Resident of smelly unit finds ‘dirty sock syndrome’
A: One of the nice things about writing these columns is that I learn a lot about many things. Candidly, I had never heard about dirty sock syndrome.
According to a number of experts, dirty sock syndrome comes from heat pumps that are not properly cleaned and maintained. And because mold is often associated with this problem, there is a significant health factor that has to be monitored.
Since your property managers claim not to smell anything, the first thing I would do is invite members of your association’s board to visit your unit.
They may agree with you, in which case they should take steps to correct the problem.
But if they don’t agree, what next? Different people have different responses to smells; some people are much more sensitive to bad odors than others.
If the board is not receptive, I would hire — at your expense — an expert who can inspect your heat pump system and give you a report as to its condition. The smell, while important, should not be your primary concern. You should pay more attention to mold, which can create serious health issues.
If the expert supports your position, send the report to the board and demand it take appropriate remedial action.
And if that does not work, you will have to file suit against the association.
You indicated you don’t want to sell.
Keep in mind that since you now know there is a problem — or believe that there is one — you will have to disclose this to potential purchasers. Thus, unfortunately, litigation may be necessary.