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There is a horrid smell, that is like cat litter/pee coming from my closet the water heater is kept in. I notified my landlord about it and he smells it too, but says he can't do anything about it. It makes the whole room reek. There is no apparent source, so it seems like a gas. Does anyone know what it could be? And what, if anything, the landlord is supposed to do?
He can smell it and its coming from your closet where the water heater is kept in but says he can't do anything about it !!
WHY don't you call the gas company yourself and let them give your LL a lesson in preventing a death or 100, plus maybe help him out with some steep fines !!!
I'm not familiar with any gas odor which even remotely resembles that of cat urine. Did the previous tenants have a cat? If so, it could have peed in the closet and seeped into the floor so a good and thorough cleaning with a product designed for the purpose may well solve the problem. Suggest you address the problem in writing to your LL and ask him to investigate further.
There is some sort of electrical fail safe plug in there (anode?) that corrodes. It is supposed to corrode. When it has corroded away, you replace it. When it needs to be replaced it smells.
There is some sort of electrical fail safe plug in there (anode?) that corrodes.
It is supposed to corrode.
When it has corroded away, you replace it.
When it needs to be replaced it smells.
Really? Who knew?
I was going to suggest calling up many plumbers til you find one that knows, because
the LL isn't a plumber...but it seems this is the answer above!
plus after replacing the part if it still smells use a product called Odo ban they sell it at home depot . I love odo ban everyone always ask what Im using LOL.
There is a horrid smell, that is like cat litter/pee coming from my closet the water heater is kept in. I notified my landlord about it and he smells it too, but says he can't do anything about it. It makes the whole room reek. There is no apparent source, so it seems like a gas. Does anyone know what it could be? And what, if anything, the landlord is supposed to do?
Are you willing to move over this issue? If so, you could tell the landlord that you have to move out because of the smell, and want out of your lease without penalty.
If you don't want to move, then put a notice in writing asking the landlord to deal with the ordor by next month or you will look into hiring professionals to get rid of the odor, and sending him the bill. Tell him you heard it could be wires that corrode on water heaters and you are worried about a fire.
Basically, the idea being that you make it easier for him to fix the problem than to continue listening to you complain, etc. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that.
That has worked for me in the past when all reasonable attempts to get a landlord to take care of a problem has not worked.
Are you willing to move over this issue? If so, you could tell the landlord that you have to move out because of the smell, and want out of your lease without penalty.
If you don't want to move, then put a notice in writing asking the landlord to deal with the ordor by next month or you will look into hiring professionals to get rid of the odor, and sending him the bill. Tell him you heard it could be wires that corrode on water heaters and you are worried about a fire.
Basically, the idea being that you make it easier for him to fix the problem than to continue listening to you complain, etc. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that.
That has worked for me in the past when all reasonable attempts to get a landlord to take care of a problem has not worked.
That sounds smart, but I would have to phrase as a suggestion rather than a threat. I decided not to bother, it's not that bad and I'm moving in a couple months.
Thank you.
That sounds smart, but I would have to phrase as a suggestion rather than a threat. I decided not to bother, it's not that bad and I'm moving in a couple months.
Thank you.
But it is not just the smell. As others have mentioned, it could be the wires which could possibly set a fire. Whether you are moving out in 2 months or not it is your obligation/responsibility to report problems immediately that could possibly turn into much bigger problems if not addressed.
I know you said you told the LL however, you really need to put it in writing to him and send it certified letting him know that the smell might be the corrosion of wiring and you are concerned that it may turn into much bigger problems. If anything were to happen he could easily say you must have been aware because of the smell however, never told him and then you, yourself, might have even bigger issues to deal with.
It really needs to be addressed ASAP. I doubt you want your belongings, and possibly much more, destroyed.
It might also be sewer gas. Thanks for your concern, I raised the issue again and my LL is begrudgingly going to get a plumber in here. Sigh... I hate being regarded as the hypochondriac tenant.
When I proposed the idea it might be sewer gas, he flipped out and said it my house isn't powered by natural gas. Although that has nothing to do with it. This illustrates the problematic nature of bringing up issues to landlords!
Last edited by minougirl; 05-28-2015 at 12:05 AM..
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