# Foreclosures

**URL:** <https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176>\
**Category:** Plumbing Inspections\
**Created:** [August 16, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176 "2017-08-16T17:35:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bclark4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bclark4/32/171099_2.png) [@bclark4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bclark4)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176/1 "2017-08-16T17:35:12Z")

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I do a lot of foreclosures and I find traps dried out all the time, the question is why do I not smell sewer gas in the homes?

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**Author:** ![rlewis5](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rlewis5/32/337040_2.png) [@rlewis5](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rlewis5)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176/2 "2017-08-16T18:43:06Z")

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Methane gas is odorless., it is other gas mixed with it that usually smells

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**Author:** ![mraumikaitis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mraumikaitis/32/56529_2.png) [@mraumikaitis](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mraumikaitis)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176/3 "2017-08-16T18:46:02Z")

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Hi Bob, It is possible the high vent is taking away the gasses. Also if you do not run water you may not disturb the equilibrium. Once you start running water the trap fills anyway. I know that if we open the septic tank for inspection and there are dry traps inside the house that will sometimes change the equilibrium and cause odors in the house.

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**Author:** ![bclark4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bclark4/32/171099_2.png) [@bclark4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bclark4)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176/4 "2017-08-17T15:01:11Z")

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> [@rlewis5](#):
>
> Methane gas is odorless., it is other gas mixed with it that usually smells

Yest that make sense but there would always be the other gasses that smell so my thoughts are most likely nothing is being vented through the traps.

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**Author:** ![bclark4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/bclark4/32/171099_2.png) [@bclark4](https://forum.nachi.org/u/bclark4)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/foreclosures/118176/5 "2017-08-17T15:01:49Z")

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That makes sense!