posted on October 27, 2001 02:11:02 PM new
My son and I have just moved into a large apartment after sharing a one-bedroom for the last couple of years. The space is wonderful and I'm sure we are going to love it here. Things were going very smoothly until the temperatures started to drop.
Each room has electric baseboard heat, and each has it's own thermostat. Things seem fine in the Livingroom and kitchen, but when I activate the heat in the bathroom or in my bedroom there's a horrendous choking odor emitted. I can hardly breathe and my eyes water. It's especially bad in the small bathroom, where the heater is smack upside the toilet. Yes, it's the smell of old smoldering urine, and it can not be tolerated. I believe the previous tenant must have had her cat's litterbox near the heater in what is now my bedroom. I can not (will not) turn the heat on in these two rooms. Sam's bedroom has a very faint hint of the odor but he needs to be warm, so I keep the heat on low in there.
I don't want to be a belligerent new tenant and demand new baseboard units be installed, although I do believe that is what is going to have to be done. I've tried to search google for some cleaning/deodorizing solutions and haven't been able to find anything. My landlords have been out of the country for the last 10 days and are due to arrive back on Monday. I'd like to present this problem to them with information on some action that I had taken to alleviate the situation. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this? Would it be safe to spray white vinegar onto the elements? I don't want this to dampen my enthusiasm for my new livingquarters, and I don't want to start off on bad-footings with my landlords. Any advice would be appreciated.
Rosie
*There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on October 27, 2001 02:32:56 PM new
try a pet store . they have things that remove odors. dont worry about the fins in the baseboard they should be fins. a couple boxes of baking soda might help. good luck!
posted on October 27, 2001 02:44:33 PM new
Get a soft brush that will reach all the way in-between the fins and clean it out with a mix of baking soda and a something like 409 or Fantastic. It is a lot of work - probably take a couple hours to open them and brush but well worth it. Get the inside of the housing and the floor under also. Be sure to rinse out behind you as you go. Probably have to roll a big towel under and wring it out every few minutes.
We had mold behind the hot water heat in one room that is very similar to the sort of unit you have and it was difficult to clean well but we only had to do it once. I removes the face cover and used a big stff paintbrush that would reach all the way through which was about 3 inches. Very slow stabbing in the fins with it but they got all shiny and clean.
posted on October 27, 2001 02:54:22 PM new
I Recomend after cleaning them well that you open all your window, After you are sure the heaters are working well and the windows are open leave the heat on and go out for a few hours.
After you come back there might be some lingering odors but leave the heat on and and after a few days it will be totally gone.
This is no different the starting any other heating system after being off even after the service person or the home owner cleans it for the first hour there is still and odor of dust and even an oil odor for the first day or so more so with space heaters then furnaces or eletric heat but they still have some odor when first started..
if these are electric coil base board heats I dont recomend useing liquid to clean them most baseboard heat today though is usually hot water or oil how ever if you can see glowing heat coils dont use liquid to clean it just turn them on window open and leave the house for the day..
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[ edited by dman3 on Oct 27, 2001 02:59 PM ]
posted on October 27, 2001 04:10:47 PM new
Rosebids25cents - I personally wouldn't mess with anything electric unless I knew how to safely do so.
Our heaters, when first turned on for the winter season, have always given off a smokey smell. Even when we had a new heater installed.
We had a heating and cooling company come out and clean the heater and its coils. The service person shared at that time that dust, dirt, etc builds up on the elements during the year. And if you just open all the doors and windows, turn it up to 90 degrees, it will burn it all off.
On the urine smell issue call a couple of heating and cooling companies and ask if the only solution to this problem is to replace the unit. Maybe that unit can be cleaned by them also.
If I were in your situation, I'd wait until my landlord had a chance to catch his/her breath from their vacation and then I'd speak with them about my concerns. Possibly suggesting they come in and smell the odor, will convince them they need to do something.
[ edited by Linda_K on Oct 27, 2001 04:14 PM ]
posted on October 29, 2001 12:49:44 PM new
Hey all -
Thanks for taking the time to give your suggestions. I knew I could count on ya'll! The "burning off" seems to have worked for the bedrooms (for the most part.. still a whiff of unpleasant odor, but the eyes are dry). The bathroom heater is beyond hope, I'm afraid.
Now I'll need to find where I packed my humidifier - this is apparently a very dry heat. Heck, maybe I just don't HAVE any fluids left to use for watery eyes.
Thanks again - Rosie
*There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on October 29, 2001 01:01:06 PM new
Rosie, I dont know what state you live in, so what pertains to california law may not apply to where you are. Getting urine smell out of anything is hard to do...especially cat urine. I had a tenant that had dozens of cats (unbeknownst to me at the time) and when she moved out, I had to replace the carpet and padding in all rooms, PLUS treat the cement foundation the padding and carpet laid on. It was bad. Now, being in property management, if I were the landlord/manager/owner, I would, in your case, take on the responsibility to get the smell out. Taking a vacation is fine and dandy, but you have to live there, not them. As soon as they get back, PUT IT IN WRITING, then hand them a copy. Tell them you expect it to be taken care of asap. In the meantime, try some of the suggestions given here. If you damage the coils, YOU will be responsible to repair the heating. You must give them a chance to get it done professionally. If they dont, then you can hire a professional to come in, then take it out of the rent. Check with your local landlord/tenant association if you have one. If not, then call a real estate company and ask them who you can call to get the laws pertaining to your situation and state.
posted on October 29, 2001 01:18:58 PM new
I think the main issue is, the landlord has a responsability to provide working equipment. The heating unit as is cannot be used, therefore it needs replaced. The current tenent isn't responsable since they didn't cause the problem.
Has the landlord been told of the problem? If they knew, they most likely wouldn't have given the security deposit (if there was one) back to the previous renter.
posted on October 29, 2001 01:28:31 PM new
Tenants MUST be supplied with "functional" heating, water/sanitation facilities, cooking area. Air conditioning is not considered mandatory, but HEAT is. And no, your heating supply cannot be used. Its a health hazard. I would highly recommend you not cleaning or repairing it yourself, Rosie. They will hold you liable if you damage it. BUT, you have to give them time. I would say at least 72 hours from the date you give them notice of the problem. Again, this is california law, and i dont know where you are, so keep in mind states differ. IF it is not repaired where it doesnt smell or stink up the place, then call around and get 3 estimates. Then call the cheapest. Send the bill (a copy) to the landlord, along with the rent that the bill has been deducted from. But first, give them notice that this is what you will do if it isnt repaired in a reasonable amount of time (normally 72 hours or less, depending on the severity of the weather and the state youre in).
[ edited by hepburn on Oct 29, 2001 01:29 PM ]
