Hey everyone! I'm really struggling with a persistent smell in my new home that's keeping me from getting a good night's sleep. We moved into our house in November 2024, located in Tennessee, and started noticing a weird odor in the main bedroom back in February, right after we stopped using the heater. The smell is concentrated in just one corner of the room and reminds me of a mix between old books and something earthy. The builder has been in, but they didn't smell anything, even after I had an inspector check for air quality and moisture. Although they found nothing wrong, they agreed the smell was there. We had an HVAC technician inspect the attic and even pulled the insulation down but found no sources; they noticed the smell too. We've checked the baseboards and carpet for moisture but found nothing. The builder recently had the insulation replaced in that corner, which seemed to help temporarily, but the smell returned. An electrician is coming next week to check for any issues, but I'm really looking for advice or insights into what might be going on. We can't stay in our own bedroom because the smell is so strong!
4 Answers
Sorry to hear you're dealing with this! Have you checked if there are any water pipes running above or below that corner? Sometimes issues like a trapped animal can happen too, especially if someone did some work on the walls.
I’ve heard of cases where builders might leave things behind in the walls too. Might be worth double-checking!
You could also try using a thermal camera to find any hidden moisture areas in the walls. They can help spot leaks that are otherwise hard to detect. It might be anything causing mold or mildew that’s tucked away.
Great suggestion! I'll look into that, thanks!
I had a similar issue and it turned out to be an unsealed drain pipe for a future laundry sink. It was venting odors into the house, and once we plugged it up, the smell went away! Just a thought if there's something like that nearby.
Interesting! But since your smell is only in one corner, it might not be related to a drain.
Have you thought about renting an ozone machine? Since you've checked for moisture and can't find a direct source, it might help eliminate any lingering smells on surfaces.
I haven't tried one yet but I'll definitely add that to my list of things to consider, thanks!
Yeah, a trapped animal was my first thought too! It can definitely create a strong smell.