Buying a house is exciting, but you know what it's like when you enter an environment that... isn't right... that excitement can fade fast. Whether you're entering a hotel room, an Uber, or your future home, strange odors might mean more than just poor hygiene from the previous occupant. Unusual smells in a home could signal deeper problems, from mold to gas leaks.
Before you light a candle or plug in an air freshener, it helps to know what the smells mean and how to deal with them. Whether it's a musty smell in the basement or a weird fishy odor in the hallway, paying attention to scents from Day One can save you from expensive repairs later.
First Impressions: The Scent of Trouble
When touring homes, it's easy to overlook a smell in favor of a great layout, updated kitchen, or natural light. As you go room to room, take pause, close your eyes, and inhale.
“Unpleasant odors in the house can be early warning signs of underlying problems that could lead to bigger issues down the road,” shared Courtney Klosterman, Home Insights Expert at Hippo home insurance. And it might seem funny, but your nose should be a starting player in the home-buying process.
One of the most common and confusing odors is a fishy smell. “A fishy odor wafting through a house may seem harmlessly unpleasant, but you shouldn't ignore it,” explains Klosterman. “This smell can have a surprising culprit: electrical issues.” Overheating wires and outlets can melt insulation and cause that distinct smell—a possible fire hazard.
Rotten egg smells should raise immediate red flags. “A rotten egg smell is one of the most concerning odors you might encounter in a home,” warns Klosterman. This usually means a gas leak, which is dangerous and needs immediate professional attention. These strong smells can affect potential buyers, especially when walking into a home for the first time.
The Usual Suspects in Household Odors
Bad odors can come from several sources that aren’t as dangerous but are still unpleasant. “A persistent damp or musty odor in a house might signal a problem with moisture control,” shared Klosterman. “Leaky pipes, roofs, or air conditioners can all create excess humidity.” That kind of dampness can encourage mildew and mold spores to grow, which might cause respiratory issues.
Other common smells include:
- Sewage smells: “These could signal a potential problem with your plumbing system,” noted Klosterman. Causes might be leaking or cracked pipes, clogged drains, or dry P-traps that allow sewer gas to enter the home.
- Ammonia: “A strong ammonia smell near the refrigerator could indicate a leak in the coolant lines or defrost pan,” she says. The same odor can come from old washing machine hoses or even a dead rodent in the walls.
- Sweet smell: “This can indicate a serious issue, like a coolant leak from appliances,” shared Klosterman. “If there's a leak in the coolant lines, it can emit a sweet smell.” If you've had a coolant leak in your vehicle, you might be quick to recognize the smell, but in a new home, it can be a health risk.
And just a note: Even strong cooking smells or pet odors trapped in carpet and soft furnishings can be tough to remove.
It's easy to joke about weird smells as you tour house-to-house during the homebuying process, but remember that those smells are warning signs. If you're still serious about the home, know what you're signing up for. Make sure you point out any of these concerns to your home inspector so they can focus on them during the walk-through.
How to Deal With Odors After You Buy
If you've already moved in and the house still smells bad, there are ways to make it better.
Start by locating the source. Look under sinks, near appliances, behind furniture, and in basements or crawl spaces. You may find garbage cans that weren’t emptied, diaper pails tucked away, or litter boxes that were ignored. Maybe you discovered that the previous owners let their cat spray all over the basement! (Ask me how I know.)
Once you identify the cause, here's what you can try:
- Use a spray bottle with a mix of white vinegar and warm water on surfaces like countertops, floors, and walls. Avoid high concentrations on hardwood surfaces as vinegar can affect the shine.
- Try baking soda on soft furnishings to help lift musty odors. You'll want to let it sit for an hour or so before vacuuming.
- Air purifiers with charcoal filters can reduce up to 99.97% airborne particles and help remove odors. You may need purifiers for multiple spaces, but focus first on main living areas. "Americans spend nearly four hours per day in the living room, totaling almost 1,600 hours per year," shared a representative from Blueair in a recent press release touting its new Blue Signature purifier for extra-large rooms. "It is the most frequently used space in the house, but also one of the most polluted rooms due to cooking smells, cleaning chemicals, toxic fragrances, and open windows."
- Replace air filters and clean out your HVAC system, especially if cooking smells or smoke are trapped inside. Actually, unless you can prove that the filter in your system is brand new, buying a replacement would be one of the first things I do in a new home, hands down.
For persistent bad smells like cigarette smoke or strong ammonia smell, it may take more than a deep cleaning. You might need to repaint, replace flooring, or even bring in professionals who specialize in odor elimination.
Not every issue will be cheap to fix, but leaving it unchecked could lead to worse problems down the line, like water damage or mold growth.
FAQ
Can a bad smell affect my home's value?
Yes — not only will smells deter potential buyers, but the offers you do receive may come in lower than you hoped. Even if the home is structurally sound, smells suggest poor maintenance and hidden problems. That can reduce the home's market appeal and selling price.
Is it normal for a new house to smell weird?
If you're talking about new construction, yes, it can be normal. A “new house smell” often comes from off-gassing of building materials like paint, carpet, or adhesives. These organic compounds can smell odd but usually fade within weeks. If the smell lingers or seems chemical, it's worth checking with a qualified technician to rule out health issues or poor ventilation.
