What this covers
Smells from smoke, flooding, sewage, pets or a long-closed house live in the materials that absorbed them. Odor removal finds and removes the source, cleans or removes what holds the smell, seals surfaces that cannot be cleaned, and treats the air with hydroxyl or ozone equipment in an unoccupied space. Masking with fragrance is not part of it.
When to call
- A smoke, musty, sewage or pet smell that stays after cleaning and airing out.
- A smell that returns when the house is closed up or the heat comes on.
- An odor after a water loss that was dried but not cleaned.
What to expect
- Find the sourceThe company traces the smell to the materials holding it, such as padding, subfloor, insulation or ducts.
- Remove and cleanSources are removed where possible. Surfaces that stay are cleaned or sealed.
- TreatHydroxyl generators or ozone treatment are run with the home unoccupied for ozone, then aired out.
- VerifyThe company checks the result with you after the home has been closed up for a while.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Why not just use an air freshener?
Fragrance covers a smell for a few hours. The materials holding the odor keep releasing it. Removing or treating them is what makes it stop.
Is ozone safe?
Ozone treatment is done with people, pets and plants out of the home, then the space is ventilated before anyone returns. Hydroxyl equipment can run in an occupied home.
Will the smell come back?
If the source is gone, no. If a smell returns it points to a source that was missed, which the company looks for.
Related: Smoke damage cleanup · Sewage cleanup · Mold remediation · All restoration and emergency services
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.