Smell of firelighters in the house

Chuchu

Hi we are at a loss as to who to contact about this. Bought new house before xmas (new oldish house, built in the 50s). It's oil heating, an old system, but it's been fine thus far. But over the past two weeks there has been a smell building up in the sitting room, a distinct smell of firelighters/paraffin? (There are no firelighters in the house!) The sitting room is at the front of the house miles away form the oil tank (out the garden) and the oil burner (in the garage). There is a fireplace that we haven't used yet, might it be the chimney? There is nothing else in the sitting room that it can be.
I rang HSE and Dublin City Council re. environmental inspector or the likes to see if someone might call out but there is no one. Carbon Monoxide is odourless right? Any ideas what it might be or who we should call about it?
Any advise appreciated. Thx.

keno-daytrader

Do you have a working carbon monoxide alarm?

Wearb

Sounds like there may have been an oil spillage (but could be something else). You could call EPA and ask for advice.

Have you had boiler serviced? Tank and pipe work can be checked for leaks then.

Chuchu

Thanks for the replies, yes we have a span new cm alarm. Thanks re epa didn't know about them but if their reply is like Dublin city co co. We'll be out of luck I think. It's inside not 'outside' so a private matter. We' re really at a loss as to who to call and don't want to rack up call out charges for people who can't help.

The Diddakoi

With the warmer weather we have had the living room windows open, and the smell coming down the chimney is rotten. Not sure how to describe it.
Does it look like the fireplace has been used much ? any idea when your chimney was last swept ??

Wearb

Have you had boiler serviced? Tank and pipe work can be checked for leaks then.

Chuchu

Yeah my initial thought was chimney and that we should have it swept as we've no idea when it was last done, but I'm worried about an oil leak now. Could this be possible given the smell is isolated to the one room which is so far away from the tank and boiler?

Wearb

Wearb wrote: »

Have you had boiler serviced? Tank and pipe work can be checked for leaks then.

The Diddakoi

If the tank and boiler are well away from the room I would think it was very unlikely to be oil. There would be no oil pipes in that room.
Is the smell constant? or does it get worse at certain times of the day?
If we open the living room windows and ventilate the room, then close the doors and windows the smell stays away for a bit, but comes back when the upstairs windows are open.
One thing you could try if you aren't actually using the open fire is one of those chimney balloons. It inflates up the chimney to block the draft. If the smell went you'd know for sure that was what it is. Then either get the chimney swept, ao a chimney cowl on the top to stop the downdraft.
Think its €40 to get your chimney swept.

Chuchu

We thought we had when we moved in and the plumbers replaced the thermostat but obviously not, but I'm still wondering about the smell so far away from the source of the oil. Servicing is first on our list now, but it still seems strange.
Thanks everyone for replies

Chuchu

alf66 wrote: »

If the tank and boiler are well away from the room I would think it was very unlikely to be oil. There would be no oil pipes in that room.
Is the smell constant? or does it get worse at certain times of the day?
If we open the living room windows and ventilate the room, then close the doors and windows the smell stays away for a bit, but comes back when the upstairs windows are open.
One thing you could try if you aren't actually using the open fire is one of those chimney balloons. It inflates up the chimney to block the draft. If the smell went you'd know for sure that was what it is. Then either get the chimney swept, ao a chimney cowl on the top to stop the downdraft.
Think its €40 to get your chimney swept.

Great suggestion thanks, I too find it hard to believe that it could be the oil. We will get a service all the same. We are a little smashed though so want to rule out chimney first.
Appreciate it.

Wearb

Chuchu wrote: »

We thought we had when we moved in and the plumbers replaced the thermostat but obviously not, but I'm still wondering about the smell so far away from the source of the oil. Servicing is first on our list now, but it still seems strange.
Thanks everyone for replies

Depending on the lie of the land, oil can travel a lot just under the surface until it comes up against an obstacle (i.e. house foundations, etc.).

Get a good service guy to check it all out. We aren't too busy at the moment and it should be east to get one. Make sure to explain your problems to him at time of booking. Along with service, he will give your tank the once over and pressure test your oil line. Make sure to request that he can supply an combustion printout at time of service.

Any signs of grass burning or black patches on inorganic surfaces near oil tank? It might indicate a leak or overfilling.

Service will pay for itself with efficiency increase, so you wont be much out of pocket.

Chuchu

Thanks, that's very helpful. Will keep you posted.

DGOBS

Check the bulb holder of your light fitting, see if it's brittle and burned, the older ones can stink out a room

RE oil, make sure to ask does he have a oil line pressure test kit, if not, jog on