Occasionally a homeowner will notice an unpleasant smell in the vicinity of plumbing fixtures in the home. This may be caused by “dry trap.†If a fixture such as a shower or bathtub has not been used in a long time, the trap may dry out, allowing sewer gas to come back into the home. The solution is to run water into the fixture, refilling the trap with water. If this does not solve the problem, a professional should be contacted.