Hey everyone, I've recently bought a home and after doing some asbestos abatement with a reputable company, followed by installing a sump pump, things have taken a terrible turn. Almost immediately after the asbestos work, our water heater started malfunctioning due to 'flammable gas vapor'. National Grid checked for gas leaks and found none, but they mentioned it could be linked to new cement or solvents from the abatement. For two weeks now, we've had inconsistent hot water, tried replacing the sensor, and then even replaced the water heater, but the same alarm keeps going off. To make matters worse, whenever we cook, it smells like burning plastic. We've contacted the abatement company, but they claim they can't detect any smell when the gas burner is on and suggest it might be the new concrete. I'm at a loss—especially with a baby at home. Is it safe for us to stay here? Why do these odors persist? We've tried airing out the basement and using air filters but nothing seems to improve. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
6 Answers
It does sound like the abatement company might have used something that's causing lingering fumes. Have you thought about calling them back and explaining that it's affecting your daily life? They might have a solution or someone to check on it more thoroughly.
You might want to reconsider using just filters and oscillating fans. Instead, try setting up fans in the windows to really pull air through. Getting fresh air in is key to reducing any lingering odors.
Your situation sounds really frustrating, especially with a little one around. Since it’s been two weeks with these issues, it might be worth getting an independent air quality test done to really understand what's going on. In the meantime, it might be smart to limit your time in the house until you figure this out. Wishing you all the best—homeownership shouldn't feel like this!
I know this must feel overwhelming. Do you keep any solvents or cleaners in the basement that might be emitting fumes? Maybe reach out to the sump installer to see if this is a known issue with their installations. If the air quality is really affected by the abatement work, it might just take some time for everything to settle down. Hang in there; you're not alone in this!
It sounds like the odor from cooking is driving you nuts! Maybe it could be related to the venting for your water heater or stove? Make sure those have adequate airflow since new models can be very particular about that. If the smell persists, consider switching to an electric water heater if that's feasible.
If you're still worried, call your gas company again. They have super sensitive devices that can detect any issues better than you might think. Sometimes water heaters can be sensitive to things like solvents or flammable fumes, so it could be related to what was used during the abatement.
We did have National Grid come out already and they confirmed there are no gas leaks, which is frustrating! ?
This is spot on! They can guide you through what to do next if those alarms keep going off.
We don't store anything down there, but I'll definitely ask the sump pump guy. Thanks for the support; it's been tough trying to make this house feel like home.