can't find the source of a burning smell

[yangersh]

Hi, I've had a burning smell in my apartment for two months now and 3 electricians who have come have not been able to diagnose the problem. My apartment is in the Bronx, NY. I bought it 1 and 1/2 years ago. I has a fuse box. Last summer, my first summer there, no issues. I ran my AC and other appliances with no issues

 

[yangersh]

Do you have any fluorescent lights, if so it could be the ballast heating up and with my experience ballast will get so hot it will start burning and get so hot that you would have to wear gloves to replace it. Good luck

No. but, thanks.

 

[yangersh]

Could be from an air conditioning duct and travelling through from another apartment?

Or through voids in the floor from below/above/side apartment

Any chimneys or extraction tubes running up the side or outside of your apartment near a window/air brick?

Might be worth asking the neigbours if they smell anything from inside there apartments...

To be honest, the air conditioning duct theory sounds logical. the smell is intermittent throughout the day and gets really strong starting at about 5 pm, when folks are coming home (and on the weekends). Similarly, the voids in the floor theory sounds logical for the same reason. It looks like there is a chimney or extraction tube in the building but there is an apartment separating mine from it. I have no idea how to potentially stop it though. Would you? thanks.

 

[OnlQQker]

To be honest, the air conditioning duct theory sounds logical. the smell is intermittent throughout the day and gets really strong starting at about 5 pm, when folks are coming home (and on the weekends). Similarly, the voids in the floor theory sounds logical for the same reason. It looks like there is a chimney or extraction tube in the building but there is an apartment separating mine from it. I have no idea how to potentially stop it though. Would you? thanks.

Not knowing the layout of your flat then it's not easy.
If you have a loft/void above you then I would have a look up there, if you have vents in the floor or around skirting height then you'll need to keep and eye on them at times when the smell is at its strongest.
Is there a chip shop below you, or pizza parlor. You will need to turn detective.
Even soilsacks can cause smell if the air admittance valve has jammed up or a pigeon has nested in an open vent, these can be stronger smelling as well when more people start using the bathrooms/toilets etc