Smell from airing cupboard / hot water tank

[adamxyz]

I've noticed a smell over the last few days coming from our airing cupboard.

In it we have our hot water cylinder (back boiler powered, very old system).

The smell reminds me of sour milk that has been left for days.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

With the recent cold weather we've been running the heating more than usual.

 

[adamxyz]

anyone?

 

[TonyW2]

Dead mouse?
Wet clothing item behind cylinder?

 

[adamxyz]

wet clothing - not very likely as we don't put anything in there

dead mouse - possible but hard to track down. Have tried looking but the tank is boxed in tightly, so difficult to fish around the tank.

Assuming it is a dead mouse, how long before the smell fades?

 

[ree]

When you say tank do you mean a storage tank or the cylinder?

If its a storage tank then remove the boxing and examine inside the tank.

Have you been using the immersion heater?

 

[adamxyz]

sorry - meant cylinder I guess. Big copper job where the hot water is heated/stored.

>Have you been using the immersion heater?

Not knowlingly.

 

[ree]

Get a flashlight and examine the cylinder and the closet, esp. behind the cylinder for weeping leaks.