It’s easy to assume that an empty house stays clean and fresh while you’re away. After all, no one is there to do damage or leave the dishes unwashed, right? Well, think again. My recent experience has proven otherwise. I went back to a stalling cleanliness apartment, but was greeted by a sewer smell so strong that I felt like my suitcases had been thrown into the sewers. What happened? And more importantly, how can you avoid this unpleasant situation when you travel? Let me explain.
Why can an empty house smell bad?
You might imagine that your home is “freezing” in its cleanliness during your absence. However, there is an invisible culprit that can quickly turn your comfortable retirement into an odor trap: dry siphons (also known as P-traps).
A siphon is the curved hose under your sink or shower that holds a small amount of water. This trapped water acts as a natural barrier, preventing foul odors from rising through the plumbing system. But here is the catch: if the water does not flow into the pipes for several days, especially in hot weather, the water of the siphon can evaporate entirely. Once the joint is broken, the unpleasant sewer gases escape freely into your living space.
That’s exactly what happened to me in this pristine studio. The kitchen was pristine, but the source of the stench became obvious as soon as I opened the tap. Without water in the siphon, the sink had turned into a front door for the smells of wastewater.
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