10 field-tested tips
- 1The stack effect drives odor upward in winter and downward in summer — plan HVAC dispensing to counter.
- 2Seal every chase penetration; unsealed penetrations are highways for kitchen and bathroom odors.
- 3Balance HVAC yearly — an unbalanced system creates pressure differentials that pull odor between units.
- 4Address the chute, waste room, and ejector pit as a single program, not three vendors.
- 5Add corridor air-freshening tuned to the building's signature scent, not off-the-shelf fragrance.
- 6Investigate 'ghost odors' with a smoke pencil; they usually trace to a specific chase or shaft.
- 7In mixed-use towers, isolate restaurant exhaust — commercial kitchen odor migrates through shared HVAC.
- 8Cap unused floor drains with trap seal devices; abandoned units are silent odor sources.
- 9Coordinate with the fire life-safety team; some odor solutions interact with smoke detectors.
- 10Publish an odor-response SLA for residents — a 24-hour response beats a permanent fix in complaint volume.
Why it matters
An odor complaint identifies where someone noticed a smell, not necessarily where it started. Elevator movement, open loading doors, and exhaust schedules can change its path. Covering the smell before tracing it can hide a wastewater leak or failed exhaust component.
Practical steps
Record the location, weather, operating equipment, and waste-handling activity when a complaint arrives. Compare affected floors with nearby areas that have no complaints. Check exhaust fan operation, belt condition, and blocked grilles. Inspect accessible pipe joints, pit-cover gaskets, and waste-container bottoms for leaks or residue. Look for standing water beneath compactors and inside drain pans. Check whether doors latch fully without being propped open. After repairs, revisit the complaint location under similar operating conditions rather than judging success immediately after cleaning.
When to call a professional
Call a qualified contractor when odors recur despite cleaning, concealed piping may be leaking, or exhaust equipment is not working. Keep staff out of pits and shafts. If a strong sewer odor causes irritation or dizziness, leave the affected area and seek emergency assistance.
How Luften handles it
Luften offers a free on-site walkthrough to identify odor sources and provide written treatment recommendations. Monthly managed programs include documented service visits and can cover odor, drains, grease, trash, and scenting.
Building odor control servicesWant Luften to run this program for you?
Patented chemistry, managed dispensing, and one vendor for chute, waste room, pit, lift station, elevator pit, restroom, and signature scent.