Will haz explosion?
August 11, 2013 6:42 AM Subscribe
Smell that isn't like gas from the oven/burner but is like when radiators go on in winter is in apartment. Freak out or no?
It's sort of like a smell that you get from a clothes dryer vent -- not unpleasant, not unpleasant, definitely not like a typical gas smell. But it does smell like when the radiators go on. Bonus details: Windows closed, AC temporarily off, apartment is on first floor over a garage.
Also, the PD/FD in my locale are sometimes unpleasant, always big white guys. I'd rather not deal with them in my apartment if I don't have to. Last time there was a gas complaint in my building they were kind of dickish to the point I briefly considered filing a complaint.
It's sort of like a smell that you get from a clothes dryer vent -- not unpleasant, not unpleasant, definitely not like a typical gas smell. But it does smell like when the radiators go on. Bonus details: Windows closed, AC temporarily off, apartment is on first floor over a garage.
Also, the PD/FD in my locale are sometimes unpleasant, always big white guys. I'd rather not deal with them in my apartment if I don't have to. Last time there was a gas complaint in my building they were kind of dickish to the point I briefly considered filing a complaint.
Sounds like burning/heated dust smell?
posted by Jacqueline at 7:28 AM on August 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Jacqueline at 7:28 AM on August 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Potentially stupid question, but do you actually have radiators? Have you checked to see whether they are hot? This happened to me one summer, and we had to get the building manager to fix it. Some switch was broken somewhere, so the heat was turning on, regardless of the temperature.
posted by unknowncommand at 7:29 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by unknowncommand at 7:29 AM on August 11, 2013
Response by poster: okay, it's gone (or greatly diminished) so I think this isn't a prelude to another Philly building disaster. Thanks for the replies.
posted by angrycat at 7:34 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by angrycat at 7:34 AM on August 11, 2013
But it does smell like when the radiators go on.
Well that smell is dust. Has it been a while since you used the oven or grill?
posted by DarlingBri at 8:54 AM on August 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Well that smell is dust. Has it been a while since you used the oven or grill?
posted by DarlingBri at 8:54 AM on August 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Yeah, dust.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2013
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2013
Just for the record, the gas company (at least here in California) is happy to send a guy out with a detector for FREE. And in a hurry. The last thing they need is dead customers, or worse yet, bad press.
And yeah, that burning dust smell sucks.
posted by Xoebe at 6:00 PM on August 13, 2013
And yeah, that burning dust smell sucks.
posted by Xoebe at 6:00 PM on August 13, 2013
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Are there any other heating elements around - oven, stove, hot plate, etc - that could make the sort of 'something is hot' smell? Anything running or left on in that garage? I've had lights make that smell when a bulb is too hot for the fixture (ie, 100W bulb in a lamp only rated for 40W).
Also - is there anyone else around (neighbor, friend) who could render a second opinion? I do that pretty frequently with my wife - ask for a sanity check when I think I smell something odd (or pet-related). Sometimes it's just in my head.
posted by jquinby at 7:18 AM on August 11, 2013