Denise: The couple staying at Carrick called round this evening, complaining of an unpleasant ‘drains’ smell in the house.  Was it coming from the utility? No.  So not the trap of the floor drain dried out again (simple remedy – pour in some water).   Smell generally everywhere – seems to be coming from the ventilation.   Oh dear! This was reported by another guest back in spring, but only briefly. This couple seem a bit more put out by it. The problem seems to occur only when the weather is very still, and the when the temperature is falling, so that warm air from the soil vent doesn’t rise, but falls back and drifts around the roof. – the intake of the ventilation system sucks it back in.  Jonathan has been investigating it and has a remedy in hand (somethiing to do with air-admittance valves), but not complete.  Now needs to be completed when he’s home in a couple of weeks. Meantime, the only remedy I could give was to turn up the ventilation system and open the windows (with care).  I went round later and the smell had certainly cleared. But that’s risky if the weather turns wet and especially if its windy. That said, if its windy the odour problem should not occur.  Oh the joys of letting property!  How on earth do owners manage when they don’t live anywhere nearby – they are totally dependent on their local help!