You come home from a long day at work, open the door, and are immediately hit with a wave of stink. Before you reach for that scented candle, think twice! Bad smells in the home are not only frustrating, but they can be dangerous as well. It’s important to figure out the source before taking any action.

The first step in solving any mystery is to rule out the obvious suspects. Here are the 5 most common causes of bad smells in the house, and how to eliminate them.

Gas Leak

One of the more dangerous possibilities of bad smells in the house is a gas leak. If you smell something like sulfur or rotten eggs, it could be natural gas leaking into your home.

Natural gas doesn’t actually have a smell, but gas companies add mercaptan (a sulfur-based compound) to it so that leaks can be detected.

If you think you may have a gas leak, leave the house immediately and call your utility company.

Do not turn any lights on or off, and do not use appliances or phones in your home — as this could be very dangerous.

Sewer Backup

Another source of the smell that can also be dangerous is a sewer backup. This is usually caused by a blockage in your home’s sewer line and can lead to raw sewage spilling into your home. Obviously, this is a major health hazard (and a major mess!)

You’ll know you have a sewer backup if you:

• See sewage coming up through your drains
• Smell a bad, sewage-like odor
• Have slow or no-draining toilets
• Notice sinkholes, soggy spots, or lush green patches in your yard

If you encounter these problems, a professional plumber with the right equipment can clear the blockage and get things flowing properly.

Garbage Disposal

Imagine all the food scraps that go down your garbage disposal on a daily basis. Over time, these can build up and cause bad smells. The good news is that this problem is relatively easy to fix!

To clean your garbage disposal:

• Pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of white vinegar down the drain
• Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes
• Flush your garbage disposal with hot water while it is running

Click here to read about other ways to clean and maintain your garbage disposal.

Dirty Laundry

We’ve all been there — you throw a load of laundry in the washer before heading to bed, but then you forget to put it in the dryer. The next morning there’s a pile of smelly, mildewed clothes sitting there (and your whole house smells like it too!).

To avoid this situation, make sure to do laundry regularly and never let wet clothes sit in the washer for too long. You can also try adding a cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle. This will help to eliminate bad smells.

If there’s still a smell coming from your laundry room, it could be your washing machine itself. Mold and mildew can grow in the rubber seals of your machine, causing bad smells. To clean your washing machine:

• Fill your washer with hot water and add two cups of white vinegar
• Let the cycle run for a few minutes, then turn it off and let it sit for an hour
• Finish the cycle

One other cause of bad smells in the house that relate to laundry is dryer vents. If your dryer vent is clogged, it can cause your clothes to smell bad and can be a fire hazard. Clean your dryer vent at least once a year to remove odor from your house and prevent fires.

Electrical Problems

Is someone cooking trout? No, that smell is probably coming from your electrical outlets. When wires overheat, they give off a fishy smell. This is a serious problem that can cause fires.

If you smell fish odors coming from your outlets, unplug all appliances and do not use them until an electrician has checked them out.

Bad smells in the house can be caused by a number of different things (some more serious than others). We hope these tips help you pinpoint and eliminate common house odors!

And if you ever have a serious problem like a gas leak or sewer backup, don’t hesitate to call the professionals at Lee Company. Our HVAC, plumbing, and electrical experts are here to help 24/7!