Smelly garages

Hi All,

I am back. Last year I had an issue and this community was a great support so I would like to post an issue here. BTW the HOA took responsibility and paid since it was the error of the 3rd party contractor.

About 4 days ago I noticed a smell coming from my front hallway bathroom. The bathroom is clean and has no visible water leaks from the sink, toilet or shower. The toilet is a Sterling and was the original and sometimes get backed up but a plunger or dawn will do the trick. Lately I noticed a really foul smell it is not sulfur and does not smell like #1 or #2. I can smell it on the opposite wall a little as well. It is only on one section of the house. A plumber came out today and could not visually see anything and suggested a new ring for toilet which I decided will go ahead and put in a new toilet. He also asked me if the neighbor has signs of water damage. I followed up with her and she went to check and she saw a small area in her garage its not circular at all. And it really not underneath my bathroom area. Well when I went to go check it out her garage smelled so horrible. It was her compost bin. Stored in the garage 7 days (till next trash pick up). The smell of it was very similar to what was happening in the bathroom. I nicely mentioned to her the smell was similar. Since she has taken it out now the smell is a lot fainter in the bathroom. So here are my questions.

1. Does anyone have experience with smells coming through the wall like this? Do you think its possible that the smell is from garage. The plumber I follow up with him and said yes since houses are not air tight.
2. Has anyone had a ring problem for the toilet that was causing a smell? Or even making a wall smell..
3. If its her garage and my pipe, I assume I am responsible? Unless there is a common pipe?

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

Thank you!

Thanks I will try what you suggested. The smell is considerably less now that her compost bin is outside. I am not saying that was the cause but just notice the smell is less. A little more history to this bathroom. The toilet and sink was always used since I bought the house in 2015. The shower was NOT. Now my teen son is using this bathroom exclusively. So the shower is being used essentially daily. But as noted in previous note for me there are no signs of water leakage anywhere. Do you mean to say put that compound around shower head the toilet pipe and sink pipe? Also do you think its plausible that this compost smell is comping up into my bathroom? This bathroom is right above her garage. Thanks!

It is very easy for the smells to come up from their garage. Considering how construction is in buildings. You most likely share a common pipe in the walls. Which is why recommended using spray foam around any vent pipes in your bathrooms/kitchen/toilet areas.

Smells can travel between the walls. Not much can be done except for them to remove their bin. It also can mean carbon monoxide could be getting in. So make sure to get a carbon monoxide tester. This is why they say must have garage door open when you start your car. That gas can come into the home in various ways. Bedrooms above garages are really susceptible to carbon gasses.

Thanks I will look into spray foam. I am having this toilet changed because its a Sterling and gets clogged a lot. I will have the guy use spray foam.

What concerns me is while it is her garage my living space is on top. Her property is situated front if that makes sense. So one bedroom and one bathroom sit on top of her garage. On top of my garage is the master bathroom and bedroom and probably part of kitchen. I have less sq feet. My living space is upstairs and garage is down. I can't see the pipe being common since her bathroom, washer kitchen is situated front and no where near mine.

I really do hope this is just from her garage or a wax ring that needs to be replaced.

I'm still trying to consider the sort of action I would take if someone put a composting container in their garage - under my living space.

Am I missing something in this discussion - composting in the garage under someone's home?

How do you tell someone not to compost or throw away their stuff out appropriately...Maybe using a liner is a good idea. I admit this morning I had a peak in there it wasn't as full as I thought but it is very dirty from all the other times it has been used. There were tons of flys swarming in it. Outside standing near it you get a whiff. It smells like cabbage. When the plumber came he said it smelled like brussel sprouts in the house. I would be so embarrassed to keep a garage like this. I clean mine out frequently, don't compost and sometimes when I go to my mom's I throw trash there so the garage won't smell. Mine never does.

I'm gonna jump ahead ... this is a health hazard.

You need to immediately contact your city or county health organization and have the place inspected.

This is dangerous.

The end of this week I will have my gen contractor put in a new toilet and see if he sees anything leaking and will have him check the fittings for the washer. To rule out any leaks on my end. Regardless this smell is nauseating and I don't even want to eat. I have been so unsettled these past few days.

IF bad odors aren't permitted in your HOA, Sarita, It IS an HOA issue. You say this woman's powerful in the city and then later you seem to say she's also on your board of directors of your HOA? Is that right?

Most HOA boards won't pay attention to anonymous complaints, so you're going to have to identify yourself to your board of directors. And, I assume, also to your city health dept.

It might help to get a signded note from your contractor on his company's letterhead that the smell is not coming form any of your fixtures or property.

KerryL1 correct she sits on the board and she is also the city Manager.

I have seen that they didn't pay attn to the anon complaint. Another component I felt and thought it was of who she was and that she was on the board...

I will follow up with the City Health Dept tomorrow. I will also follow up with my gen contractor and tell him about what happened with her garage. When he comes to put in a toilet, will have him check washer pipes and also note down his findings in writing.

Thank you!

Not to bring Coronavirus into this but... Have you been tested? The reason I ask is that some people whom catch the virus not only get headaches but smell strong smells. I know that some lose their sense of smell but others report smelling things like tobacco or burnt toast. I kept smelling Nestle Strawberry milk.

Asymptomatic doesn't mean no symptoms. They just don't fit into the "box" of the most popular symptoms.

Recently kept smelling a bad smell in my house. Couldn't figure out why. Turns out my male cat was peeing on a chair and not using it's litter box. Also had a neighbor that was Indian. They cooked alot with Curry. Stunk up the whole apartment complex! Funny part is a new neighbor moved in. Heard fire trucks. Looked down to find a bunch of fireman coming out. Turns out the smell was so bad they had lit a candle. Guess it made it worse and firemen were called to treat them.

There are some people who are part of a group of "Long haulers" that report odd smells after getting it. The smell or even tastes vary. Some reporting tobacco type smells. Others report taste is off. Things tasting metallic or off.

There isn't enough things being reported in the media or even knowledge of the virus out there. There is a lot of hair loss and GI issues. My symptoms varied everywhere. It took me some time to figure out that had it because of the odd symptoms didn't know about.