Got A Smelly Sink Drain?

If you’ve got a drain with an unpleasant odor, there may be some common reasons for that smelly sink drain! Over time and with constant use, lots of materials can decompose and give off a foul-smelling gas. To keep your sink drain smelling fresh, you need proper maintenance and regular cleaning.

Reasons For A Sink Drain Smell

Rotting food.

Rotting food likely can be a major cause of the smell coming from a kitchen sink after food scraps may stick to the sides of the pipe or within the garbage disposal unit and blades.

Dry p-trap.

Not everyone knows about a p-trap. The p-trap is installed under all sinks in your home. It traps debris before it goes down the drain. It also stops sewer gas and its sewer smell from entering the home. If the trap gets too dry, trapped odors from debris and food are released.

Sewer line.

If your p-trap got too full it might not have properly stopped a clog from forming. A blockage deep in the sewer lines causes a sink drain to stink of a sewage smell.

Venting problems.

Sewer pipes can also trap sewer gasses causing smelly drains even when they seem to be draining. These same pipes run gases to the roof of your home and when they get clogged with debris like snow, leaves, etc., the gas is forced back down and out of your smelly drain.

Mold and mildew.

Drains are busy places in your home and use water every day and sometimes all day. Mold and mildew can have a chance to grow and thrive in dark, warm, and wet spaces. Your pipes may be harboring bacteria that is causing a stinky smell.

Here are some basic tips to try to alleviate your stinky sink:

• Run some water through your pipes – helping that dry p-trap.
• Chop up some ice cubes with some coarse salt and followed by some cold water.
• Clear the venting pipes of debris around your house.
• Try some orange or lemon peels ground up through your disposal to clear the air.
• Mix up some baking soda and vinegar and then flush with cold water.
• Boil some water and flush with more hot water to unclog blockages.

Most likely – your safest bet is to call a professional for safe help! Call Isley Plumbing today to get rid of that smelly sink!