A: Amy, you did not mention this, but if you have any gas appliances, call the gas company right away to check for a possible small gas leak.

If you do not have gas in the home, I hate to say this, but I think your plumber may be on the right track by bringing up the dead critter scenario. Even though he said it didn't smell like a dead animal, you never know what kind of smell can come from something nasty that may be stuck in a wall or under a floor.

Since you were away from your home for a while, this may have given snakes, rodents, or even a raccoon a chance to get into your home and get stuck somewhere. I've seen all of the above-mentioned creatures cause odor problems for homeowners.

Believe it or not there are companies that specialize in dead animal removal. I'd call them in to sniff out and eliminate the problem, because this is one job that even I wouldn't do myself!