THAT WIERD SMELL IN A VACANT CONDO

You know that smell when you walk into a condo that's been empty for months? Before you assume the unit has a serious odor problem, check the drains first.

One likely culprit is a dry P-trap.

A P-trap is that curved piece of pipe under a sink or drain. It holds a small amount of water, which creates a seal between your unit and the building's drainage system. That water is the only thing keeping sewer gases from creeping back up through the drain.

Problem is, if a condo sits vacant long enough, the water in the trap evaporates. Once that seal is gone, drainage odors have a clear path into the unit.

The fix is almost too simple.

Just pour water into any drain that hasn't been used in a while:

Bathroom floor drains

Shower drains

Kitchen sink

Bathroom sinks

Other seldom-used drains

Wait a bit and see if the smell goes away.

This is exactly why an empty water bottle is surprisingly useful during condo showings. Fill it up at the unit, pour some down a suspicious drain, and you'll usually be able to tell whether that smell is just a dry trap or something more serious.

It usually solves the problem.