[ThirdOfFive]

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

[Daddymac]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

[retiredguy123]

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[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Laker14

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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]

Originally Posted by Laker14

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]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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

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.