Got Chinese drywall in your house? Here's what to do

For months, Aubrey Craddock has wondered why his daughter's home stinks.

"I just can't figure it out," he said. "It's like a sulfur smell, and it comes and goes."

Then he heard about problematic drywall imported from China that is believed to emit corrosive gases accompanied by a rotten-egg stench.

"I thought maybe this is it," he said. "But I have no idea where to start. How do you even know if you have this stuff?"

Craddock isn't the only one wondering this.

Thousands of U.S. homeowners are grappling with drywall they blame for corroding metal and air conditioning systems and causing health problems. Some builders are willing to replace the drywall and some homeowners are taking them up on it. Others are taking their cases to court.

As these stories make headlines, people such as Craddock are getting suspicious and anxious.

There are no clear answers, and consumers need to be careful not to get taken advantage of, said Ryan Wiggins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Attorney General's Office.

She offers some tips:

• To determine whether you have the bad drywall, contact your builder or an air conditioning repair company. But, she cautions, make sure to hire a licensed professional.

• Look for warning signs before jumping to conclusions. Do you notice a foul odor in the home? Have you have had trouble with the air conditioning unit? Does metal or silver in the home tarnish over a short period of time?

• Complain to the attorney general's office, which is keeping track of the state's drywall problems. (1-866-966-7226)

• Beware of bogus test kits sold on the Internet or through door-to-door salesmen. A visual inspection of the home by a professional is the only way to confirm the problematic drywall.

• Be careful of some sprays and applications that promise to mitigate the gasses or keep them from seeping through the drywall. They may actually make the problem worse.

Some people, Wiggins said, are paying for expensive tests, even though it's unlikely they have the bad drywall. Most homes with the drywall were built during the period of 2004 to 2008.

Builders typically use domestic drywall but turned to imported drywall from China because of a shortage caused by increased demand after hurricanes. Builders say they didn't know about the corrosive gas, and subcontractors blame manufacturers.

Keep in mind, though, that you could have the bad drywall, even if your home was built prior to the housing boom. Room additions or repair work that involved new drywall could be affected.

Another thing to keep in mind, once you discover that you have the problematic drywall, is tax benefits. It may not add up to a lot but, hey, it's something.

The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office is evaluating homes and offering to halve the estimated value of the structure (minus land value) in the worst cases. (Call the office at (813) 272-6100 to inquire about the deduction.)

There is no deadline to request the deduction, but homeowners should inquire quickly, as tax bills are sent out Nov. 1.

Also, be on the lookout for help from the IRS. The office is considering whether to allow homeowners to claim a casualty loss on their federal taxes if they have the drywall from China. The amount is still up in the air, but the IRS has said it could be the difference between the value of the house before and after the damage.