Strong urine smell coming from ducts

[ezhfjs]

We recently moved to Miami and purchased a house in March. When we had it inspected, the results came back that there was a mild amount of mold on the air handler--people reassured us this was common down here. As the air conditioning units were the original ones from when the house was built in 1973, we took the opportunity to replace both and also had the air ducts thoroughly cleaned.

Ever since we have been experiencing a urine-like smell coming through our air ducts. We have checked everything, including having the air duct cleaning company come back. No one seems to know what is causing this smell, but it is foul.

The smell is especially strong in our kitchen. The kitchen is on the ground floor, but the air vent flow is connected to the upstairs air duct. We don't know why it was set up this way, rather than on the downstairs unit. I am not sure whether this could be relevant. Occasionally we will smell the urine in the upstairs rooms as well.

I read on another posting about UVC lights and photocatalytic systems. Would these be potential solutions? Would a dehumidifyer work? What kind of service should we call to get this evaluated? Thus far everyone we've called hasn't a clue what the problem is and we are very concerned by this.

We have a 3 year old who has been suffering from a lot of
respiratory illness since we moved here, although I don't know whether it has to do with our house or his preschool....

Thanking you in advance for your help with this

[jacob perkins]

Originally posted by ezhfjs
Thanking you in advance for your help with this

Get a hand spray bottle(like an old windex bottle)
make a solution of 4 parts water 1 part bleach to spray into air the ducts airstream.Try to avoid spraying mist through the blower at first.Enter downstream,after blower.
See if that works.....If not,then try a fine mist through the blower.

This is a cheap and easy solution.It sometimes is all you need.

[drk]

I don't totally agree with jacob. I would under no circumstances spray bleach into the duct. But I would take that same bottle with plain water and then mist the coils, turn the fan to on and see if the smell starts if it does that should mean the odor is from the coil. The duct cleaning company should have cleaned these ask them to clean them again.

[tin_fab]

Being as you are in Florida, and that Florida uses flex-duct exclusively, you have critters living in your duct system. Hire an exterminator first, then have your ducts repaired. Rat or mice or other pest feces are probably the cause of your kids problems.

[jacob perkins]

Originally posted by ezhfjs
As the air conditioning units were the original ones from when the house was built in 1973, we took the opportunity to replace both and also had the air ducts thoroughly cleaned.

Yes I misread...."replaced units".ductwork is still unchanged,though except for cleaning .I am guessing it is hardpipe.(When did flex become the norm? 1968? 1978?)

No I wouldnt spray anything in newer units,I would if they were the the 1973 models,though.

I would get rid of that smell though.

[ezhfjs]

We have fiber ducts (is that flex?)

Regarding the post on rats or mice, I'd expect that we would hear them if we had them? Also, we did have the ducts cleaned so I am presuming that they would have found any rats or mice then (at least I am hoping so). The duct cleaning company is coming again this week so I will ask them to double-check. I learned also that because they had difficulty reaching the air duct leading to the kitchen, they cut it open and re-sealed it. Could this have something to do with our odor?

In the meantime if anyone has advice on how to get rid of the smell, I would be so grateful - it is becoming more and more unpleasant

Thanks again

[tin_fab]

you have to get rid of the source (vermin) before you get rid of the smell. trust me on that. hire an exterminator first

[drk]

Fiber duct ( duct board ) Did the cleaning company coat these? Duct board needs to be coated after it is cleaned! Foster 40-20 is probably the best you can buy.

[ezhfjs]

I greatly appreciate these suggestions - i hope we are getting somewhere with this

drk -
I checked and the company that cleaned our duct work did not seal it afterwards. In fact they mentioned that they may have damaged parts of the ducts as there was physical rubble and all kinds of junk that came out when they cleaned them. Plus, as mentioned, they did have to cut one part open so that they could get to it and clean.

If the ducts are unsealed, does that mean that moisture is collecting in the fibers and possibly causing the nasty stench?

If we hired them to come and seal it, could that be all that is needed to solve the problem?

Is that an expensive process?

tin_fab and outside rep -
I have also called an exterminator to come next week and check for vermin--yuck. What are midgets?

I'll keep you posted as we find out more...

[drk]

Yes moisture can and will get into the duct board! Plus the fiber glass will erode. I can't belief that they did not quote to coat the duct board after cleaning ( this is a no brainier ). Make sure that the coating is an EPA approved coating! Not just one chemical but all the product! Make sure it has an antimicrobial inhibitor in it also. I have seen wet insulation to cause an odor before. Is this your problem? only time will tell. But Duct board should be coated after cleaning smell or no smell. GOOD LUCK!!!

[Mr HVAC41]

dont let the cat play in the ductwork

[ezhfjs]

An update

I had the house inspected twice and while we have termites, there is no sign of any vermin living in our attic. In fact most of the openings to the house are well sealed

I had the airduct re-cleaned. The company said it did not make sense to seal it because it takes too many turns in going from upstairs to downstairs and they would not be able to adequately reach it.

For now I am running an ozone machine in the hopes that the smell goes away (so far, no good)

My final guess is that there is dampness in the airduct causing the urine-like smell. It's a fiber duct

Would we have to do something as drastic as replace the air duct to get rid of the smell? We are only planning to stay in the house for another year or so...

[drk]

ezhfjs
Watch that ozone! Ozone is a pollutant. It can be very dangerous! Take a look at EPA web site. If you are only going to be in the house for one year I don't think I would replace the duct. Your duct cleaning company should be able to get to most of the duct to coat it.

[hvac3901]

urine smell, yuck! had my truck in the shop after my girl wrecked it, left the windows down and cats pissed in it. ozonated it and smell went away.

however my concern to the manager was not the smell, its the odor causing agent and any other properties it has. something to think about

[cg2]

If you sell the house knowing that the ductwork smells like urine, you might have to end up paying to replace the ductwork anyway (lawsuits), plus "pain and suffering."

[rdm]

I may be all wet, but....
Having worked with fiber duct board once, (once too many), I seem to recall the strong odor when cutting through the material. I would suggest that you visit a local "ductboard using" contractor and see if the odor isn't from freshly exposed areas of your duct. You might not use the contractor who cleaned your ducts, though. Savvy?

[ezhfjs]

rdm
Thanks for that idea - if I do consult the other contractor, what would be the remediation for the fact that the ducts were cut through.

By the way, the smell has lessened and changed

[drk]

coating the duct

[Mr HVAC41]

you said that the smell has changed, in what way did you change the cat's diet recently

[energy_rater_La]

Ok I got to know...
what happened?
how did the smell change?

BTW you or previous owner didn't
ahem,.. p*ss off the installers did you/they?

I hope your child's health is not
suffering & that your problem is solved.

But really, let us know!!