"Old House" smell

[AnonymousImport]

We have renovated a 30 year old house.

All new plumbing, CH, windows, doors, carpet throughout, artex ceilings, new gloss, new kitchen, new bathroom etc etc

However, in some rooms, there is a slight "musty" smell. There is no damp anywhere, and we checked all the under floor areas of the ground floor during rewire/replumb. Near the front door is a meter cupboard, largely made of hardboard, which tends to smell...I think it may have been damp at some stage in the past.

One of the upstairs rooms also smells of gas from time to time. There is no gas supply to any area upstairs, nor has there been previously.

The house is a dormer bungalow.

Any thoughts or pointers most welcome...

 

[AnonymousImport]

I had a similar problem - where the smell lasted for several months. Keep the windows open and the place well ventilated. If you are having visitors try putting a little vanilla essence in a baking tray and place in a low warm oven. The smell will permeate through the house, making it smell fresh and inviting. If your house is similar to mine, you will find the smell fading away eventually.

 

[jaynewright]

Is the house detached? I had a problem some years back - and after replastering it still pervaded - it was somehow leaching through from next door - never solved it unfortunately!

[Edited by jaynewright on 09-07-2002 at 8:21 AM GMT]

 

[stevetravers]

if you smell gas you must phone the gas repair service asap. i put up with the ocasional waft of gas for years.turned out the old lead pipes had become porous.they,ll check them free of charge.

 

[AnonymousImport]

No lead pipes - property built 1971.

It may not be gas - just something that smells like it.

Take your point about safety.

House is semi-detached. Not sure if next door whiffs......

Some of the odd smells we have had were due to the Artex...

Still like to know about mustiness...

 

[AnonymousImport]

Blimey, are you sure you're not living in my house??

I have exactly the same problem with a smelly meter cupboard - i think this is where the damp musty smell is coming from.

I have just moved into this house and have been trying to keep all the rooms aired as much as possible...still a bit whiffy, so going to keep an eye out for any damp patches, although like you, my house was recently damp proofed and replastered etc.

 

[AnonymousImport]

I noticed that the electricity supply under the floorboards near the pongy meter cupboard is a rather large hole. This appears to be deep and damp and muddy.

I reckon Norweb did their usual couldn't give a fig installation. I am trying to find a way of getting them (now TXU Energi) to rectify it. Place your bets..

The rest of the house seems to have become less musty, but that may just be us getting accustomed to it....

All I have to do now is find a way of driving my ignorant neighbours away. Tee Hee