Problem : Grease Stuck In The Drain
One of the most common reasons for a kitchen sink to have a rotten egg or moldy smell is from grease or fat getting stuck in your drains. When you pour grease down your drain, it can congeal to the sides.
And then, as it begins to decompose the smell can make its way back into your home. So dont put grease down the drain!
What you can do: Try this: put a couple teaspoons of baking soda in the drain and then pour in some vinegar. Then chase it with a pot of boiling water. The foaming of the baking soda/vinegar eats away at the junk in the drain and the boiling water helps wash it all away and sanitizes the drain.
Why Does My Water Smell Like Rotten Eggs Hydrogen Sulfide And Sulfur Bacteria In Well Water
Hydrogen sulfide gas can give water a rotten egg taste or odor. This gas can occur in wells anywhere and be:
- Naturally occurring – a result of decay and chemical reactions with soil and rocks.
- Produced by certain sulfur bacteria in the groundwater, well, or plumbing system.
- Produced by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside of water heaters.
- From pollution .
Other Drainage Line Tips
Drainage lines run to the sewer system of a house, and every drain joins the sewer lines running out of it. You will likely know if your sewer needs cleaning because you will begin to notice unpleasant noises and smells, but there are some other ways you can prevent this, such as:
- Cleaning your lines often. One great way to do this is by purchasing an enzyme cleaner. Enzyme cleaners come in a wide variety of types. They can be used to remove pet stains, and are also useful for cleaning out drainage lines.
- Getting a snake. Snakes are a simple and cost-effective way to remove clogs inside a house with minimal amounts of effort. A snake will go a long way in keeping your drains clean.
- Using baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda mixed with vinegar is another great way to clean a drain. The chemical reaction that is created when these two ingredients mix can lead to clogs.
- Flushing your lines. If you already have a clog, this is not a great idea, but if you would like to prevent a clog, this is a great way to do it. A toilet is an ideal place to flush your lines. When you clean your sewer lines, you must make sure to avoid clogs.
- Using drain cleaners. A drain cleaner is a chemical product that unblocks sewer pipes or clogged wastewater drains. Chemical drain cleaners can unclog drains by causing the organic material to lose electrons and become oxidized. Professional help is always a great way to keep up with drain maintenance if you are unsure.
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Use A Plunger To Unclog The Drains
If you want to get rid of the nasty rotten egg smell in your shower drain, cleaning it is one of the first options that you should consider. In this case, you can consider using a plunger to clean the shower drain. However, this will depend on the nature of the pipe blockage and where the drain is clogged.
If you notice that the clog is deep, you can consider adding some petroleum jelly to the edges of the plunger so that you can get a better seal. After placing the plunger over the drain cover, fill the shower with a hot shower to submerge the end of the plunger. After that, you can plunge the shower drain vigorously to unclog it. Apart from this, you can try using baking soda and vinegar
Vinegar can also help you unclog your shower drains. If you combine vinegar and baking soda, you will not only clear the clogged drain but also disinfect and deodorize the drainage pipe too. This powerful combo will also remove all sorts of stains in your shower area or bathroom. This combination has proved to be very effective in preventing mold growth in the shower drain too.
The Cause Of A Smelly Drain Or Sink
There are several likely causes of your drain odours. The first thing to look at is where your drain is located and how it is used. For example, if its your kitchen sink, the smell is likely caused by a build-up of food. If its the shower drain, it could be a build up of dirt and hair.
It isnt a fun job, but discovering the cause of the smell can help to treat it and prevent it in the future. There are four common causes of smelly drains or sinks:
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How To Get Rid Of Basement Rotten Eggs Smell
As we can see, there are three main reasons for sewer gas smell inside your basement. So, lets see how you can get rid of this smell.
Solution 1 Dry P-trap
In case your P-trap is dry, you just need to flush it with some water. This really isnt such a hard thing to do since all you have to do is to pour some water inside the basement drain.
After that, the water will enter the P-trap and it will block the sewer gas from coming into your home.
Solution 2 Clogged Drain
It gets a bit harder when you are experiencing a clogged basement drain. Namely, you will need to get rid of the clog and rinse the whole drain with hot water. So,
- Unclog the drain – Take a plumbing snake tool to unclog the basement drain. This tool will easily help you to get rid of the clog for good. Stick it inside the drain until you feel a bump. After that, start pulling and twisting the tool until you get it all out.
- Rinse it with hot water To make sure that everything will run smoothly down there, it is highly recommendable to rinse the drain with hot water after you unclog it.
Solution 3 Gas Leakage
A gas leakage problem is definitely out of your reach. You will need to call a professional and let him deal with this kind of problem since you cant do anything here.
Why Does My Sink Smell
It is not uncommon for homeowners to encounter unpleasant odors in their household sinks or water, and when they do, they want to go to the source of the problem and find out what is causing their water or sinks to smell unpleasant.
If you are experiencing an unpleasant odor in all of your water faucets, then you most likely have a problem with the main water supply. On the other hand, if the smell is only coming from certain faucets, the problem is probably located in the fixtures or pipes involved in those specific faucets.
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Can I Shower If My Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Taking a shower with sulfur water is perfectly safe. If you can tolerate the smell, showering with it is fine. Sulfur is a naturally occurring element that occurs naturally in the Earths crust. Its also found in many plants and animals, including humans. In fact, sulfur is the second most abundant element on Earth, after oxygen, and its a key component of life on our planet.
What Causes A Shower Drain To Smell Like Rotten Eggs
The rotten egg smell in shower drain is due to bio firm and microbes that present inside pipelines.
You cant say surely Yaa, this one is culprit but, because some other technical reasons behind it.
We will explore in this section what are all possible ways and why are bath drain smells like rotten eggs and bathroomsink too?
Rotten egg smell is the mixture of multiple compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur gases. These gaseous are release from a micro-organism that has grown inside the drain and you cant see them without any instrument.
As I already told you, these are the culprit for the bad smell in the drain but you have to find the source and their origin and then learn, how to sniff it.
Relax you shall not do it yourself, I will help you to find the source and guide to how you can sniff it from your bathroom.
So lets see what are the possible ways from these smells escaping.
Some mold has grown inside the pipeline: when you entered your bathroom, you probably might be thinking why does my shower drain smells musty? Your bathroom smells unpleasant due to a lack of fresh air.
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What Causes That Sewer Smell
The most common cause is a clogged or blocked drain where food or waste matter collects, bacteria builds up, and hydrogen sulfide gas is emitted. Other causes include a dirty or blocked garbage disposal or plumbing that has not been used because when a p-trap dries out completely, there’s nothing to prevent the gas from rising out of the sewer and into your home.
How Can I Clean My Drains And Remove Bad Odors
You can do several things to address the issue of a drain smelling like rotten eggs.
- Be careful about what goes into drains in the first place. Hair, grease, coffee grounds, and soap scum are examples of substances that easily cause clogs. Use mesh traps on open drains, and bathe pets outside when the weather permits. If you have to put easily clogged items into a drain, run hot water afterward every time.
- For stuck food, if running the water or disposal doesnt clear things up, then one thing you can try is boiling several cups of water. As the water is close to boiling, pour a couple of teaspoons of baking soda into the drain, followed by a couple of teaspoons of vinegar. Then carefully pour the scalding-hot water down the drain. Doing this will create a foamy mixture that eats away at the clogged substances and removes the foul odors. You can finish up by putting some lemon wedges in and then running the disposal for a fresh, lemony scent.If the problem is a dry or improperly installed drain trap, try running the water first. Call a plumber if that doesnt do the trick.
- Clean and flush your lines on a regular basis. Enzyme cleaners work very well, and cleaning and flushing help prevent clogs from occurring in the first place.
- Use a chemical drain cleaner to go after nasty clogs. Before doing so, make sure the product is compatible with your system, as these products are highly caustic.
- Use a plumbing snake to remove clogs.
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How To Prevent Your Sink Smelling
Dom Lees-Bell, bathroom expert at Drench advises “to avoid a blocked sink the rule of thumb is to be careful as to what you put down your drain, and take regular action to clear any deposits that might form. Ensure that you don’t pour grease down your drain, and we recommend opting for a waste with hair catching properties to prevent hair, soap scum and other solids from making their way into the drain.”
The above methods every week or two should prevent the drains in your home from developing any nasty residue that can congeal and form an unpleasant smell. If a smelly drain is something of a persisting issue, it might be worth seeking professional advice from a plumber as it could be due to an external issue rather than an internal issue.
How To Prevent Smelly Drains
We always recommend putting measures in place to prevent issues before they arise. While drain odours have many causes, preventing them is actually quite simple and can be done through regular maintenance. Ensuring drains are clean, with minimal build-up, and they are used properly is important. Prevention is also important and there should be measures implemented to ward off nasty smells.
Life is busy, and its easy to forget to maintain your drains. Regular pre-planned maintenance can do the work for you and means a drainage expert can nip any problems in the bud before they arise. As well as time, it can also save you money, as prevention measures are more affordable than last-minute emergency repairs. This service is ideal for both homes and businesses. To discuss planned maintenance of your drains, give us a call today.
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What If The Smell Is Coming From The Sewer
Despite the smell being so much like a sewer smell it isnt usually coming from the house drains. However, it could be in some circumstances, and you may wish to check that it isnt!
To distinguish a problem with the drain from a problem with the washing machine itself, inspect the washing machine discharge flexible hose drainage lines.
Unplug the washing machine cable from the socket. Pull the washing machine away from the wall. Almost always, you will see that the drain-hose is simply hooked over into the drain standpipe.
It isnt usually permanently connected. Lift out the washing machine hose, put your head down close, and smell the top of the drainpipe. Youll know immediately if the smell is coming from there!
If the drain is the source of the sewer smell, there is something wrong with the layout of your plumbing. There should be a water-trap between the top of the pipe you just sniffed and the house sewer. That water trap should be preventing any significant odour coming up from lower down the drain or from the public sewer itself.
A venting problem may be causing water to be sucked out of the P-trap. Whatever is the cause its not likely to be something the average householder can solve. Generally, at this point, you would be well-advised to call a plumber and get this fixed.
Finally, to recap:
Washing Machine Drain Smells Are Not Uncommon
This problem is occurring every so often to everyone who saves energy on their washing machine. Using low-temperature washing machine detergents no longer prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi in the way very hot water once did.
Drain smells like sewage occur every once in a while, no matter how clean a home you run. But, thankfully, the solution is relatively simple.
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Detecting The Origin Of The Smell
The smell can come from a variety of places, such as the sewage, the ground, as well as contaminated water and pipes. Oftentimes, it is hard to find the source of the smell. A simple test can solve the mystery for you.
To check if the smell is coming from your drains or from the water, follow these steps:
If The Problem Is In The Water Heater
Unless you are very familiar with water heater operation and maintenance, have a plumber or water system professional to do the work.
- Replace or remove the magnesium anode. Many water heaters have a magnesium anode, which is attached to a plug located on top of the water heater. It can be removed by turning off the water, releasing the pressure from the water heater, and unscrewing the plug. Be sure to plug the hole. Removal of the anode, however, may significantly decrease the life of the water heater. You may wish to consult with a water heater dealer to determine if a replacement anode made of a different material, such as aluminum, can be installed. A replacement anode may provide corrosion protection without contributing to the production of hydrogen sulfide gas.
- Disinfect and flush the water heater with a chlorine bleach solution. Chlorination can kill sulfur bacteria. If all bacteria are not destroyed by chlorination, the problem may return within a few weeks.
- Increase the water heater temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours. This will destroy the sulfur bacteria. Flushing to remove the dead bacteria after treatment should control the odor problem.
How Hydrogen Sulfide Gas is Produced in a Water Heater
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Why Does It Smell Like Rotten Eggs And Why Is That Dangerous
Most people describe bad smells from drains as being like the smell of rotten eggs. They arent pleasant, but there is a scientific reason for this. This smell often comes from a gas known as hydrogen sulfide, which is formed when bacteria grows in sewage, drains or the ground.
If you dont use the drain or sink often, the hydrogen sulfide could come directly from the sewer itself. When water in the p-trap dries up, the gas can rise from the drain.
Its important to know that hydrogen sulfide gas can be hazardous to human health. As a toxic gas, it can be about as dangerous as carbon monoxide. Thats why we recommend consulting an expert if this smell is coming from your drains.
The Plumbing Vent Could Be Clogged
Although this is more unlikely, it shouldnt be ruled out. Up on your roof is a vent pipe sticking out, allowing water to flow freely down the drain and sewer lines, which is why its essential to keep it clear. Its possible that leaves, dirt, or even a small animal can get stuck in the plumbing vent, causing a blockage that impedes water flow and allows the gasses from the trapped organic matter to flow through plumbing lines.
Of course, its not exactly easy or inconvenient for many people to check their plumbing vents to see if theyre clogged, but theres a pretty good sign you can look for right in your house. If youre noticing the smell of rotten eggs and a gurgling sound in the drains as water flows away, theres a good chance the plumbing vent is blocked.
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