Air fresheners and sprays only cover a bad smell for a while. If the cause is still there, the smell comes back. Most bad smells in buildings come from one of two places: an animal that has died somewhere out of sight, or a fault in the drains. As pest controllers and drainage engineers, we deal with both, so we can find where a smell is coming from, fix the cause and then treat what is left.
What causes bad smells in a building
- A dead rat, mouse, squirrel or bird in a wall, loft, chimney or under the floor
- Drain and sewer smells from dried-out traps, open or broken gullies, cracked pipes and displaced joints
- Droppings, urine and nesting material left behind by rats, mice or pigeons in lofts and voids
- Empty, probate and hoarded properties that have been shut up for a long time
- Bin stores and waste areas at businesses, flats and food premises
Dead animal smells
A dead rat or mouse in a wall or under the floor can fill a room with a strong, sickly smell within a few days. Other signs are flies such as bluebottles appearing in one room, or the smell being worst in one spot. We trace the smell to its source, remove the animal and any soiled insulation or nesting, disinfect the area and treat the smell. Where the animal is hard to reach, we may need to lift a floorboard or open a small section of ceiling, and we always agree this with you first.
We also find out how the animal got in and close the gap, so it does not happen again. If rats keep returning, our Rat-Free Guarantee deals with the problem for good.
Drain and sewer smells
A rotten egg or sewage smell inside a building usually means sewer air is getting in. Common causes are traps that have dried out in rooms that are not used, open gullies with no grate, failed seals around soil pipes and toilets, and cracked or displaced pipes under the floor. Broken drains can also let rats in from the sewer.
We check the traps and drainage points, then use a CCTV drain survey to find hidden defects. Most faults can be fixed with a no-dig drain repair, a new grate or a new seal, which stops the smell at source.
ULV fogging to neutralise odours
Once the cause is dealt with, a smell can linger in the air, carpets and soft furnishings. We treat this with ULV (ultra-low volume) fogging. A cold fogger turns a professional odour neutraliser into a very fine mist that spreads through the room and into the places a spray cannot reach. It breaks down the compounds that cause the smell rather than covering them up.
- Fogging always follows dealing with the cause, never replaces it
- Products are used in line with their labels
- People and pets stay out of the room during treatment and for a short time afterwards. We will tell you how long before you go back in
- Suitable for single rooms through to whole buildings and commercial areas
Where we work
- Homes
- Rented and empty properties
- Probate properties
- After house and hoarding clearances
- Restaurants and commercial kitchens
- Factories, warehouses and bin stores
We can clear an empty or probate property, deal with any pests, fix drain smells and treat lingering odours so it is ready to let or sell. See our probate and void property and house clearance services.
How it works
- Tell us about the smellWhere it is, how long it has been there and when it is worst. Often we can tell you the likely cause over the phone.
- Find the sourceWe visit, trace the smell and check for pests and drain faults.
- Fix the causeWe remove what is causing it and repair or proof where needed.
- NeutraliseWe fog or treat the affected areas so the smell does not linger.
Questions
Can you just spray something to get rid of the smell?
Spraying on its own only masks the smell for a short time. If the cause is still there, the smell comes back, so we always find and deal with the cause first.
How long does a dead rat smell last?
If nothing is done, it can last several weeks until the animal dries out, and it attracts flies. Removing the animal and treating the area clears it much sooner.
Why does my house smell of drains?
The usual causes are a dried-out trap in a room that is not used, a failed seal on a toilet or soil pipe, or a broken drain. Running the taps in unused rooms is worth trying first. If the smell stays, a drain survey will find the fault.
Do I need to leave the house during fogging?
You need to stay out of the rooms being treated, along with your pets, while we fog and for a short time afterwards. We will tell you exactly how long on the day.
How much does odour removal cost?
It depends on the cause and how much work is needed to fix it, so we give you a price after we have found the source. See how we price our work.
