⌂HouseSymptoms
The living diagnostic atlas

What is your house telling you?

See the signs. Understand the likely causes. Know what to do next.

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Seestains · cracks · movementSmellmusty · sewage · burningHearclicking · dripping · hummingFeeldamp · cold · draftyMeasurehumidity · heat · moisture
Move through the house
893published knowledge objects
318ways to start from a clue
88causes and repair paths
25resolved case files
Start with the symptom

The house does not name the fault.
It leaves evidence.

Explore visible, audible, physical and measurable clues before choosing a repair.

01
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Burning plastic smell near an outlet

A hot, fishy or burning-plastic odor near electrical equipment can indicate overheating and requires an immediate safety response.

Read the pattern ↗
02
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Ceiling stain after rain

A ceiling mark that darkens or expands following rainfall.

Read the pattern ↗
03
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Frost inside the attic

Frost on cold roof surfaces often reveals warm humid indoor air reaching the attic and freezing before it can dry.

Read the pattern ↗
04
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Brown ceiling stain

A localized brown or yellow mark can reflect active water entry, an old dry stain or repeated condensation.

Read the pattern ↗
05
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Diagonal crack above a door

A diagonal crack can follow a drywall joint, local frame movement or broader settlement; change over time matters most.

Read the pattern ↗
06
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Diagonal crack above a window

A crack runs diagonally from the corner of an opening.

Read the pattern ↗
07
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Musty bedroom in the morning

Odor is strongest after sleeping with the room closed.

Read the pattern ↗
08
≈

Musty smell after rain

A rain-linked earthy odor often means moisture is reaching a hidden material or changing airflow through a damp area.

Read the pattern ↗
Explore all symptoms →
A transparent clue engine

One symptom.
Several possible stories.

HouseSymptoms separates what supports a cause, what weakens it and which check can distinguish one explanation from another.

Run a diagnosis path →
Brown ceiling stain
↓
After rainroof · flashing · gutter
After water usepipe · drain · membrane
Mainly in wintercondensation · air leakage
↓
Distinguishing checks, not a magic diagnosis
Sensory atlas

Smells and sounds are timelines

The trigger, location and system cycle often matter more than the label alone.

Describe your clue →
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Smell atlas

Follow the odor pathway

All smells →
Burning-plastic odorSharp hot-plastic odor that can indicate overheating electrical insulation or equipment.Musty odorEarthy, stale or cellar-like odor often associated with damp porous material or low air exchange.Burnt-rubber odorHot rubber-like odor from belts, motors, wiring or friction.Fishy electrical odorUnusual fish-like hot odor sometimes reported when electrical plastics or components overheat.Fuel-gas odorant smellDistinct sulfur-like odor deliberately added to otherwise odorless fuel gas.Fuel-oil odorPetroleum odor near a tank, burner, line or contaminated material.
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Sound lab

Listen for the trigger

All sounds →
Electrical buzzingBuzzing or sizzling near an outlet, switch, panel or fixture.Water hammerSharp bang when flowing water stops abruptly.Crackling at electrical equipmentCrackle or sizzle that can indicate arcing or a loose connection.Furnace rumblingLow rumble before, during or after burner operation.Boiler kettlingKettle-like rumble or whistle related to restricted flow, scale or overheating.Ceiling drip sound after shower useWater sound below a bathroom that follows fixture use.
House pulse

New and expanding field intelligence

View all field guides →
House Type⌂
House age DNA · 1 min

1980s house

Increasing insulation and air control changed condensation and ventilation behavior.

Guide▤
Living field guide · 1 min

Preparing a professional handoff in the roof

Turn observations into a concise timeline with evidence and unanswered questions. This guide adapts the method to coverings, flashings, penetrations, drainage and wind exposure.

Material▧
Material reaction · 1 min

Concrete

Transports moisture and salts through pores and cracks while remaining structurally different from its surface finish.

CASE FILE
Resolved investigation

The stain that appeared only after wind-driven rain

A case timeline connecting weather direction, delayed staining and a failed flashing return.

ObserveWhat changed?DistinguishWhich trigger repeats?VerifyDid the repair hold?
Open the case file →
Explore the house

Every layer leaves different clues

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AtticAir leakage, insulation, ventilation, frost, ducts and roof-deck moisture.
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BasementGround moisture, drainage, masonry, odors, humidity and plumbing pathways.
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BathroomWater use, wet-room layers, drains, plumbing, ventilation and surface condensation.
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BedroomOvernight humidity, cold surfaces, closed doors, odors, airflow and comfort.
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Electrical systemOutlets, panels, wiring, fixtures, equipment heat and critical warning signs.
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FoundationMovement, cracking, settlement, drainage, soil and structural load paths.
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RoofCoverings, flashings, penetrations, drainage and wind-driven water.
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WindowsCondensation, failed seals, leaks, drafts, thermal bridges and frame movement.
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Open the living house atlas →
Start with what you noticed

You do not need to know the fault.

Describe the clue, location and timing. HouseSymptoms will organize the strongest matches, useful checks and connected knowledge.