Most homeowners take pride in having a clean and tidy home. Unfortunately, the pristine aesthetics of your home may be compromised by
bad smelling drains. If you are worried that your guests may detect a nasty smell when they are washing their hands, don’t despair as there are some very common reasons why your drains smell bad and it can be corrected.
Rotten Material
This is a particular problem with kitchen sinks. Many homeowners make the mistake of assuming that all foods can be put down the garbage disposal or allow food particles to be washed down the drain. This organic material can build up along the walls of the drainpipe, where it begins to decay and create a bad smell. You will need a professional plumber to use specialist tools to clean your drain, but to minimize the risk of the problem reoccurring, you will need to change your kitchen practices. You should avoid putting starchy foods such as pasta scraps into the garbage disposal and install a sink trap to catch any food particles, which may be otherwise washed down the drain. Remember that food waste should be thrown in the garbage and not washed down the drain.
Blocked Drain Vent
Your drainage system is designed with vents, which allow sewer gas to be passed through the pipes and escape. This process prevents a buildup of pressure inside your pipes. Unfortunately, these vents can become blocked. This will create pressure which forces sewer gas through your p-trap and into your home. This problem will require professional assistance, as an experienced plumber is needed to investigate the vents and determine what repairs are necessary.
Dry P-Trap
A P-trap is a feature on most sink units. It is a segment of curved pipe, which is designed to trap water and prevent sewer gas from flowing back into the pipe. In homes where a particular sink is not used very often, the water inside the P-trap will evaporate, and it will no longer be able to prevent sewer gas rising through the drain. Fortunately, this problem is very easy to fix, since all it requires is water. Just run the faucet for a minute or two to allow the trap to fill up and restore the trap’s water barrier.
Damaged Sewer Line
Sewer lines are very robust, but that doesn’t mean that they are immune from damage. A damaged sewer line is a very serious issue as it will allow sewage to back up into your home. It is fairly easy to determine if your home is affected by a damaged sewer line, as bad smells will be lingering around the drains throughout your home, rather than the odor being limited to one drain. You may also find that you are having difficulties with clogged pipes. In order to confirm and address this problem, you will need assistance from an experienced
plumbing professional. The technician will inspect the sewer line using camera equipment to locate the damage and suggest repair options to correct the problem.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solutions.
