QDEAR BARRY: My vacation home sits vacant for several months at a time. When I return, the water always has a strong sulfur smell, like rotten eggs. What could be causing this problem? Is it unsafe?

“Smells can tell you a lot about what’s going on in your home,” says Scottie Pitts, a general contractor and the owner of Pitts Elite Contracting. He’s dealt with more than a few weird water smells in ...