strong stinky smell in cyv.

[NobodyCares]

Has anyone experienced a stinky smell suddenly coming out of your
vents. At first I thought it was sewer gas so I ran water in the master bath with a little soap down the drains.
That seemed to mask it a litlle but then it seemed like it was coming out of the air conditioning vents.
No trees near my roof so could an animal get in the attic?
Any suggestions?

[MartinSE]

I would run some drain or bleach down the drains, especially the garbage disposal. Other than that, no idea - we have been in our CYV for 2 1/2 years and no bad odors - other than normal for old geezers.

[mtdjed]

I
Is the problem a continuing issue? AC and heating vents are for the most part semi enclosed to entry except from inside of the house. Unless the ducts have been breached in the attic, it is unlikely that you would have any animal in the system.

Do you have natural gas heating? Natural gas has an odor added to it to warn users if it is leaking. That would have access to the vent system and although unlikely, worth having it checked if the problem has continued with no other identified cause.

[tophcfa]

Make sure the drain pipe that dumps the condensation outside which is created by your Air Conditioner isn’t clogged. If so, a science project begins to grow as the trapped water in your system grows mold/algae and the stink has nowhere to go except out your ductwork vents. It smells like someone left a gym bag full of dirty clothes in the hot sun and then put a fan behind it to blow the smell towards you. If the backup is not fixed, eventually it will get into your systems evaporator and heater coil and can do serious damage to your system. This happened to me with the drain tube that dumps condensation out of my trucks HVAC system, it’s very nasty.

[retiredguy123]

I
Is the problem a continuing issue? AC and heating vents are for the most part semi enclosed to entry except from inside of the house. Unless the ducts have been breached in the attic, it is unlikely that you would have any animal in the system.

Do you have natural gas heating? Natural gas has an odor added to it to warn users if it is leaking. That would have access to the vent system and although unlikely, worth having it checked if the problem has continued with no other identified cause.
I would check the air handling unit for mold on the evaporator coil, or for an overflowing condensate drain pan inside the unit. Do you regularly add vinegar or flush out the condensate drain pipe? I would also remove the ceiling return air grilles to check for dirt, mold, or moisture.

[davem4616]

the dishwasher can give off an offensive smell....if so, run some instant Tang through it

[Stu from NYC]

the dishwasher can give off an offensive smell....if so, run some instant Tang through it

Tang new one on me.

Wonder if an animal got stuck some place and giving off this odor?

[retiredguy123]

the dishwasher can give off an offensive smell....if so, run some instant Tang through it
Instant Tang? Isn't that redundant?

[villagetinker]

OP, you did not mention where in TV you live and if the smell is also outside. i mention this as I noticed a very distinct odor from the treatment plants on Buena Vista the other day, both at around 5 Pm and later at 10 PM. The other possibility would be a blocked vent pipe, try flushing each toilet, and see if you hear a gurling sound after the flush, do the same for a sink full of water on each sink.

[NobodyCares]

I
Is the problem a continuing issue? AC and heating vents are for the most part semi enclosed to entry except from inside of the house. Unless the ducts have been breached in the attic, it is unlikely that you would have any animal in the system.

Do you have natural gas heating? Natural gas has an odor added to it to warn users if it is leaking. That would have access to the vent system and although unlikely, worth having it checked if the problem has continued with no other identified cause.

Odor seems to come and go. Now it's gone.
1) checked both of the attic access areas and no odor and nothing dead.

2) poured a gallon of water (1-2 drops of soap) down the pipe near the ac unit. A/C unit just inspect/ serviced 1 week ago.

3) checked the coil and there is no mold/algae. 2 small dead leaves to get rid of tomorrow in the daytime.

4) no smell near hot water heater, dryer or stove. Turned off the breakers to those appliances temporarily until I rule them out.

Starting to think I caused it - took long hot shower without the
fan running. then left house for 3 hours. Came home, that's when it smelled the worst, mostly in the master.

Gone now - hope it doesn't come back!
Thank you all for the great suggestions.:MOJE_whot:

[Garywt]

the dishwasher can give off an offensive smell....if so, run some instant Tang through it

Do they still make that stuff.

[daca55]

I had a strong odor that smelled like a gym bag or BO and I couldn’t find where it was coming from. I finally tracked it to my dryer.The vent line was kinked and lint over time keep building up. Because it was wet it gave off the foul oder. Had the dryer cleaned and new. Ent installed and that took care of the problem.

[Laker14]

Make sure the drain pipe that dumps the condensation outside which is created by your Air Conditioner isn’t clogged. If so, a science project begins to grow as the trapped water in your system grows mold/algae and the stink has nowhere to go except out your ductwork vents. It smells like someone left a gym bag full of dirty clothes in the hot sun and then put a fan behind it to blow the smell towards you. If the backup is not fixed, eventually it will get into your systems evaporator and heater coil and can do serious damage to your system. This happened to me with the drain tube that dumps condensation out of my trucks HVAC system, it’s very nasty.

OOHHH!! Good answer, and thank you for that reminder. I made the mistake a few weeks ago of putting some anchovies in the garbage, a few days before garbage night. Usually I'd freeze something like that and put it out at the last minute.
The garage started to smell like dead fish.
I corrected that issue, however there has been a mysterious lingering "dead animal" smell that I can't pinpoint. I even thought it might be a dead thing in the attic. Yesterday I pulled the stairs down, went up there expecting to find a strong smell of dead thing. Nope, smells fine.
I'll bet it's from the A/C drain.
I'll attend to that and report back.

[TGIF32162]

We notice, when we’ve had a lot of rain, the earthworms come out to avoid drowning. When they die in the runners of the screen or inside on the floor, they really stink. I scrape or scoop them up and toss into the grass. Fixes the smell in the garage.

[TGIF32162]

We notice, when we’ve had a lot of rain, the earthworms come out to avoid drowning. When they die in the runners of the screen or inside on the floor, they really stink. I scrape or scoop them up and toss into the grass. Fixes the smell in the garage.

[ThirdOfFive]

Out of context (sorry)...but how does one start a discussion thread?

[Daddymac]

Has anyone experienced a stinky smell suddenly coming out of your
vents. At first I thought it was sewer gas so I ran water in the master bath with a little soap down the drains.
That seemed to mask it a litlle but then it seemed like it was coming out of the air conditioning vents.
No trees near my roof so could an animal get in the attic?
Any suggestions?

Where is the nearest sewer treatment plant by you.
That could be the problem!

[retiredguy123]

///

[retiredguy123]

OOHHH!! Good answer, and thank you for that reminder. I made the mistake a few weeks ago of putting some anchovies in the garbage, a few days before garbage night. Usually I'd freeze something like that and put it out at the last minute.
The garage started to smell like dead fish.
I corrected that issue, however there has been a mysterious lingering "dead animal" smell that I can't pinpoint. I even thought it might be a dead thing in the attic. Yesterday I pulled the stairs down, went up there expecting to find a strong smell of dead thing. Nope, smells fine.
I'll bet it's from the A/C drain.
I'll attend to that and report back.
There is a drain pan under your HVAC unit that collects the condensation from the evaporator coil. The drain pan then empties into a plastic pipe that has a trap in it before it drains to the outside of your house. If any part of this drainage system clogs, the drain pan can start to fill up with water. But, there is also an electrical float switch in the drain pan that is supposed to trip and shut down the entire HVAC system. So, if you have a clogged condensate drain and the pan is overflowing, you most likely have a defective float switch.

[Mclaveloux]

Little critters sometimes find there way inside and die someplace. A few months back we smelled what seemed to be a dead animal and after a thorough search found a little dead frog in the spare bedroom. Removing the frog solved the problem.

[Ski Bum]

Has anyone experienced a stinky smell suddenly coming out of your
vents. At first I thought it was sewer gas so I ran water in the master bath with a little soap down the drains.
That seemed to mask it a litlle but then it seemed like it was coming out of the air conditioning vents.
No trees near my roof so could an animal get in the attic?
Any suggestions?

Is this a newer home? I had a sewer vent pipe come apart inside my wall. Workers didn't glue and fit it together properly. Stunk for months before I figured it out.

[Laker14]

There is a drain pan under your HVAC unit that collects the condensation from the evaporator coil. The drain pan then empties into a plastic pipe that has a trap in it before it drains to the outside of your house. If any part of this drainage system clogs, the drain pan can start to fill up with water. But, there is also an electrical float switch in the drain pan that is supposed to trip and shut down the entire HVAC system. So, if you have a clogged condensate drain and the pan is overflowing, you most likely have a defective float switch.

Do you think that this system would be part of the yearly inspection and service I have done by a reputable HVAC company here in TV? I think I found the culprit. DW borrowed some blood meal from a friend, and it's in the garage. I think that's the source of the stinky, in my case.

[retiredguy123]

Do you think that this system would be part of the yearly inspection and service I have done by a reputable HVAC company here in TV? I think I found the culprit. DW borrowed some blood meal from a friend, and it's in the garage. I think that's the source of the stinky, in my case.
They should flush out the condensate drain pipe, but I doubt that they would test the float switch, unless you request it. But, you should at least add a quart or so of vinegar to the condensate drain pipe about every 3 months and make sure it is draining. Doing it once a year may not prevent a clog that can develop more quickly than 12 months.

[Proveone]

I would check the air handling unit for mold on the evaporator coil, or for an overflowing condensate drain pan inside the unit. Do you regularly add vinegar or flush out the condensate drain pipe? I would also remove the ceiling return air grilles to check for dirt, mold, or moisture.
Run your heat for several minutes and the smell should disappear. It is probably coming from your duct vents.

[Bill14564]

They should flush out the condensate drain pipe, but I doubt that they would test the float switch, unless you request it. But, you should at least add a quart or so of vinegar to the condensate drain pipe about every 3 months and make sure it is draining. Doing it once a year may not prevent a clog that can develop more quickly than 12 months.

A quart every 3 months (a gallon per year)? We use a quarter cup every month (3 cups per year).

[Petersweeney]

Check your front lawn for dog poop…..

[cbmerl]

A quart every 3 months (a gallon per year)? We use a quarter cup every month (3 cups per year).

And I was told by Munn's to pour a gallon of HOT water (no vinegar..no bleach) down the drain once a month.

[mike1921]

There is a good chance that your condensation drain is plugged and the overflow switch malfunctioned. I had this happen and it flooded the space under the inside units. This caused mold to develop there and in the vent lines and caused a terrible smell.

They had to remove my indoor units and rebuild the plenum space..

[retiredguy123]

A quart every 3 months (a gallon per year)? We use a quarter cup every month (3 cups per year).
A quarter cup won't even flush out the trap. I don't think that is nearly enough.

I flush out my condensate drain with a garden hose until clear water flows out the outside pipe. I use a simple device that fits into the condensate pipe and attaches to the hose. Here is a link to the device. Very easy to use, and you know the drain line is clear.

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Drain-King-345-Bathroom-Condensation/dp/B001ATBS4W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=EOZGQ0CYT4B3&keywords=Condensate+drain+flush+device&qid=1649259252&sprefix=condensate+drain+flush+device%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4)

[Bill14564]

A quarter cup won't even flush out the trap. I don't think that is nearly enough.

I flush out my condensate drain with a garden hose until clear water flows out the outside pipe. I use a simple device that fits into the condensate pipe and attaches to the hose. Here is a link to the device. Very easy to use, and you know the drain line is clear.

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Drain-King-345-Bathroom-Condensation/dp/B001ATBS4W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=EOZGQ0CYT4B3&keywords=Condensate+drain+flush+device&qid=1649259252&sprefix=condensate+drain+flush+device%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4)

I'm not trying to flush out anything. Adding vinegar lowers the pH and makes the line inhospitable to mold and algae. If it can't grow then it can't cause a clog.

My drain line does not have a trap per se but the line rises on the outside of the house which creates a flooded a low area and prevents outside air from flowing back in. The path of the drain effectively creates a "trap" without a special curved section.

That's an interesting device but I'll pass. That works by creating a positive pressure to force a blockage through the drain. My concern would be that the added pressure has the potential to cause leaks at any weak spot in the line. I'll stick with using a shop vac to suck any blockage out.

[retiredguy123]

I'm not trying to flush out anything. Adding vinegar lowers the pH and makes the line inhospitable to mold and algae. If it can't grow then it can't cause a clog.

My drain line does not have a trap per se but the line rises on the outside of the house which creates a flooded a low area and prevents outside air from flowing back in. The path of the drain effectively creates a "trap" without a special curved section.

That's an interesting device but I'll pass. That works by creating a positive pressure to force a blockage through the drain. My concern would be that the added pressure has the potential to cause leaks at any weak spot in the line. I'll stick with using a shop vac to suck any blockage out.
I agree about using a shop vac or chemicals to clear a blockage. But, flushing an unblocked line with water produces a lot of dirty water and white chalky stuff coming out the other end. Also, if there are insects, animals, or nests, it will flush those out. I still add vinegar to the line.

[terramuggus]

We had the same problem the day after having the washer/dryer installed in our new house. Did some YouTube sleuthing and got lucky..when I checked it the washer hose was stuffed far into the drain line and likely was at or very near the P trap. The pumps in the new machines are much more powerful than ever and shoot out quite a bit of water during the draining cycles. I assume the trap was empty of water during the drain cycle which caused a horrible sewer smell in the house and especially just outside one of the sliders. I pulled out the hose and cut 3' off of it and re-inserted and secured it into the drain pipe - problem solved. I have a feeling this might be a fairly common issue.

Good luck

[Jfowl1234]

In Publix they stuff to clean your dishwasher .

[Rodneysblue]

Has anyone experienced a stinky smell suddenly coming out of your
vents. At first I thought it was sewer gas so I ran water in the master bath with a little soap down the drains.
That seemed to mask it a litlle but then it seemed like it was coming out of the air conditioning vents.
No trees near my roof so could an animal get in the attic?
Any suggestions?
Did you check your spouse, just saying. My wife asks me when was the last time I took a shower after working in the yard all day. 😜😟🤣

[PugMom]

Is this a newer home? I had a sewer vent pipe come apart inside my wall. Workers didn't glue and fit it together properly. Stunk for months before I figured it out.

oh NO! how did you ever get that resolved?

[DaleDivine]

And I was told by Munn's to pour a gallon of HOT water (no vinegar.. no bleach) down the drain once a month.

Munn's told me the same thing also...
:ohdear::ohdear:

[su2009]

We had that odor issue some years ago, not long after we moved in. The SunKool HVAC service guy finally found the source: a large lizard had crawled up into the air conditioner drainpipe and died in the horizontal run of the pipe. Although the water still drained around the lizard, the Sunkool guy suspected a partial obstruction and attached a high-suction commercial vacuum to the pipe. After a few minutes the vacuum pulled out the dead lizard. ‘Smell never came back after that.