What To Do About That Bad Drain Smell
Clean Your Drains With These Tips
It started inconspicuously enough. The smell was so small, you thought it might all be in your imagination. Now, months later, you cant ignore it any longer. Something stinks in your home, and you can’t figure out what it is. You know its not coming from your wastebasket, or your toilet, but what about your drains? Believe it or not, your plumbing could be the source of that rank odor. From food scraps to sewer gas, your drains can be the source several different odors. If you want to get your home smelling fresh again, follow these easy tips.
Remove Small Clogs With A Plunger
Before you start down the road to complicated procedures, it’s always worth trying to use your friendly household plunger. If you’re lucky, the issue causing your sewer odor may be a loose clog that needs a little push to get on its way down. In this case, a plunger may be all that you need.
Baking Soda And Vinegar May Be Your Solution
Most odors require a little extra effort beyond simple plunging. While this procedure shouldn’t take place often, a vinegar and baking soda cleanse is usually enough to combat any unpleasant odors in your drains. Start by applying some dish soap to the drain and then chasing that with a good amount of boiling water. Follow this with a cup of baking soda(not powder) and follow it with an equal amount of distilled white vinegar. The instant foaming action will not only help to kill bacteria and deodorize your drain, but it might also loosen clogs. Follow this with some more hot water and a good plunging, and you’ve got yourself a handy solution to most drain odor issues.
Make Sure Your Lines Are Cleared Of Food, Grease, and Hair
Your plumbing has safeguards in place to prevent sewer gas from wafting into your home. The u-bend is one such countermeasure. As the name implies, the u-bend is a portion of pipe shaped like a U. This shape makes it impossible for the rising gas to travel downwards and eventually out through your sink. However, this u-shape that keeps smells out often also keeps debris trapped. There is a good chance that the smell in your drain is from food scraps, oil, and hair trapped in the u-bend. To remedy this situation, all you have to do is remove this portion of your pipes, clean it, and then reinstall.
Proper Ventilation Keeps Your Drains Smelling Clean
All plumbing is vented in one way or another as ventilation helps maintain the proper level of pressure in the system. The ventilation also has the added benefit of ensuring that the worst of your sewer odor never makes it into your home. You might find that sewer gas is making its way into your home regardless. In this situation, you’ll need a professional plumber to assess the condition of your ventilation.
Damaged Sewer Lines May Cause Bad Odors
The only cause for copious sewer gas in your home is a backed-up or damaged sewer line. Unfortunately, there’s no way to deal with this on your own. If you suspect that your sewer line is damaged, your best choice is to leave the job in the hands of professionals. Using state-of-the-art technology, they will perform extensive cleaning, relining, and replacements services to ensure that you never suffer from the same sewer odor again.
Our Experts Can Have Your Line, Clean, Fresh, and Flowing Easy
Most foul drain odor is easy to clean up with a few household staples. It is only when the odor is intense or stubborn that you need the help of a professional. From drain cleanings to hydro-jet services, Easy Flow Drain & Sewer has you covered with all manner of plumbing solutions. The next time you have problems with your pipes, know that our team of experienced professionals has your back.
For drain cleaning outside of California, we recommend the Brother’s Plumbing. The Brother’s have provided Denver drain cleaning services for years and are the area’s go-to for all things plumbing.