What in the house can cause a smokey smell?

[Ricemarine]

So, a few months ago I asked for help thinking my dad has a false sense of smelling smoke... Well, it turns out he doesn't believe a single word the family says and DOES NOT believe anything is wrong with him and WILL NOT go to a doctor. Thus, I am back to square one in trying to figure out where he's getting this smell from. Reasons why I ask is:

- He believes my computer is emitting the smokey smell from radiation or the hot air (my computer now has to be stored away for the time being).
- We've once agained changed to another gas furnace (Trane XV95) which is more expensive.
- Our central air system (or whatever it is) has the fan on 24/7.
- He believes someone could be tampering with the intake and exhaust going into the furnace
- He believes the water heater could be the culprit.
- He believes a neighbor could be burning wood and so he tells the family to close their windows.
- He tells the family to open the windows to vent out the smokey smell.
- He's wanting to move to another house.

This has started ever since we replaced our furnace initially in winter. We also replaced the water heater at the same time. So if anyone else has any good answers for why my dad is smelling smoke and the rest of the family isn't, please do tell.

Update:
So in the past two weeks, the people who installed the furnace came out because my dad still complained that he smelled smoke still. They came out twice, but after the second one, they said they would charge him if they cannot find the problem. They did a full inspection, but they could not find the problem, which I do believe included checking the water heater. This is not a cigarette smokey smell, but a burning smell. With the installation of the new furnace, they PVC piped and sealed all the hoses to make sure.

He still can only smell it in the house too btw. He says it's something to do with the furnace or the water heater since now he requests that every time we open the garage, we should let all the air vent out. Now he's starting to get more angry with the family about it now, which is why I'm updating this thread...

Thus, back to square one again?...

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
What in the house can cause a smokey smell?

Smoke.

You know, you really ought to check Google first.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Sounds like he's got some paranoid mental issue. Send him to a shrink.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: TreyRandom

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
What in the house can cause a smokey smell?

Smoke.

You know, you really ought to check Google first.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Care to name the source of the smoke? =P.
and believe me, I checked out google months before posting this and still am searching for the answer. If he'd believe in Phantom Smells and would go see the doctor I might've been able to be able to take that off the list if that wasn't the cause.

 

[IGBT]

..cell phone radation cooking his upper lip and ear. mabe twisty FL bulb ballast is smoldering. They do dat before they burst into a smokie cloud.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
So, a few months ago I asked for help thinking my dad has a false sense of smelling smoke... Well, it turns out he doesn't believe a single word the family says and DOES NOT believe anything is wrong with him and WILL NOT go to a doctor. Thus, I am back to square one in trying to figure out where he's getting this smell from. Reasons why I ask is:

- He believes my computer is emitting the smokey smell from radiation or the hot air (my computer now has to be stored away for the time being).
- We've once agained changed to another gas furnace (Trane XV95) which is more expensive.
- Our central air system (or whatever it is) has the fan on 24/7.
- He believes someone could be tampering with the intake and exhaust going into the furnace
- He believes the water heater could be the culprit.
- He believes a neighbor could be burning wood and so he tells the family to close their windows.
- He tells the family to open the windows to vent out the smokey smell.
- He's wanting to move to another house.

This has started ever since we replaced our furnace initially in winter. We also replaced the water heater at the same time. So if anyone else has any good answers for why my dad is smelling smoke and the rest of the family isn't, please do tell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantosmia

 

[BoomerD]

Maybe there's a hole in a wire letting out all the magic smoke...

 

[Cheesetogo]

You really should get him to a doctor.

 

[Jeff7]

Curious, how old is he?

Originally posted by: amdhunter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantosmia

</thread>

 

[Bignate603]

It really does sound like it's in his head. Time to see a doctor.

 

[potato28]

It's in his head. I smell smoke, but from a barbeque somewhere.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine


- He believes someone could be tampering with the intake and exhaust going into the furnace

That sound very much like some sort of paranoia starting. I always heard doctors describe it as 'what would the average person find most likely'. I doubt people are going around tampering with the furnace so it fits the paranoia idea.


I have been in a lot of places that try to help people with mental problems, homeless shelters, counseling in free time, etc. It reminds me of a guy I met that claimed there was someone knocking at the door , but no one else in the home heard anything. He swore people were just trying to play tricks on him.

It could be something as simple as a drug he is taking. It doesn't mean he is going crazy.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Curious, how old is he?

Originally posted by: amdhunter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantosmia

</thread>

He's 51. I'm not sure what drug he could be taking, since I don't think he's on any prescriptions. Otherwise he'd be taking the occasional naproxen, ibuprofen, and some vaporub.

So how do you convince someone who doesn't believe they're sick to go to a doctor when the family has already tried talking to him? He went to the doctor before to discuss his chest pains and he wouldn't admit that he was overweight when the doctor clearly told him so.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
So how do you convince someone who doesn't believe they're sick to go to a doctor when the family has already tried talking to him? He went to the doctor before to discuss his chest pains and he wouldn't admit that he was overweight when the doctor clearly told him so.

You put him in a car and fucking take him there whether he wants to or not.

 

[captains]

1. buy fog machine
2. omgwtfbbq
3. heart attack
4. no more complaing
5. profit

 

[Ricemarine]

hum, he told me he'd visit the doctor tomorrow, but I'm not sure if he's just lying to me.

He also now believes the main reason for the smoke is the water heater exhaust, saying that the person who installed it made a pipe become loose and now is venting into the house. The problem is, if that was the case, the CO alarms would show that it is, but it doesn't. So is this still a logical idea?..

But for now he believes he will die if I leave my computer in my room.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
hum, he told me he'd visit the doctor tomorrow, but I'm not sure if he's just lying to me.

He also now believes the main reason for the smoke is the water heater exhaust, saying that the person who installed it made a pipe become loose and now is venting into the house. The problem is, if that was the case, the CO alarms would show that it is, but it doesn't. So is this still a logical idea?..

But for now he believes he will die if I leave my computer in my room.

As far as I know, the main combustion products of burning natural gas (I assume this is what the heater uses?) are carbon dioxide and water. I doubt you'd get a typical "smoke smell" from it, and as you said, if anything was burning improperly, you'd be setting off the CO alarm.

As for the computer....what the hell? What's it going to do? "Radiation" from the computer? Is he also a proponent of the "fan death" superstition?

 

[CrazyLazy]

Bring several people who have never been to your house/neighborhood before and give them a brief survey about the house and have one of the questions be "What does it smell like". If you have a big enough sample size and follow proper scientific procedure you might be able to convince your dad it's just in his head.

 

[DrPizza]

If he's 51, I assume he isn't just at home 24/7. Does he smell the smoke in other places? Or, just at home? If it's just at home, I'd be more willing to believe that he's got a better sense of smell than the rest of the family.

edit: and since it started when you had the furnace and hot water heater replaced - if that statement is perfectly accurate, I'd bet that there are some oily residues on the vent pipe that get heated up and give off an odor each time the water heater is on.

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: TreyRandom

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
What in the house can cause a smokey smell?

Smoke.

You know, you really ought to check Google first.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Care to name the source of the smoke? =P.
and believe me, I checked out google months before posting this and still am searching for the answer. If he'd believe in Phantom Smells and would go see the doctor I might've been able to be able to take that off the list if that wasn't the cause.

T'was kidding... just a joke.

Obviously, he's the source of the smoke.

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
If he's 51, I assume he isn't just at home 24/7. Does he smell the smoke in other places? Or, just at home? If it's just at home, I'd be more willing to believe that he's got a better sense of smell than the rest of the family.

edit: and since it started when you had the furnace and hot water heater replaced - if that statement is perfectly accurate, I'd bet that there are some oily residues on the vent pipe that get heated up and give off an odor each time the water heater is on.

Yeah, the fact somehow my neighbor can smell it somehow could mean something was originally wrong with the water heater pipes... It's only with my house supposedly. I'll believe him for now but if it still persists, I'm going to have to force him to see a doctor...

Originally posted by: Jeff7

As for the computer....what the hell? What's it going to do? "Radiation" from the computer? Is he also a proponent of the "fan death" superstition?

I have no clue. But the fact that he's trying to argue that he will DIE from it makes it sound very illogical. The fact he's also trying to play a guilt trip by complaining that if he dies from my computer it's my fault is another factor. Both of my parents will not let me put the computer back where I had it (it was very peaceful), and they use the "it's my house do what I tell you" trump card, which seems to be a favorable card on ATOT. Along with the occasional "I'll whack you with a stick" ordeal which I seriously thought they'd outgrow as I aged (asian thing). They will keep coming back with bigger items to hit me with too if I keep taking the stuff away.

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: DrPizza
If he's 51, I assume he isn't just at home 24/7. Does he smell the smoke in other places? Or, just at home? If it's just at home, I'd be more willing to believe that he's got a better sense of smell than the rest of the family.

edit: and since it started when you had the furnace and hot water heater replaced - if that statement is perfectly accurate, I'd bet that there are some oily residues on the vent pipe that get heated up and give off an odor each time the water heater is on.

Yeah, the fact somehow my neighbor can smell it somehow could mean something was originally wrong with the water heater pipes... It's only with my house supposedly. I'll believe him for now but if it still persists, I'm going to have to force him to see a doctor...

Originally posted by: Jeff7

As for the computer....what the hell? What's it going to do? "Radiation" from the computer? Is he also a proponent of the "fan death" superstition?

I have no clue. But the fact that he's trying to argue that he will DIE from it makes it sound very illogical. The fact he's also trying to play a guilt trip by complaining that if he dies from my computer it's my fault is another factor. Both of my parents will not let me put the computer back where I had it (it was very peaceful), and they use the "it's my house do what I tell you" trump card, which seems to be a favorable card on ATOT. Along with the occasional "I'll whack you with a stick" ordeal which I seriously thought they'd outgrow as I aged (asian thing). They will keep coming back with bigger items to hit me with too if I keep taking the stuff away.

How old are you?

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: apac
How old are you?

18, I'm trying to work out the independence thing lol...

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: apac
How old are you?

18, I'm trying to work out the independence thing lol...

So stop disrespecting their right to use the "my house my rules" card. It grinds my gears to see you derail your own thread with comments like "They will keep coming back with bigger items to hit me with too if I keep taking the stuff away." Your last post sound less like you're concerned with your fathers health, and more like a the whines of a kid who resents the way he's treated by his parents but can't grow a pair and move out.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

He's a fracking Cylon! Call admiral Adama at once!