Overwhelming smell of Acetic acid in home

olly_k · 3 May 2021

So folks we are all aware of that smell of siliconing the bathroom, well I was on my way to the kitchen when all of a sudden I was caught by an overwhelming smell of Acetic acid, it had that same pungent smell that got to my nose, throat, and lungs but this was like nothing I have ever witnessed.

Got my partner and my son out of the house as it was upstairs and downstairs and equally strong. opening windows where I could and then turned electrics off in the cellar, which incidentally seemed to be clear..

I am really worried now. I have come back in as luckily being a windy day the house was cleared quite quickly, electrics back on but I am wondering around to see if I can locate a source.

I can still taste it in my mouth now!

Can anyone please help because I have been close to calling the fire brigade but unless there is an obvious source I doubt they could help atm..

BTW I do have chemicals but all are in cupboards, just wondering if a mix could produce a similar smell. Old house so again maybe old electrical sources??

Any ideas, please!?

Doug99 · 3 May 2021

If in doubt call the gas board. If not gas, they may suggest what it is.

Dangee · 3 May 2021

Could it have blown in? You don’t happen to live next door to a chemical plant do you?

EFLImpudence · 3 May 2021

Leaking vinegar bottle.

olly_k · 3 May 2021

It's possible but we do not live near a chemical plant no. And nope no signs of any liquid anywhere... It was so concentrated too. Vinegar was one of my first thoughts though!

gasbanni · 3 May 2021

A dead rat can stink !

Often misdiagnosed as a gas leak.

Brigade77 · 3 May 2021

Every time I have pondered over & then finally called out the emergency services . . . They have been absolutely fine about it & reassured me that I did the RIGHT thing by calling them out, even if it was all in vain & pointless overkill.

Unless you suffer from a mental illness &/or have this fantasy in your head about hunky firemen rescuing you from drowning in your bathtub or want a handsome young policeman climbing off a ladder & crawling into your bedroom to rescue you from a rather large spider . . . . All of which is a LOT more common than most folk fink !

JohnD · 3 May 2021

gone-off fruit?

olly_k · 13 May 2021

Thanks for your help and ideas folks. . This one it seems, will remain a mystery. The only thing I can think of it that someone has put something dodgy down the drains and it came into the house...

It was far too acrid to be a natural source for sure, but as there is no obvious source I cannot comment further!

Strange!

Bosswhite · 14 May 2021

Have a look at your light fittings , is it possible you still use Old type light bulbs , these can get very hot depending on wattage of bulb and affect the Plastic fittings which give off an unusual smell , if the fittings are brown or brittle then they are burnt .

Overwhelming smell of Acetic acid in home

Brigade77

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