Most individuals don't give their drains much thought until something bad occurs. Frequently, the unpleasant event is either a stench coming from the drain or a clogged drain.
In order to prevent an odour from developing, sinks, bathroom drains, and kitchen drains must be cleaned. Candles with scents or potpourri might mask unpleasant drain aromas, but to completely get rid of odours, the source must be addressed. You may avoid smelly drains by learning how to clean them and by doing routine maintenance.
You're not the only one experiencing foul odours coming from your drains. It's a typical issue. But why is this happening?
A sewer gas leak or mere bacteria could be the cause, as could a clog or something more catastrophic. Investigate the cause when you notice a strange scent coming from your drains.
Here are a few of the most frequent causes of drain-related nasal clogging. Some can be fixed by doing it yourself. Others need a qualified drain plumber.
SMELLY DRAINS? HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THEM WELL AGAIN
Sink odour is a typical household annoyance. You're not alone if the scent of rotting eggs or sewage permeates your bathroom or kitchen sink. Although it's a typical issue, it can go out of control.
What then gives forth the odour? It might be caused by something as simple as a build-up of microorganisms. This happens most frequently in kitchens when rotting food or oil from cooking that was washed down the drain might get stuck in the pipes. Hair might be washed down the plughole in a bathroom, which could lead to a clog and eventually produce an odour. In addition, a soil vent pipe is absent from a lot of drains (SVP). It might be as simple as having one of these put by a plumber. SVPs are fantastic because they give unpleasant odours another somewhere to go, deflecting them away from your rooms.
YOUR SINK SMELLS OF ROTTEN EGGS OR SEWAGE:
Determine whether the entire room or only the water has a rotten egg odour. Check to see if the odour grows stronger by running the tap for a while. If it doesn't, this should be a simple task as the issue is with the drain, indicating that something terrible is caught there (if it's the water, though, you might need to call a plumber), but you can typically handle it yourself by following these instructions.
1. Take hold of the plunger first. Any dirt you can remove will make the following stages much simpler.
2. Pour washing detergent into a cup halfway full and pour it down the offending drain. If it's the shower drain, you might need to use a screwdriver to first separate the drain. Leave it for 30 minutes so that it has time to disintegrate any debris that is stuck to the side of your pipes.
3. While miracles are taking place, warm some water to just below boiling. Pour the water carefully down the drain after at least 30 minutes, making careful that none splashes on you.
4. Reopen the faucet; if water flows freely down the drain, you've succeeded! If not, start over at step two and repeat the procedure. The most crucial step is to wash the surplus down by running the faucet for a while.
5. Still experiencing issues? It's time to apply science. Measure out some baking powder and pour it down the toilet. After some time, pour vinegar on top in an equal amount. Keep an eye out for hissing as the two liquids react and (hopefully) destroy the remainder of what is underground. Restarting the faucet will flush everything out.
WHY DOES MY BATHROOM SINK SMELL?
There are several reasons why your bathroom sink might smell. Fortunately, if you have the correct equipment, cleaning a smelly drain in a bathroom sink can be simple.
It's crucial to have a suitable P-trap in order to clean a bathroom sink and get rid of smelly bathroom drains. The bent section of piping under the sink is known as a P-trap. By storing water, it is intended to form a seal that keeps sewage gases out of the bathroom. Sewer gasses can enter the bathroom through a malfunctioning P-trap, which will make your sink smell bad.
Additionally, your sink ought to include a vent for the backflow of gases. You could want expert assistance if a blocked air vent is the source of the sewer odour coming from your sink.
If the stench is coming from the water running from your sink and not from the drain, then the faucet is probably the source of the smell. Remove the aerator cap to check for any accumulation or muck that can be cleaned out. How often you clean your drains typically determines how nasty the stinking drain gets. Additionally, your overflow drain may contain stagnant water, which can smell bad. To prevent unpleasant drain odours, regularly clean your bathroom sink and apply drain cleaners.
WHY DO MY SHOWER AND BATHTUB DRAINS SMELL?
Your bathtub or shower drain may smell for a number of reasons. The degree of the odours and the root of the smell will determine how to clean smelly drains.
There may be odour-producing bacteria in your pipes that are feeding on trash. A rotten egg or sewage-like hydrogen sulphide gas will be released as a result of this procedure.
Additionally, mould thrives in warm, moist environments, and it can also produce an unpleasant odour if it grows on the debris that is clogging a drain. Cleaning your drains is essential if you want to prevent musty odours and other drain problems like mould.
WHY DOES MY KITCHEN DRAIN SMELL?
You might have a dry P-trap if your kitchen sink drains smells, particularly if it smells like sewer. The curved section of pipe under the sink is known as the P-trap. It is intended to be filled with water, which forms a seal and keeps sewage gases out of your kitchen. The P-trap needs to always contain water.
A vent or drainpipe issue could also exist. This can involve a vent obstruction or pipe damage
WHY DOES MY DISHWASHER SMELL?
If your dishwasher smells, you could not be adequately washing your dishes before loading them. Food particles can build up in the filter and crevices of your dishwasher, which over time may produce an unpleasant stench. Knowing how to clean your dishwasher on a regular basis will help you avoid drains or dishwashers that smell.
Using the dishwasher properly is one technique to stop food from building up. Before placing dishes in the dishwasher, it's a good idea to completely scrape and rinse plates, bowls, and other things.
You may not need to scrub the plates with soap, depending on the mess; simply scrape the food off and rinse the dishes well. If you don't do this, large food particles risk getting stuck in the drain grate of your dishwasher. This could cause obstructions that inhibit drainage or make the dishwasher stinky.
Remove any food that may be stuck in your dishwasher's drain system. After that, clean the area with a fresh sponge. In addition, you can run your garbage disposal while using a chemical drain cleaner. It will help sanitize the dishwasher's pipework and leave a clean, citrus aroma.
HOW DO I STOP MY DRAINS FROM SMELLING?
If the scent originates from an infrequently used sink, flush your drain to make sure your P-trap is full of water. The P-trap can perform its function, which is to establish an airtight seal that keeps unpleasant septic or sewer odours from escaping when it is filled.
Check out our article All About Septic Tank Cleaning if you're interested in learning more about how to maintain septic tanks.
Using a solution of baking soda and vinegar, you can also deodorize drains and aid in the treatment of smelly drains. When combined, these chemicals can occasionally aid in unclogging drain obstructions.
STEP 1: Pour a saucepan of boiling water down the drain to begin this procedure.
STEP 2: Next, flush the drain with a solution of one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar.
Step 3: Involves closing the filter or inserting the drain plug and waiting 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 4: Is to pour another pot of hot water down the drain.
TIPS AND AVOIDANCES
• DO: Ensure that a P-trap is set up beneath your bathroom sink.
• DO: Run a drain flush to make sure the P-trap is full of water.
• DO: Scrape food off dishes and thoroughly rinse them before placing them in the dishwasher to maintain clean grate surfaces and avoid clogs.
• DO: If there is a scent emanating from the running water, remove the aerator cap from the faucet and clear off any build-up.
TOP CAUSES OF BAD-SMELLING DRAINS
BACTERIA BUILDUP
Simple germs and muck accumulation may be the source of the odour. Consider everything, including food, hair, and filth, which goes down your drains. A scent may develop as a result of those objects becoming lodged in the pipes. Blockages frequently come with smells, so this is a strong indication that it's time to empty your pipes. Hopefully cleaning your pipes will eliminate the odour (and slow drains). To guarantee that your drains are cleaned properly, get in touch with Stillorgan Drains' team of drain cleaning specialists.
DRY P-TRAP
You might only need to run the water and refill the P-trap if your drain hasn't been used recently to get rid of the odour. A goosenecked segment of pipe is inserted in drain lines to prevent sewer gas from rising via the drain. The water in the trap evaporates when the sink isn't in use. This blocked drain is the source of the odour and lets gas into your house. Run a small amount of water through each of your faucets once a month to keep P-traps from drying out.
CLOGGED OR MISSING VENT PIPES
Your drainpipes are connected to a system of vent pipes, which lets wastewater gas and stink escape while bringing in fresh air, as you may or may not be aware. This is referred to as the drain-waste-vent (DWV) system since it includes the drains. Usually, the roof is where these vertical vent pipes exit, far from windows and other vents. Clogs in the main stack can cause a multitude of problems, including odorous drains. You might be missing vent pipes, so ask a qualified plumber about installing some.
STINK FROM THE SUMP
You might be pumping wastewater into your sump pump rather than the main sewage drain line if you notice a strange stench emanating from your basement sump pump. Homeowners occasionally pour water from the washing machine into the sump pump, which can gather and produce an unpleasant odour. You can lessen the scent by minimizing the number of pipes that drain into your sump pump. To prevent odours from entering your home, make sure the top is properly covered with a cap. Additionally, it will prevent items from dropping and accumulating inside.
GREASE
When oil or fat congeals in your kitchen sink drain, it may smell like rotten eggs or mould. Grease should never be poured down the drain. Pour 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and a pot of boiling water down the drain. The muck will be eaten away by this solution as the water washes it away.
DRAIN TRAP
To stop sewage odour from entering your home, a proper drain trap must be placed in your new sink or bathtub. If you don't have it, there is nothing to prevent the smell from entering your home. The drain trap must be installed by a professional.
DOES THE WATER SMELL?
Sulphates in the water might lead to smells. The hot water heater will smell like rotten eggs if sulphate-reducing bacteria are present. Contact a qualified plumber to inspect your water pipes and water quality if you think the odour is coming from the water itself.
DIY DRAIN CLEANING AND DEODORIZING
Don't wait until your drains are stinky and clogged to take action. Here is some expert advice for keeping drains clear and flowing freely:
• Sprinkle the drain with about 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of salt.
• Next, begin to pour a sizable bottle of household white vinegar.
• The chemical reaction should cause froth and bubbles to rise.
• Give everything 15 minutes to settle.
• Next, rinse everything with water that is slightly below boiling.
• Finally, turn on the cold-water faucet to rinse everything off.
It's excellent if water can readily run down the drain. If not, try the procedure once more before hiring a plumber with experience. To help avoid odours and obstructions, repeat this procedure every few weeks. Other advice includes avoiding chemical drain cleaners, which can damage your plumbing system, and keeping hair out of the drain.
DO YOU SMELL A SEWER ODOUR?
Bad-smelling drains can indicate a problem with the main sewer line.
The problem is damage to the sewer line if the aforementioned remedies don't work or if you observe that many drains are emitting sewer scents. Your home's wastewater is removed by the sewage line and transported to the public sewer system (or septic tank). Sewage will begin to back up into your pipes and subsequently into your drains if the sewer line is obstructed, damaged by corrosion, tree roots, ground shifting, or construction, or becomes otherwise compromised.
DRAINAGE SERVICE IN DUBLIN AND SURROUNDING AREAS
To identify and address the source of your drain odour, our expert drain specialist employs industrial water jetters, snake augers, and pipe camera technology. For you to once again have a clear drain, our qualified drain specialist can remove the obstruction at its source.
For this kind of intricate drain repair in Dublin and the surrounding counties, contact Stillorgan Drains. We guarantee our drainage service and have drain specialists who can locate the problem within an hour and make repairs the same day.
Make a call to 086 107 2329 right away to have any drain issues fixed.