Hey everyone! I recently moved into a relatively new rental apartment (about 4 years old) and we've been here for about 5 weeks now. The previous tenants painted the walls with latex paint, but we have no idea if it was new or from storage. I've noticed a weird smell in a couple of rooms that smells like gas—definitely not sewage or something like that, but it's a bit sour and unpleasant. The strange thing is, the smell seems to be coming from the walls. When we ventilate the apartment by opening the windows, the smell mostly goes away, but as soon as we close them, it gets stronger and even worse if we close the bedroom door. It's summer right now with temperatures around 30°C and medium-high humidity, and we've been airing out the apartment daily for over a month. I'm sensitive to smells and have been feeling dizzy lately, but my partner has no issue with it. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Is there a known cause for this type of smell, and what can we do to fix it?
3 Answers
I’d also consider the type of paint used. If it was oil-based instead of latex, that could explain the stronger smell. Oil-based paints can emit fumes for a long time, so check if this might be the case.
Yes, and if they used something like Kilz to cover previous stains, that has a strong odor too. Definitely check if that’s what they used.
A persistent sour smell from latex paint could indicate mold or bacteria growth, and it won’t go away on its own, so a repaint might be necessary. But before jumping to that, get the gas issue checked out first and definitely let your landlord know how this is affecting your health.
Repainting can be a real pain, especially if they've just done it! Make sure whatever new paint you use is low-VOC to minimize any lingering odors.
It sounds like the smell could be coming from the walls due to possible leaks. You should definitely get in touch with the gas company and have them check for any leaks. They have specialized equipment to detect if there’s a gas issue behind the walls.
Exactly! I had a situation like this before where a leak caused similar problems. Make sure they use their top-of-the-line tools to really check the area. It could save a lot of hassle!
The timing of the smell coinciding with the painting does raise some doubts. If the walls were just painted, it might be the paint itself emitting fumes rather than gas.
Right! I had a friend who dealt with something similar—oil-based paint can really linger longer than latex.