Are you struggling with a bad drain smell? A strange and unpleasant smell coming from your drains can be a pain in the head, and you need to resolve it as soon as possible.
The first thing you need to understand is that a nasty drain smell is a possible plumbing problem. Here is the thing, a bad drain smell results from toxic gases coming from your sewer system.
And continuous exposure to these drain odors can be harmful to your health. However, the good news is that you can quickly resolve some of these drain odors using simple eco-friendly products at home.
But before you try to eliminate the awful drain smell, you need to find the root cause of the bad smell.
What causes a nasty drain smell?
Many things can cause your drains to stink. Some of these causes are easy to identify, while you may need to consult a technician with others.
Some of the common causes of a nasty drain smell include;
- Molds
One of the common causes of a bad drain smell in your home is molds. If there is a leak along your pipes, it can cause the wastewater to leak, forming molds that release the unpleasant smell.
If you detect a nasty drain smell coming from your sinks, the first step is to hunt for leaks. Water leaks can also soak up items around and form molds hence the bad smell.
- Clogged drains
Another culprit that causes a bad drain smell is the clogged drain. When your gutters clog, it means that the sewage gases get trapped, build up, and the terrible smell finds its way into your house.
But how do your drains clog? When the food particles, grease, soap, cleaning products build up over time, they form gunk which can block your drains.
Over time, this gunk encourages the growth of bacteria which releases a bad drain smell.
Also, when your drains clog, they can block the vents responsible for managing sewer gases.
- Dry p-trap
Do you have a sink that you haven’t used in a while? The reason is that the p-traps beneath your sinks use water to block the sewage gases from seeping into your house. The smell could be from those sinks.
However, with infrequent use of these sinks, the water in the p-traps can dry up hence letting in the foul odor.
Check your p-traps and ensure that there is enough water in those pipes.
How do I eliminate a bad drain smell?
Now that you understand why your drains are releasing a stinky smell, it can be easy to fix the issue. Some of the best ways to resolve drain odors at home include;
- Using hot water to eliminate bad drain smell
The easiest way to eliminate a bad drain smell is to bring water to a boil and pour it down the drains. Boil a pot of water and flush half of it down the drains. Give it a few minutes, and then rinse with cold water. Flushing hot water down the drains helps dislodge the gunk that is causing the odor.
Pour the remaining hot water and repeat the process to eliminate all the gunk in the drains.
Alternatively, you can use hot vinegar to eliminate the smell. The chemical properties in the vinegar help disinfect and neutralize drain odors; thus, it is an effective method to clean your sinks and bathrooms.
- Pouring baking soda down the drain
Another effective method to eliminate a nasty smell is to use baking soda and salt. You can also use baking soda and lemon juice. This combination helps dislodge any debris in your drains and effectively neutralize the odor.
- Unclogging the drains
Unclogging the drains is another option if you are stuck with a bad drain smell. If the wastewater isn’t going through or backing up, you need to unclog the drains ASAP! You can use the drain snake to loosen the debris blocking your drainage system.
- Filling the dry p-traps
Another thing you can dry is to fill the dry p-traps. Pour water down the sink to fill your p-traps. The water will help keep sewage gases away.
Hire a technician.
If the smell persists, there is an underlying plumbing issue, and only a professional plumber can help fix it. Call Casa Grande Septic Service for a solution.