How to Get Rid of Drain Smells
A clogged drain can produce the most unpleasant smell you’ll ever come across in your home. Imagine going to your bathroom or kitchen and being greeted with such a foul odour. Smelly drains can be frustrating, and the odour often lingers. In many cases, it’s persistent and not easy to get rid of.
In this blog, we will help you understand why this problem appears in the first place, the preventive measures that can be taken, and how to clean a smelly drain on your own before you get help from a local plumber Sydney.
Main Factors That Lead to Smelly Drains
It’s common for households to encounter a situation where their drainage system becomes smelly. Bad odours coming from your bathroom or kitchen can make the surrounding space in your house feel dirty and uncomfortable. A smelly drain can be caused by a variety of factors, which we will explain below:
- Hair strands and soap scum
These elements frequently block the flow of the bathroom drain and cause smelly odours. Hair strands can easily get twisted in the pipes and get entangled with soap scum. Therefore, maintaining the cleanliness of the bathroom drains is important. You can also utilise a hair catcher and strainer to prevent hair clog.
- Food waste
Leftover food particles often get stuck in the kitchen sink. Food waste can eventually cause an unpleasant odour if it is left uncleaned. Placing a drain cover can be an easy approach to collect food scraps and prevent them from going into the drain. You can also use a sink plug for the drainage system when cleaning your dishes to prevent food crumbs from falling and clogging your sink. Always scrape leftover food into the trash before washing your dishes.
- Fat, oil, and grease
Different from food waste, people are often not aware when these substances go down the drain. These substances can accumulate over time and freeze in the pipelines, generating an obstruction that traps food crumbs and other wastes in the kitchen sink, causing smelly drains. It’s best to place these substances in a sealed container before disposing of them in the rubbish bin.
- Issues with P-Traps
The curved pipe under your sink, called a P-trap, is meant to hold a little water. This water creates a barrier that stops smelly sewer gases from travelling back up into your home. If the trap dries out or isn’t working properly, those gases can escape and cause unpleasant odours. If you notice this happening, you need to call a local plumber in Sydney to check and fix the issue before it gets worse.
How to Clean Smelly Drains
Although a foul odour can seem difficult to tackle, cleaning smelly drains is often possible by following a few simple steps. Below are some methods you can try.
- Hot water
Hot water can help dissolve and wash away the buildup of residues that get stuck in your plumbing system. It also helps kill bacteria growing inside the pipes. However, avoid using boiling water, as it can damage PVC or older pipes. Instead, use hot tap water and pour it slowly down the drain. You can repeat this process several times to help clean smelly drains effectively.
- Mixture of vinegar and baking soda
If the hot water doesn’t work to dissolve the buildup residues, you can try to add a DIY solution made of vinegar and baking soda. How to fix smelly drains with this DIY approach is by putting half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda into the clogged sink. After letting the ingredients sit together for 10–15 minutes, you can pour the hot water down the drain to clear the debris away.
- Drain cleaning equipment
Another way to tackle smelly drains is by using the right cleaning equipment. For minor obstructions, tools like a plunger and an auger can help loosen and remove debris.
When using these tools, it’s important to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from potentially hazardous substances. Start by clearing the drain of visible debris, then carefully insert the tool according to its instructions, working slowly to avoid damaging the pipes.
After the blockage is cleared, run hot water down the drain to rinse away any remaining residue and help restore proper flow.
- Hiring a plumbing expert
If the previously mentioned measures are not able to clean the smelly drain, it would be best to call for professional assistance from a plumber Sutherland Shire to analyse the main cause of the problem and address it properly. With their skill and experience, they can guarantee a long-lasting solution that is carried out safely without the risk of causing more damage to your property or your health.
Conclusion
When dealing with a smelly drain, it’s important to act quickly to prevent the problem from worsening and potentially causing damage to your plumbing system. While DIY methods can handle minor issues, they are not sufficient for deeper blockages or persistent odours. If the DIY approaches aren’t working, contact a licensed plumber for professional assessment and repair. Getting expert help ensures a durable solution, keeps your home hygienic, and saves you from more expensive repairs.
