.
------------------
Bart Blainey, B.E.R.
Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter
Building Envelope Specialist
Master Renovator
provip@prodeck.org
http://www.prodeck.org
Barton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
_________________________
Bart Blainey, B.E.R. Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter Building Envelope Specialist Master Renovator provip@prodeck.org http://www.prodeck.orgBarton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#1482 - 11/21/05 08:40 AM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thank you very much for that very interesting clue. What would cause the formaldehyde chemical to be released in to the air as it is in my kitchen? Do you recommend that I rip open the walls and the floors? What would I be looking for when I do?
Originally posted by provip:
I mentioned insulation because some insulation products have formaldehyde which gives off a very pungent smell, something like urine.
Also many building products such as pressed wood used for cabinets and furniture, etc. have formaldehyde and some draperies, carpets and so on may have this chemical in them.
Formaldehyde was use a lot in the 70's and 80's in many products until the gas issue became prevalent.
Higher temprature and humidity will increase the release of the gases.
Just a little more info for you to consider.
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#1483 - 11/21/05 12:34 PM
Re: Urine / Ammonia Odor In Kitchen
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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I am so glad you mentioned formaldehyde. This is HUGH for me because when my sister walked in the kitchen she told me the kitchen smells like a funeral home which we all know smells like formaldehyde. So I did research on formaldehyde in homes today. As far as insulation goes I have fiberglass (pink) insulation so I assume that rules that theory out. (?) However I have 2 layers of vinyl flooring under what is probably a pressed wood floor. We had a very hot and humid summer with no air conditioning in the house. I am wondering if the formaldehyde is coming from the adhesive and the pressed wood flooring? How can I check to see if this is the cause? Would I see anything or smell anything if I pull up the layers?
Originally posted by yankeedooodle:
Thank you very much for that very interesting clue. What would cause the formaldehyde chemical to be released in to the air as it is in my kitchen? Do you recommend that I rip open the walls and the floors? What would I be looking for when I do?
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Moderator: RemodelingGuy, provip
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