What smell ....

Its like two blind men , describing a zebra .

Most likely a paint or particle board glue off gassing . One person told me they bake their house at 90 degrees plus with the heater ,to get rid of the new carpet / paint smells .Heat speeds the off gassing .

The C-Tech sinks are made in China, even though they emphasize the Italian designs. We have been living over here in Shanghai for 5 years now, (coming back in June--yea!!!)and they loooove to use formaldehyde in everything. Just a guess, but maybe the sound-absorbing backing either has formaldehyde in it, or in the adhesive used to apply it.

If this is what it is, it WILL eventually finish off-gassing. To help it along, keep the cabinet open when you are not at home, and keep the area as well-ventilated as possible. Throw a couple of fabric softener sheets in there, too. I UNFORTUNATELY have had lots of experience with this--it will go away MUCH faster (maybe only a week)if you keep that cab base open. It is terrible stuff-will give you a headache and who knows what else....

Good luck!

"One person told me they bake their house at 90 degrees plus with the heater ,to get rid of the new carpet / paint smells .Heat speeds the off gassing"

an AZ summer would take care of that then!

that stuff just kills me (literally). I have major problems with off gassing of products.

IF the smell is sorta "vinegary" with chemical undertones then it's just the silicone used to caulk your sink and set the countertops. Some silicones take longer to cure than others, especialy if a heavy bead was used.

It could also be that a plumbing waste pipe is not sealed properly or you could have a wet vent that has dried out and you are getting sewer gas.

How long have you had this smell?
Did it just start or have you had this smell since
Mid March after completed renovation?

Is there a gas intake to heat water?
Is there a problem with garbage disposal?
Is the smell plastic, chemical or rotten food like?

Does it smell like rotten eggs?
I ask this odd question because of a program on NPR
about drywall from China having sulfer. Sulfer destroys
copper. It also emits a horrific rotten egg smell.
Some drywall from China has sulfer in it's makeup causing
serious illness in children.

Here are some articles.
~boxerpups

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101037056

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/24/chinese.drywall/

By Jason Hanna
CNN

(CNN) -- Strontium sulfide, a material that can emit corrosive gases in moist air, was found at trace levels in testing of Chinese-made drywall, the Florida Department of Health said.The drywall samples gave off a sulfurous odor when heated, and in at least one case, sulfide gases corroded copper coils in an air conditioner of a Florida home containing Chinese drywall, said the department, which commissioned the study.

But more testing is needed to determine whether strontium sulfide was causing the odor and contributing to the corrosion, the department said. And more tests are required to determine whether the drywall poses a threat to human health -- a process that probably will take at least several months, state toxicologist Dr. David Krause told reporters Monday.

"It's very hard to predict when we'll have the answers [relating to possible health hazards]. ... We're moving as quickly as possible," Krause said.

Concerns about Chinese-made drywall, which is suspected by some homeowners of ruining appliances and causing health problems, emerged in Florida last year but have transcended state lines, with class-action lawsuits alleging it has caused problems in at least three states: Florida, Louisiana and Alabama. The Florida Department of Health has received about 150 complaints, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is investigating the Florida allegations.

Homeowners' lawsuits against certain manufacturers and suppliers contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats, and left them facing huge repair expenses. The drywall is alleged to emit sulfur-based gases that smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail.

The Florida Department of Health said complaints there generally involve homes built between 2004 and 2007, around the time a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage and spurred builders to use imports.

(there is more to this story at the link.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Drywall has material that can emit corrosive gas

The gas company can test with a sniffer for a gas leaks . Depending on the location, consider venting the area outside with a 4" pancake fans , they don't make sparks or heat-up about $20 they run forever. A skilled contractor or handyman could tell you what it is after a whiff .

Just saw your post while looking for a c-tech sink which I was planning to use in a remodel for a bar. It is one of the largest sinks that will fit in my base cabinet so I really wanted to use it. However, now I am concerned, especially if it is made in China. Did you ever find out more information on the source of the fumes? Did they go away?

It is not the spray that you smell but the use of inferior padding on the sink. There is a company that sells the padding to replace this and rid yourself of the smell. mysinkstinks.com check it out this will solve your odor problem. The inferior pads are loaded with petroleum and when you run hot water it willeven get worse, that is the chemical smell you are getting.

Here is a link that might be useful: my sink stinks

Hi Ann, the smell is completely gone, so I assume it was something to do with its manufacture. The solution was simply time. I think running the hood fan with the sink cabinet door open helped. I'm not sure how long it took, but it couldn't have been too bad as I have completely forgotten about the issue! I'd guess a couple weeks.

Sinkguy: thanks for the comment, but there is no padding on my sink, at least nothing that's removable.

The best solution might be to store the sink outside the living area for a couple weeks before installation to allow it to 'outgas'.