Has anyone noticed this strange smell near Lincoln / Underhill??

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Has anyone noticed this strange smell near Lincoln / Underhill??

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donuts7
what am I, new?
Joined: Nov '12
Posts: 3

Hi!

I'm new to this neighborhood (prospect heights), moved here in May and since then I have noticed an odor of some sort, thinking it was just a closed up unit that just needing a good airing out. I didn't think too much of it first. Then one day my friendly neighbor asked me if I smelled anything bad in my apartment. I didn't think my neighbor was talking about this same smell that I was smelling in my apartment, so I didn't take it seriously.....
It smells like industrial smoke, like exhaust or something burning and this happens about once a month and the smell stays for a couple of days and disappears. It is strong and noticeable.
Apparently other tenants in the building are also experiencing this smell, but the management company does not believe and help to do anything about the smell.
My neighbor says she even smells outside on the street and saw the smoke coming out from one building on Eastern Parkway. (???)

This smell started just passed Friday evening again and all day Saturday. The more I notice this smell, it makes me think that it's coming through the vent behind the walls from the ground level, I don't smell so much in the hall way in the building.
You all know how smell can easily travel in the apartment building right?, like when someone's cooking eggs for breakfast..... I live on top floor of 4th floor building. I can't imagine how other tenants are going though when this smell happens.

Does this sound familiar to anyone out there??
I appreciate if you knew or heard anything of this and willing to share your comments! Thanks.

# Posted 6 mos ago
booklaw
admin
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 2,399

If it's coming about once each month it could be the very strong smell of heating oil being delivered to the tank in the building's basement. I always know when the oil is being delivered to my building because of that unpleasant odor, which usually dissipates after 24 hours or so.

# Posted 6 mos ago
donuts7
what am I, new?
Joined: Nov '12
Posts: 3

Thanks for your comments. I experienced the same smell over the summer, in fact ever since I have lived here. (longer for my neighbors).

# Posted 6 mos ago
booklaw
admin
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 2,399

In my building, the hot water comes from the oil burning furnace, so we sometimes get oil deliveries even during the summer.

# Posted 6 mos ago
donuts7
what am I, new?
Joined: Nov '12
Posts: 3

i don't think our building gets heating oil, but I will look into that. thanks!

# Posted 6 mos ago
arches
above average
Joined: Aug '07
Posts: 839

A couple months back I saw some very nasty looking exhaust coming from a building in the 70's address range on Eastern Pkwy. You should take a stroll around the block next time you get the smell, and see if it corresponds to a big plume of black soot. Usually means something is out of whack with the oil burner mechanism.

# Posted 6 mos ago
eastbloc
comprador bourgeois
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 901

Heating oil is smelly, and the intervals at which you perceive the smell are consistent with oil deliveries.

Ask the building manager or doorman if there was a recent delivery when you observe the smell next. I wouldn't be too freaked out about it -- the vapors of petroleum distillates can be very pungent, but they're not toxic unless you have repeated and close encounters with them.

# Posted 6 mos ago