There’s nothing worse than walking into your kitchen or bathroom to be met with a foul odor. When the culprit is the sink, your first instinct may be to call in a professional plumber. Before you reach for the phone, follow these tips from Gainesville plumbers at Quality Plumbing of Gainesville Inc.
What Causes Drain Smells?
A number of things can cause sink drains to emit odors. Some of the more common causes of smelly pipes include:
- Bacteria: Gunk such as food particles, grease, soap scum, and hair can line pipes and attract foul-smelling bacteria.
- Plumbing mistakes: Odors can be caused by leaks, rotting drain, and missing traps or vents. For these issues, a professional Gainesville plumber will need to diagnose and address the problem.
- Sewer gases: In sinks that are used infrequently, empty P-traps allow sewer gases to rise from the drain.
- Clogged pipes: When drains become clogged, water pools in the pipes and sink and develops a stagnant odor.
Drain Cleaning Methods
There are a number of ways to handle smelly drains. Homeowners often find that a combination of methods is most effective, so it’s best to start with the simplest methods and work towards the more complicated options.
- Boiling water or vinegar: Boil a pot of water, or a water and vinegar solution, and slowly pour half down the drain. Wait a few minutes, then run cold water in the sink to solidify lingering gunk. Pour the rest of the liquid down the drain to wash away remaining bits or clogs.
- Baking soda and vinegar: Run hot water through the sink for a few seconds, then turn it off. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, then two cups of hot vinegar. Leave them in the drain for one hour, then flush with hot water.
- Clean the P-trap: Wearing rubber gloves, remove the curved section of the pipe beneath the sink (the P-trap). Clear out any water or gunk from the P-trap, then take the pipe outside and rinse it with a garden hose. For homeowners who are uncomfortable doing this themselves, a plumber in Gainesville, FL can handle this for them.
- Clean the drain vent: Drain vents end in a single opening on the roof. Homeowners can use a ladder to reach the roof and clear debris from the drain vent.
If none of these options get the job done, it’s time to contact a plumbing company in Gainesville to diagnose the issue.
How To Keep A Drain Smelling Fresh
To avoid smelly drains in the future, homeowners should follow these steps:
- Run the disposal for at least 20 seconds every time they dispose of food down the sink.
- Once a week, pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain. Homeowners who are frequent tea drinkers might consider pouring the rest of their kettle down the drain every time they make a cup.
- For rarely used sinks, run the water occasionally to keep the P-trap full.
If you notice an odor coming from your drain, and none of these tips seem to help, contact Quality Plumbing of Gainesville Inc. Our professional plumbers offer to get your sink smelling fresh again. Schedule service with us today!