Strange odor, but kind of a mystery

[special]

Previous owner had a dog, it may or may not have peed in one of the rooms. We bought the house and noticed a pet-like odor in that room, it wasn't very strong but over time it got stronger. We eventually used Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner and it seems to do an amazing job.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072KFTKJZ


We applied it once, odor was almost gone, did it again, and gone. But it came back in a few weeks, applied it again and it was gone...

A year later it came back, one more treatment with Bona and again odor free for a year, maybe even two years now.


This morning the room smelled fine. That is my home office BTW when I WFH. This morning I went to work, and as I said, I didn't notice anything unusual when I picked up my laptop.

Wife was home the whole day, she printed some stuff in my office and didn't notice anything.

I went in the office to get ready for a late night meeting with China and I noticed the smell. WTF is going on?

I called wife to come in and as soon as she stepped in, she had the same reaction. WTF?

So what cause this smell to appear SUDDENLY after 1-2 years and then go away with one single application of Bona for a very long time?

She asked me if it's not "pet" (i.e. dog pee) but instead of have a dead animal in drywalls. I don't think that is the case, we have never seen mice here, and I guess if we had a dead mice or something the smell will always be there and it would not go away when we clean the floors.

Again, the strangest thing is that the smell came back suddenly sometimes this afternoon. It was warm today, but it was also warm a few days ago.

Any hypothesis of what's going on here? I am out of ideas.

We'll clean with bona tomorrow or this weekend, but I would like to know what it is.

[GGD]

What's the weather like? Could there be a water leak, or water moisture under that room.

[Black]

Rain/water in foundation playing a role?

[Tiangou]

It's probably under the floor. In a layer of subflooring-boards, plywood, or even in the joists.

Is there a room below that? Maybe buy/rent a good low-light borescope, drill a small hole or three in the ceiling below and see what you can see?

[special]

Good idea. It didn’t seem to be related to rain. But I can pay more attention.
We did replace the skylight. It was OK but the other one in the bathroom started leaking and we figured we’d replace both at the same time.

Regarding the floors: no water pipes below this floor and I can inspect from the basement but I didn’t notice anything. My workshop is below this and it’s unfinished so I can see the plywood. Will inspect again.

[special]

Tiangou I was typing and didn’t see your post but yes I can inspect.

[Speedy]

This stuff will fix you up:

https://www.thumbtack.com/mn/minneapolis...7072540776

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=345753167444845

Office:952-831-6205, Cell:952-818-7055

[Speedy]

A dead mouse will desiccate pretty quickly (within weeks) and the odor will go away.

[srf1957]

I live. next to a cat lady house . Hasn't lived there for 30 years . First owner pulled carpets and repainted everything . Came back took out the floors. . Came back. dug the dirt out from under house .
He died of. a heart attack .. New owners removed more dirt from underneath and remodeled again . Then. he rented it out . Turns out they were tweakers . Hasn't had anyone in it for3 years now .

[dk62]

A live mouse or similar running across the room, particularly if wet, could maybe cause this.