How to Fix a Smelly Drain

How to get rid of smelly drains? | How to get rid of smelly bathroom drains? | Common causes of a drain smell in the house | How to get rid of smelly drains in the kitchen? | How to fix a smelly kitchen drain? | How to stop drains from smelling? | How to get rid of a smelly shower drain? | Can a P Trap cause a smelly drain? | Can a drain snake cause a bathroom sink to smell?

To fix a drain that smells, try this technique. The process of unblocking a drain can also unblock an odour that was previously trapped in the pipes. It is important to check that the problem has not been solved before you spend your time and money on this procedure.

How to Get Rid of Smelly Drains?

Note: we recommend always consulting a local licensed professional before you perform any sort of DIY or do-it-yourself fixes at home

1) Pour down one cup vinegar, followed by two cups of boiling water down the drain. Do no flush as it may splash back up on you or cause a burn. Cover any exposed drains with towels or rags for at least 4 hours, except for toilet bowls.

2) Try pouring one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of vinegar down the drain. The activated chemical reaction should clear up any smells.

3) If you have strong-smelling food such as garlic or onions, pour a small amount of vanilla extract down the drain to mask the odour.

4) Pour one capful of chlorine bleach down the drain and cover it with boiling water for 15 minutes to clean and disinfect your pipes and drains! (Caution: Do not use within 1/2 inch from ceramic or porcelain sinks as it may faze the finish!)

5) A tablespoon of cider vinegar placed in a bowl on top of a heated stove can help dissolve stubborn clogs while putting off less heat than a hot water heater. This method is the best for clearing stinky drains.

6) Pour a cup of hydrogen peroxide down your drain and scrub with baking soda to unblock any odours in your pipes.

How to Get Rid of Smelly Bathroom Drains?

To get rid of the smelly bathroom drain, you need to clean your drain.

You can use a plunger and this will unblock the drain. You have to cover the hole on top of the plunger with a plastic bag or a rubber band. Then place it over the open end of the sink or bathtub where water comes out, push down hard and move back and forth for about 30 seconds. The air pressure created will plunge it forward into the clog. That’s it! Repeat if necessary until you get rid of all stubborn clogs in your pipes that cause bad odour from drains.

Before using your plunger to fix a smelly drain, make sure you do not put any chemicals such as liquids or powders in this process since they may harm your skin by corroding it. Also, you must be sure that the pipe is not broken or cracked or else, this method will not work at all. So be careful with your drain pipes and follow these steps carefully.

When using a plunger, make sure you cover the sinkhole with a plastic bag before plunging. This way you will prevent any splashes of water from coming out during the process.

Common Causes of a Drain Smell in the House

A common cause of drains smalls in the house are often the result of organic materials build up in the drain itself. The organics break down into anaerobic bacteria that produce smalls and during this biological process it also produces some amount of gas. This is very much related to source water type. Water without chlorine contains more organics which leads to increased smalls in the house and the development of anaerobic bacteria.

If you have a slow draining sink, shower etc., then most likely you are dealing with a root ingress problem. Tree roots may be growing through open joints or pipes. If your drainage system is blocked there is one more possibility – infestation by various pests including rats, cockroaches, ants etc. They can make passage to any pipe or drain as they are able to chew through almost anything.

The most common cause of an unpleasant odour in the house drains is organic buildup inside the drain itself. This material decomposes and produces gases that are released into the air when you run water. Organic materials can be flushed down any sink or toilet, but they frequently accumulate in a drainage system, especially one that doesn’t get much use. If you suspect your garbage disposal is causing the smell it’s probably a good idea to clean it out using vinegar and baking soda rather than putting off this task too long.  

If you think that some of your pipes are broken or contain issues this may lead to the development of smalls somewhere down the line.

How to Get Rid of Smelly Drains in the Kitchen?

A common problem in the kitchen is a smelly drain. The cause is usually a food particle, grease, or other material blocking the drain. Here are some simple tips and a few more advanced techniques to help you get rid of smelly drains in the kitchen.

If your sink starts to smell like a sewer then it’s time to unclog or clean the drainage pipes under the sink. It’s not uncommon for plumbing problems beyond your control to clog your kitchen sink drain causing foul odours and also risking an overflow. Fortunately, you can take action yourself with little risk and no need for special tools or materials.

Most solutions require only items that you probably already have at home. If there is any water flowing down into the garbage disposal when anything else isn’t, then check out our article on what to do if your garbage disposal is clogged with a wet sponge or rag.

If the water coming from your faucet has a foul smell, then you know there’s contamination in that part of the plumbing system. There might be something lodged somewhere in the pipes and it needs to be removed before it causes any further damage to the pipes. Here are some methods for dealing with smelly drains in the kitchen.

How to Fix a Smelly Kitchen Drain?

Try pouring 1/2 cup bleach down each drain every month if you have this problem often! Bacteria builds up in your drain regularly due to food particles getting stuck and other types of waste build-up over time. Bleach will kill these odour causing bacteria so they won’t build back up within weeks after cleaning.

Try pouring 1/2 cup vinegar down each drain every month if you have this problem often! Vinegar is also a great odour killer and works just like bleach except it’s much less expensive. Check out this article for more information on why baking soda or vinegar should be used when cleaning drains vs chemical cleaners that can damage your pipes over time.

Use an auger (the kind plumbers use to clear clogged drains), but only as a last resort – the force of the auger may not be enough to remove whatever is blocking the sink and could cause serious damage to your disposal unit, and potentially leak sewage into your kitchen. Ensure you get someone with plumbing experience to do it for you.

How to Stop Drains from Smelling?

smelly drains

To stop drains from smelling you have to do two things. One is to find the underlying cause of the smell and fix that, and the second is to maintain good hygiene in your drain.

If you can keep the water coming out from your drains smelling clean and fresh then you’re doing something right because the drain will take care of itself.

You can prevent stinky smells by using some form of a natural air freshener or deodorizer so that it neutralizes smelly odours before they get into your home. Normal bleach could also remove foul smells as long as it’s followed by sufficient rinsing with clear water; this prevents any residue from mixing with later shower water which would otherwise taint your bathroom with unpleasant chlorine fumes.

How to Get Rid of a Smelly Shower Drain?

A common drain that can sometimes smell up is a shower drain. It is usually quite a small space that can get blocked very easily and so if you want to get rid of the smell quickly then it is best to use a small process.

One way to do this is to pour half a cup of vinegar down there before taking your shower or bath, in order for it to be able to kill off any bacteria etc; that may be causing the smell. Another trick is adding about an inch of baking soda into the drain prior to taking your shower as this will also help with getting rid of the smell and keep the drains clear.

Can a P Trap Cause a Smelly Drain?

A P Trap is a horizontal pipe that is installed beneath sinks, bathtubs and toilets. The P Trap helps to prevent sewer gases from backing up into the plumbing systems of residential buildings by channelling storm water through the trap from drain pipes to prevent these gases from entering your home.

A smelly drain can be caused by an environment that has a favourable environment for bacteria. In this case, many toilet bowl cleaners contain bleach or chemicals such as acids which break down organic matter in order to disinfect the bowl.

These elements do not go away after a single-use. They are retained in the tank where they favor growth of other organisms within it’s walls, causing a foul odor to emanate from the drain when seal around it breaks apart and releases those nasty smells into the air.

Can a Drain Snake Cause a Bathroom Sink to Smell?

Yes, a drain snake can cause a bathroom sink to smell. The snake’s wire gets caught in whatever blocks the flow of water and causes more damage.

The rubber seal between the body and the stopper inside the drain begins to deteriorate once it becomes aware of contact with things such as hair or wool which is what produces that awful odour.

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