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The Sudden Smell
One very important thing to do during a home inspection is turn on appliances and get them going, and test all of the plumbing fixtures, baths and kitchen.  Doing so forces water into the system, and therefore displaces air.  That air needs to have someplace to go so that as the water is drained there is not a disruptive glub glub (technical words to be sure).  Theoretically this displaced air exits through the roof.
Unless there is another way out!
This particular house uses a condensate pump to eliminate the water the air conditioner collects from the house.
That water is drained into the little box and it exits through that brown tube going out the top.
These boxes are often discharged outdoors, but sometimes into a floor drain, laundry tub or into the plumbing itself.
ANYWAY IS FINE, IF DONE RIGHT!
The gentleman who set up this system was thinking, but not quite far enough.
He installed a trap!  This trap fills with water and prevents sewer gases from getting back into the house.  You all know this.
That trap is perfectly done.  But here is the problem.  It is January!  The AC has probably not been used since early ... more

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