Oil smell in basement from neighbor?!!

We just closed on a rowhouse in park slope this week and all of a sudden there is strong oil smell in the garden level (we have no true basement) near the wall on one side of the house. We didn’t smell anything during inspection or multiple walkthroughs. We have gas, not oil, heat, but are told the neighbor on that side of the house converted from oil to gas several years ago. Is it her old oil storage tank? Any other possible sources? Who do we call? Thanks!!

ooutside

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 2 months ago

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no-permits | 11 years and 2 months ago

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i’d ask in a different way, like “do you smell oil in your house too?” it doesn’t come off as obnoxious. but yeah, i agree with the others, speak to your neighbor before making phone calls.

ooutside | 11 years and 2 months ago

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Thanks resident2\. I am already in the process of arranging to speak with my neighbor. But timing is an issue and I want to (1) see if anyone else had thoughts on an alternative explanation and (2) know how to proceed if the discussion with the neighbor isn’t fruitful. Can’t hurt to be one step ahead!

resident2 | 11 years and 2 months ago

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The first person to speak to is your neighbor. Don’t go by what you have been told. Introduce yourself and ask your neighbor directly, do they have an oil tank? If they converted to gas, did they neutralize the tank (empty it of oil, fill it with sand or water or some other method?) Most neighbors prefer to work things out and find the problem, before you “call someone”.