lora wrote:
Hello all,

Yesterday morning we noticed a very strong chemical smell in the 1st
floor of the house. It was hard to tell where it was coming from.

Then I noticed yesterday that the freezer section of our side-by-side
whirlpool refrigerator is not as cold as it used to be, i.e not
freezing temps.

I'm not entirely sure if a problem with the refrigerator would emit a
chemical odor throughout the home.

Can anyone advise please and how to diagnose this further?

Thank you!

I once made the mistake of leaving the fridge shut off and closed for
several weeks. It got incredibly mildewy in both sections - the odor
was so strong it was like a potent chemical smell, sharp and acrid.
Even after it was cleaned up and in use for a while, it still smelled.
Could your defrost line/tray be moldy?