How long should a new pipe smell?

John_153

A plumber installed a new steam pipe 3 days ago. All the radiators that are fed by this pipe smell awful for the past three days and the odor is still as strong as it was three days ago. How long on average does it take for the smell to go away? Thanks much.

Brad White

Depends

I take it that the smell is an oily smell?

It depends on the ventilation of the house. A leaky house will disperse the odors faster. If so, a rag and some 409 can help but will create fumes of its own so wipe down the pipes (if you can) when cool.

A few days to a week is not unusual but if it has been cold where you are, opening windows is probably not high on your list so it would take a little longer. Crack a window on opposite sides of the house to speed things up if you can. Not in bedrooms or upstairs (assuming the pipe is in the basement) so you do not draw the odors upstairs more.

If the radiators themselves smell, is it on the warm-up (venting) cycle? It may be an internal boiler treatment used to clean the system. Ask your installer.

Chris_82

See your other post, or search for oil smell pipes this has been asked in the past.