Comments on: Meth lab: Smell

By: Meth Lab Homes

Meth Lab Homes — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:22:53 +0000

JW,

You should open some windows and get some fresh air in to your apartment to dissipate the chemical fumes that are going in to your apartment! Masking smells by using air fresheners, etc, will only fill the air in your apartment with more chemicals, which is the opposite of what you need to do. You need clean air!

I also recommend that you notify the police department about what’s going on and ask them to investigate a suspected meth lab in my apartment building. It’s best that they determine what is causing the fumes that you’re smelling. If it’s a meth lab, it needs to be shut down asap!

You might also want to contact the health and/or fire department and tell them that you’ve been getting sick from fumes that smell like paint thinner in your apartment building. Ask them if they can come to your apartment and do an air quality check. Breathing in those fumes are NOT good for your health, no matter where those fumes are coming from! Additionally, those fumes could result in a fire.

Lastly, you might want to keep a record of everyone you’ve contacted, names, dates, times, and document about what you and your father have experienced including as many details as possible. If the problem turns in to a legal matter, you will need good documentation.

By: JW

JW — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:58:07 +0000

At around 2:30 today, while I was at work, my dad noticed an overwhelming chemical-type smell take over our apartment. I came home around 6:30 and it hit me when I came through the door. I assumed it was paint thinner, because that’s what it most closely resembled. I’ve been disoriented for about 2 days now and have had a headache since I got back from work. The smell can be masked, but it’s not necessarily going away. I called the emergency maintenance people at the complex, only for them to tell me that the apartment adjacent to us had renovations done, but it’s just hard to believe. Any thoughts?

By: frustrated with neighbors

frustrated with neighbors — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:33:17 +0000

Hi Kemp,
You may want to try a consumer advocate. See what resources they have for you. In the state where I live, the health department is obligated to investigate all claims of unhealthy, unsanitary, or dangerous living conditions. Some areas offer free legal advice, that could even point you in the right direction. But I definitely wouldn’t wait for your deposit to move out. I know it can be tough when money is tight but put you and your family first and trust that you will find what you need. If you weigh the difference between the amount of your refunded deposit against medical bills because the smells caused temporary or permanent damage to you and your family, it may put things in a different light. Hope that helps.

By: frustrated with neighbors

frustrated with neighbors — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:27:05 +0000

To add to what Meth Lab Homes is saying, even if the HVAC in the meth lab isn’t connected to other apartments, if you are smelling odors or chemicals, there is always a possibility of a residue build-up of those chemicals in your heating/AC ducts. The reason we smell at all is because microscopic particles of objects (cleaners, paint thinners, flowers, baked goods, trash, etc) are floating in the air and into our noses where our sensors decipher what it is. Actual physical particals, which is why they can cause us physical damage when we breathe them in.
I’m pretty sure my neighbors are running a meth lab. They’re up all night making wierd noises (tapping, hammering, drilling), people coming and going all the time. The other day they had a sign on the door telling visitors to knock on the window. Their windows are always blocked out in the basement. I’m always smelling acetone or propane, wood smoke, and other wierd smells on top of a butt load of cigarette smoke. The police have raided the apartment before and took one of them to jail (the police don’t raid apartments for traffic violations ). But the managers and owners continue to do nothing about it. I get so frustrated!

By: Kemp

Kemp — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:46:48 +0000

I am currently living in a leased home that has a strange pervasive odor – its smells like a mix of smoke/wet drywall/chemical type odor. The home has been extensively remodeled inside prior to us moving in; however cabinets/appliances were not replaced. According to the local police, the previous owners did use crack, and now I am beginning to wonder if they were manufacturing meth also.
When we leave our home the smell is on all of our belongings – I can even smell it on my six month old’s hair and mine, even immediately after a shower. After doing some research I am terrified that there may be something harmful in our home, possibly meth, but no one will help me – I have spoken with the health department, EPA, and the state health department, all to no avail. Our landlord keeps saying he doesn’t know what it is and has done things like provide air fresheners, odor killing powder for the basement floor (small area where fuel oil may have been spilled in the past) and offered to send a cleaning lady to clean the basement (he thinks it may be a fuel oil smell), but none of these things have helped so far. The smell cannot be masked by any amount of air freshener and our clothing smells terrible even after being freshly laundered. I have no idea what to do at this point. Do you think the odor may be meth? I cannot fathom what else would cause such a pervasive smell and I was informed that proper testing could cost upward of $4,000, which we do not have. At this point I just want out of our lease and to get our deposits back so that we can move, however I don’t think our landlord will allow it and we have several months left on the lease. I would love to hear any thoughts on this.

By: David

David — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:38:54 +0000

Hello, my name is David. Im smelling a Foul Smell kinda like dead animal or rotten eggs and im wondering cause my next door loser is well known for drugs, what could it possibly be? i need to know. could it be sulfur and not drug labs? should i leave my home? please help me with my problem.

By: Meth Lab Homes

Meth Lab Homes — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:33:36 +0000

Heather,

Meth can be made anywhere, including some very nice homes and apartments located in some very nice areas. Based on what you’ve smelled and seen, I would definitely get the apartment tested for meth and have someone check the air quality in the apartment. Even if meth wasn’t made in your apartment, it could still be contaminated, if the HVAC /heating system adjoins to other apartments.

Suggestions:

Keep your windows open as much as possible to dissipate the chemicals that are in the apartment.

Call your local police department and explain the situation, including the fact that you have children. Ask them if they any records about the apartment or records about the previous tenants. Making meth is just one way of contaminating a home; smoking meth can contaminate it, as well. Keep in mind that police only find about 2 or 3 out of every 10 homes where meth has been made. If they don’t have a record about the apartment, it doesn’t mean that meth wasn’t made or smoke there.

Call your local health department and see if they have any records about the apartment. Tell them about the situation and ask them if they have any records about the apartment being used to make meth. Ask them if they can test the air quality in your home.

You can buy meth test kits online, however having a professional test your home is a better way to go, in my opinion. You may miss things that professionals won’t and test results from a certified professional are better for you to have if it ends up in a court battle over rent money paid, lease agreements, etc.

If you want me to help you research the situation, send me the address of the property – through my contact form – and I’ll see what I can find out for you.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:33:07 +0000

We just moved into an apartment away from home for my husbands work and we noticed strong chemical smell. We thought at first it was just because they painted. We cleaned, used candles, sprays and everything to take the smell out. We went back to our home after a week and then I could smell chemicals on our clothes. I had to re-wash everything because it was so bad. We called the apartment management and they said they would do something about it. We got back a week later and now it smelled like bleach and they put in an air purifier. I started to look around and on top of the cabinets I found a sticky layer of residue. It was black and in some places yellow. I found black dust in the corners and hard to get places the cleaners obviously didn’t get to. Our friends live next door and have normal dust on top of their cabinets. The manager at the complex said they would send cleaners back to clean to to bottom. We have two young boys and I am worried about the smell now that i have been doing research. Does this sound like it used to be a meth lab? Its strange though because its not a horrible apartment or in a bad area. Its a nice gated community. Any input on what the smell could be would be helpful. Smells like paint thinner/spray paint. Thanks!!

By: lynn

lynn — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:07:56 +0000

To Kimberly,

Thank you! It is so insane that “they” the “justice system” will not help! we can police 3rd world countries, but not our own. The oxygen mask gos to “them,” not first, but INSTEAD!… Cool.
When are we going to have charity START at home?
Lynn

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:15:41 +0000

been around people who clean up meth lab homes and the new method the shake and bake does not smell like the red p or the nazi method. you have to look for the other warning signs. the ones that i was around working with last year they cleaned 50 and only about 5 had the smell with them please don’t just go by the smell look for the signs, your health and the childrens health and elderly is a lot more important. i have beem to talk to Senators and only 1 in 5 will listen you must keep talking!