A skunk smell inside your home is hard to ignore, and it’s one of the most searched odor questions out there. In South Florida, it can be an actual skunk under the house or near the AC unit. But a skunky smell can also be a sign of something more serious. Here’s how to figure out which one you’re dealing with.
First: Rule Out a Gas Leak
Natural gas and propane have no smell on their own. Gas companies add a chemical so leaks are easy to notice, and many people describe it as smelling like skunk or rotten eggs. If you have gas appliances and the smell is inside, especially near the stove, water heater, or dryer, treat it as a possible gas leak. Don’t flip switches or light anything. Get everyone out, then call your gas company or 911 from outside.
Other Common Causes of a Skunk Smell
- A skunk sprayed near the house. Florida has skunks, and the spray is strong enough to get pulled inside through gaps, vents, and especially the AC system.
- A pet got sprayed. A dog that comes back inside after a run-in brings the smell onto floors, furniture and bedding.
- An animal living under or around the home. Skunks and other animals can den under porches, sheds, and raised homes.
- Sewer gas. Dry drain traps or a plumbing vent problem can cause a sulfur smell that some people describe as skunky.
- Marijuana smoke. It’s often mistaken for skunk. See how to get rid of weed smoke smell.
If It Really Was a Skunk: What to Do
- Deal with the animal. If a skunk is living under or near the home, call a licensed wildlife removal company to remove it and seal the entry points. Don’t try to trap it yourself.
- Clean your pet. Bathe a sprayed pet outside before letting it back in. Ask your vet what they recommend.
- Wash everything washable. Bedding, pet beds, throws, curtains, and clothes that picked up the smell.
- Wipe down hard surfaces where a sprayed pet walked or lay down.
- Change the AC filter. If the spray got pulled in through the AC, the filter is holding onto it.
Why the Smell Hangs Around
Skunk spray is oily, so it clings to fabrics, carpet, walls and ductwork, and it can linger for weeks. Candles and sprays only cover it for a little while. Once it’s spread through the home and the AC, the whole house usually needs to be treated, not just one room.
Getting the Skunk Smell Out of the Whole Home
After the animal is gone and you’ve cleaned what you can, our whole-home odor removal treatment treats the air throughout the entire home, including one AC system, to remove the lingering smell. It can include an attached garage too. You and your pets will be out for about 8 hours. It’s an odor treatment only, so the source (the animal, a gas problem, a plumbing issue) has to be handled first.
Curious how it works? Read how the whole-home odor treatment works, and what it can and can’t do.
Whole-Home Odor Removal in South Florida: $997
Our Whole-Home Odor Removal Treatment is $997 and includes one AC system ($550 for each additional AC unit). You can buy and schedule it online, or call 877-224-2532. We answer 24/7; when you call, we’ll tell you honestly when a technician can be there based on that day’s schedule. Hablamos español.
About the author: James Rice-Peña is the owner of FL Cleanup and a Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA4035) and Mold Remediator (MRSR4158). He has worked in property restoration in South Florida since 2012, and FL Cleanup has earned 200+ five-star Google reviews.
