The unpleasant odour of a smelly drain can spread throughout your home. This could be a rotting food smell from a kitchen drain that worsens when the dishwasher’s running. This could also be a bathroom sink or shower drain that smells like sewage. But, when you notice such a displeasing aroma, how do you sort it?
As drainage and plumbing experts with over twenty years’ experience helping customers throughout the South of the UK, Greenstar are well-placed to guide you on how to stop your drains from smelling. Read on to learn the causes of these drain smells, and what you can do about it.
For drainage and plumbing queries, feel free to contact our friendly team today on 01202 355344.
Unfortunately, drains smell for a variety of reasons and aren’t just limited to one room. Often, these smells are carried all across your property which can be greatly frustrating and not to mention nauseating. From our experience, we have outlined the most common causes of smelly drains below.
Whilst food should be disposed of responsibly in recycling bins, often it can get caught down a drain, clogging or slowing the effectiveness of your pipes. Over time this food can start to smell as it decomposes.
Partial food blockage could also be the culprit of your smelly drain. Partial pipe clogging occurs when non-decomposable products are washed down the drain, obstructing the functionality of your drain pipes.
If you’re noticing a scent that resembles a sewer, then you may have an empty P-trap. This typically happens when a kitchen or bathroom sink isn’t used frequently enough.
Nasty odours can also be caused by missing vents, leaks and rotting drain tubes. It’s also worth checking that your plumbing is watertight to prevent such smells.
Greenstar offer Emergency Plumbing services and we strive to arrive within two hours, allowing us to check your plumbing for issues swiftly and efficiently.
Should you encounter odours around or in your dishwasher, the reason is usually because of built up food or grease. Over time these scraps begin to let off fishy aromas, which can then end up on your dishes. What’s more, bacteria can build up leading to issues surrounding germs and mildew.
For damp or musty smells around your dishwasher, the chances are you are dealing with a worn hose or blocked drain.
Outside drain issues are much harder to pin down due to the number of potential causes, as well as lack of DIY solutions possible. For example, a blocked drain outside will typically require high pressure jetting to sort. What’s more, any damaged or collapsed pipes that could be causing a clog (that leads to a bad sewage smell) will in all likelihood require professional support to fix.
Greenstar offer Gutter Cleaning and Clearing Services as well as Drain Repairs and Renewal to fix your outside drain issues, preventing them from happening in the foreseeable future.
As your bathroom sinks are frequently used – think brushing your teeth, shaving and skin routines, they are prone to developing odours. Your bathroom sink may smell because of:
We have devised these solutions to sort your smelly drain.
We have devised this four-step plan below to help you clean your smelly drains. It’s important to note that drains require regular cleaning to scrub off any bacteria or debris that may start to build up.
Preparation is key – make sure the drain opening is cleared of any good, hair, soap or scum. This will stop you from washing anything else down the pipe that shouldn’t be there.
Next, carefully pour boiling water down the drain. After five minutes, then pour cold water to flush away any stubborn grease. This method of rinsing your drain keeps your system running smooth preventing any food build up.
Baking soda and vinegar is great as when combined with boiling water can kill most odours. Add a teaspoon of baking soda with some vinegar down the plughole of the smelly drain then carefully pour boiling water for 15 seconds afterwards.
Should these approaches fail, then it’s time to invest in more power cleaning products that aim to tackle drainage problems. We would advise opting for corrosive drain cleaners which are particularly effective, and are usually available at your local supermarket.
As an alternative to baking soda and vinegar, you can fill your sink with hot water and bleach. Then, drain the bleach water through the pipes to help dislodge stuck food and other debris.
The U-bend pipe or sewer gas tap should be checked. Make sure the U-bend is always full of water as this allows it to act as a preventative measure to stop sewer gases from escaping the plughole. If there’s no water, then run some water to fill the U-bend.
Should you notice any U-bend leaks from drips under the sink, contact Greenstar where one of our emergency plumbers can fix it for you.
Attempting to fix your drainage problem yourself requires the right tools and know how. Tackling the problem yourself can lead to making it worse, causing further damage to your home’s drainage system.
Greenstar boast a team of drainage specialists who have the expertise to deal with your drainage issue. We offer 24/7 support meaning we can clear your blocked drains whenever the problem arises.
If you can't find a resolution on our site, or would rather talk to a member of our experienced plumbing team, give Greenstar a call today on 01202 355344.