The “What is that Funky Smell?” Home
“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains.”
— Diane Ackerman
A Realtor reached out to Home Energy Solutions because their buyers were interested in a home but were concerned about an odd smell in the home. Home Energy Solutions was tasked with identifying the source of the malodor and recommending corrective action.
We help Real Estate Agents protect their clients
In this case, because we did not speak with the buyers directly, only the Realtor, our upfront information was limited. Upon our initial visit to the home, we noticed the smell was most noticeable on the first floor of the 2-story home.
We inspected the crawlspace and HVAC equipment and assessed the potential for connectivity and air transfer between the crawlspace and the conditioned 1st floor above. Knowing the home was more than 15 years old, there were several assumptions we could start with while we gathered data from testing:
Higher than typical duct leakage would indicate potentially bad air from the crawlspace was being pulled into the return side of the system and was being distributed throughout the home.
High leakage on the 2nd floor system (located in the attic) was creating negative pressures within the envelope of the building, and was also effectively pulling bad air from the crawlspace and the attic.
If the HVAC equipment was original to the home, it was likely that the specific installations of the equipment would not be consistent with best practices. Leakage in HVAC systems in unconditioned spaces means that cold air produced from the AC system combined with hot and humid ambient air can create mold.
Home Energy Solutions identified the core causes:
HVAC Ductwork was full of mold
The HVAC system was on its last leg and we discovered the ductwork was full of mold. We were able to confidently say replacing the HVAC system along with additional corrective actions would in fact solve the mold issues and consequently, the bad smells associated with it.
Sealing the crawlspace to limit the intake of outside air
We also recommended they seal the crawlspace to limit outside(unconditioned air) from mingling with the interior of the building. In this way, we also limit the potentially negative consequences of unmitigated air leakage through the home’s envelope -- keeping outside air, out, and inside air, in. High humidity, outdoor pollutants (including pollen and other microspores), additional heat load, and air of a generally poor quality (including vehicle exhaust and other contaminants) are all reasons to control for the air that enters your home passively.
Noticeable rust on metal air supply grills in the ceilings, floor, and walls
This is a result of inadequate insulation surrounding the supply boot (where the cool air comes out of the floor/ceiling), and incomplete air sealing within the ducted pathway. We recommended* (can also perform this work, ourselves.) they have the boots insulated and air-sealed to stop condensation and therefore rust. Often, better bath fans may need to be installed as well and we are always able to recommend specific products for prospective buyers to provide to the contractor of their choice. Without taking these corrective measures, taking steamy showers can allow for mold to manifest in bathrooms.
How Home Energy Solutions Improved the Home Buying Experience
In this case, Home Energy Solutions was able to positively identify the root causes of the bad smell these buyers noticed and provide a report on corrective measures that would need to be taken. This provided the prospective home buyers an opportunity to make a fully informed decision on whether or not to purchase this home, and know exactly what was in store if they did proceed with purchasing.
Ultimately, in this case, the buyers ended up not buying this home in the end. Our report allowed them to make invaluable critical judgments - both about budgeting for their purchase, but also about the potential headaches of the remediation process and the down-the-road probability of more problems. Every home is unique as is every buyer. We get that. We have continued to consult with this realtor since this occurrence, and have become a trusted ally in revealing the true nature of a prospective home’s faculties for their buyers.
