Re: Is smell from wood rot? Carl, Jeff?

[Guest guest]

If you replace your windows stay away from vinyl . 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: barb b w <barb1283@...>

Sent: Tue, June 29, 2010 4:09:34 PM

Subject: [] Is smell from wood rot? Carl, Jeff?

 

I've been trying to determine what source of odor is that I smell primarily in

summer in house. I keep all the windows shut through summer because if I open

one, the smell is worse.

I assumed that opening a window was causing a loss of pressure inside house and

attic air flowed down since house is air leaky between attic, basement and

house. Then yesterday was hanging a blind upstairs and opened window up and

smelled odor much stronger, too fast for it to have come down from attic, so

smelled inside wood of window and odor very strong of same type I smell in

house, so now what? Do I have wood rot of windows I wonder? House built in

1930's. I see wood grain in many windows but also many where I can not see wood

grain but wood is blackish. If I put replacement windows in, would that solve

it, or are more major repairs necessary.

House is beginning to cost me too much but I have a foot injury that is healing

slowly so it would be hard to leave house now.

[Guest guest]

you'd be suprized at what can be lurking right out the window, on the sideing,in

the sideing, on the ground,ect. trees close by can harbor mold,shrubs,weeds,ect.

I was outside at my daughters the other day and one of the kids filled the dogs

water at the outside hydrant, I went over there and it zapped me within about 5

ft. away. I was noticeing this was right next to some windows and told my

daughter not to be opening them.

>

> I've been trying to determine what source of odor is that I smell primarily in

summer in house. I keep all the windows shut through summer because if I open

one, the smell is worse.

>

> I assumed that opening a window was causing a loss of pressure inside house

and attic air flowed down since house is air leaky between attic, basement and

house. Then yesterday was hanging a blind upstairs and opened window up and

smelled odor much stronger, too fast for it to have come down from attic, so

smelled inside wood of window and odor very strong of same type I smell in

house, so now what? Do I have wood rot of windows I wonder? House built in

1930's. I see wood grain in many windows but also many where I can not see wood

grain but wood is blackish. If I put replacement windows in, would that solve

it, or are more major repairs necessary.

>

> House is beginning to cost me too much but I have a foot injury that is

healing slowly so it would be hard to leave house now.

>

[Guest guest]

theres are molds that grows in certain spots outdoors that dont agree with me,

likes shade,ivy,trees,moist spots. in the late spring the timbers around here

get a moldy smell comeing from them that bothers me. I lived in one house that

was pretty much surrounded by timber and I couldn't tolerate it even during the

drier summer months and fall. to much moldy dust. I just cant tolerate places

like that anymore, haven't even been fishing because of it.

my sinuses and chemical sensitivity rule my world!

I have to say IT SUCKS!

you can take the farm girl out of the country but you cant take the country out

of the farmgirl.

boooooo,blahhhhhh,grap,damn,grrrrrr, ok. I'm done.

>

> I've been trying to determine what source of odor is that I smell primarily in

summer in house. I keep all the windows shut through summer because if I open

one, the smell is worse.

>

> I assumed that opening a window was causing a loss of pressure inside house

and attic air flowed down since house is air leaky between attic, basement and

house. Then yesterday was hanging a blind upstairs and opened window up and

smelled odor much stronger, too fast for it to have come down from attic, so

smelled inside wood of window and odor very strong of same type I smell in

house, so now what? Do I have wood rot of windows I wonder? House built in

1930's. I see wood grain in many windows but also many where I can not see wood

grain but wood is blackish. If I put replacement windows in, would that solve

it, or are more major repairs necessary.

>

> House is beginning to cost me too much but I have a foot injury that is

healing slowly so it would be hard to leave house now.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

It could be wood rot and mold, visible or hidden. We have a window where water

was leaking in though we couldn't see it. The siding on that part of the house

had deteriorated and when we had it replaced, the carpenter had to take out much

of the window framing because there was so much rot.

We had had replacement windows installed a few years prior to that, but

unfortunately, after thousands of dollars of work, I still smell a faint moldy

smell that I think is coming from wood framing underneath the replacement

windows. So there's still a problem and replacement windows may just

cosmetically cover rotten wood.

I don't know if there are certain types of replacement windows where more of the

wood framing comes out or if it would be worth getting a carpenter to replace as

much of the framing as they can.

As far as I can tell, our siding and window are in good shape and deflecting

water properly now--I think it's old rotten wood inside that starts to smell

when the humidity goes up. We don't smell anything in cool weather. We're

getting ready to sell our house and move. There were several issues of deferred

maintenance that only became apparent after we'd been here several years. We've

improved the house immensely but I'm tired of cleaning up other people's messes.

Amy

[Guest guest]

Barb,

If you have vinyl insect screens, sniff them to see if they are off

gssing. This was a problem for a number of years. The smell is worst

when the plastic is in the sun. (Sometimes you have to heat the

screening with a hair dryer to get the smell.) The answer is simple:

replace the vinyl with aluminum screening.

To find out if the odor is coming from a wall cavity, depressurize the

room with doors closed and an exhaust fan in one window. Sniff around

cracks to see if the odor is coming in from wall or window cavities.

You can use the paper towel/aluminum foil test to see what odors are

coming from surfaces. Fold up a clean, odorless paper towel in half at

least twice, place it on the surface to be tested and tape aluminum

foil over the paper (to cover it and hold it in place).

If the surface is off gassing, the towel will pick up the odor. Leave

it in place for a day or two, then remove the assembly and immediately

fold the foil in half, using the tape to seal it. (Use painters tape

so as to make no paint damage.) If you use more than one test, label

them.

Take the packet outside and crack it open and sniff it. If a surface

is off gassing, the odor will be in the paper (but not for long if you

leave it open to the air!).

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

Tyngsborough, MA

www.mayindoorair.com

978-649-1055

> IS SMELL FROM WOOD ROT? CARL, JEFF?

>

> POSTED BY: \ " BARB B W\ " BARB1283@...

> BARB1283

>

> Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:15 pm (PDT)

>

> I've been trying to determine what source of odor is that I smell

> primarily in summer in house. I keep all the windows shut through

> summer because if I open one, the smell is worse.

>

> I assumed that opening a window was causing a loss of pressure inside

> house and attic air flowed down since house is air leaky between

> attic, basement and house. Then yesterday was hanging a blind

> upstairs and opened window up and smelled odor much stronger, too fast

> for it to have come down from attic, so smelled inside wood of window

> and odor very strong of same type I smell in house, so now what? Do I

> have wood rot of windows I wonder? House built in 1930's. I see wood

> grain in many windows but also many where I can not see wood grain but

> wood is blackish. If I put replacement windows in, would that solve

> it, or are more major repairs necessary.

[Guest guest]

The smell is coming from the area of the around the window, not from outside for

sure. However I DID have a smelly source outside as algae or 'green stuff' and

mold 'black stuff' were growing on some shady cement steps in a spot that did

not get air flow due to shrubbery. I was surprised at how strong the smell of

that was. I sprayed area with algae killer that doesn't harm the grass and it

is gone but I have to do it every year or every other year as the conditions for

growth continue...can't get the sun to shine there. In general, I notice alot

more green algae like growth on trees ALL OVER. I think it's global warming.

>

> theres are molds that grows in certain spots outdoors that dont agree with me,

likes shade,ivy,trees,moist spots. in the late spring the timbers around here

get a moldy smell comeing from them that bothers me. I lived in one house that

was pretty much surrounded by timber and I couldn't tolerate it even during the

drier summer months and fall. to much moldy dust. I just cant tolerate places

like that anymore, haven't even been fishing because of it.

> my sinuses and chemical sensitivity rule my world!

> I have to say IT SUCKS!

> you can take the farm girl out of the country but you cant take the country

out of the farmgirl.

[Guest guest]

This is what I am afraid will be the case. The replacement windows will be

costly enough as I have ten windows upstairs and 2 large on a landing, and 15 on

the first floor. Built on a location with a view, there are windows everywhere

which I love but when I get quotes on window replacements it isn't pretty. Some

people buy replacement windows a few at a time. However if the wood is rotted

that plan would take too long. If I have to replace wood in the frame, geez.

Then, it could be farther in than that. I'm trying to repair the house but it

may be beyond my means.

>

> Hi Barb,

>

> It could be wood rot and mold, visible or hidden. We have a window where

water was leaking in though we couldn't see it. The siding on that part of the

house had deteriorated and when we had it replaced, the carpenter had to take

out much of the window framing because there was so much rot.