10 field-tested tips
- 1Ask what molecule they treat — 'all odors' means none specifically.
- 2Ask for SDS on every product before purchase.
- 3Ask for pre/post ppm measurement on H₂S and VOC programs.
- 4Ask for a documented service cadence, not 'as needed.'
- 5Ask who handles refills — your staff or theirs.
- 6Ask for a single point of contact across chute, waste room, pit, and scent.
- 7Ask for references at properties of your size and type.
- 8Ask about patent protection — proprietary chemistry usually outperforms generics.
- 9Ask about response-time SLAs on complaints.
- 10Ask for a written scope of work and a walk-through report before contract.
Why it matters
An odor-control proposal can look complete while leaving the building responsible for access, cleanup, repairs, and equipment downtime. Those gaps become change orders or unresolved complaints. Compare bids against the same operating conditions, not equipment descriptions. Separate odor treatment from plumbing repairs, ventilation corrections, and accumulated waste removal so management knows what the contract actually covers.
Practical steps
Give bidders the same complaint history, affected locations, waste-handling schedule, and known drainage or exhaust problems. Have them identify prerequisites and exclusions, including electrical work, water access, surface preparation, and disposal. Ask how they will distinguish a treatment failure from a new leak or failed exhaust fan. Define acceptance criteria before work starts, with observations taken at comparable locations and operating conditions. Require service records to show findings, corrective actions, and unresolved issues. Clarify equipment ownership, damage responsibility, cancellation terms, and removal obligations. Ask what happens when a reservoir runs empty or equipment stops between visits.
When to call a professional
Bring in a qualified professional when bids recommend different treatments without explaining the source, or when complaints persist despite cleaning. Suspected sewer gas, recurring backups, and inaccessible pits need assessment rather than another deodorizer. Keep building staff out of pits; odor-control work does not replace plumbing or ventilation repairs.
How Luften handles it
Luften offers a free on-site survey and written treatment recommendation. Managed service programs use in-house technicians and documented visits, with photo documentation and applicable measurements included in most programs. Luften can consolidate odor, drain, grease, trash, and scenting services under the same contract.
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.