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Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!You might be thinking,Why does my bathroom sink smell bad?The truth is that there could be many reasons why your bathroom sink smells like a sewer. Today, we’re here to help you figure out which of these things is causing the odor so you can get your home smelling fresh again.
The three most common causes include:
- The sink has a build-up of bacteria that build up in it.
- ventilation problem.
- Sewer line problem.
- There is no water in the P trap.
Let’s take a look at why your bathroom smells awful, and then we’ll try and learn how to fix it.
accumulation of bacteria
When you think about it, some dirty things fall into the bathroom sink. The most common are soapy water, toothpaste, dead skin cells, and shaving cream.
Eventually, these objects make their way down the drain and into the downpipes. These pipes are an ideal place for bacterial growth. After a while, the bacterial growth turns into a black, nasty mess, often referred to as a biofilm. The odor you are smelling now is the result of this biofilm.
sewer line problem
The reason it smells similar to sewage is because that is what it is. Your home’s plumbing system is a complex labyrinth of pipes that lead from drains directly to sewers.
The odors you’re smelling could indicate a more complex problem with the entire plumbing system. This includes sewer gas that is coming from pipes and through drains.
Remember, all waste sent through pipes goes into the sewer. So, if you’re smelling sewer odors in your bathroom, there could be a ventilation problem or a P-trap.
ventilation problems
Sometimes there is a smell of sewer gas coming out through the drains in the bathroom. When this happens, it is a sure sign of a problem with the plumbing’s ventilation system. It could also mean that there is some sort of blockage in the drains.
p trap is dry
Another optional issue could be a dry P-trap. You may be wondering what a P-trap is. This is the curved section of piping under a sink. Its primary function is to provide a water barrier to prevent gas leaking from the sewer into the bathroom. P-traps are also made as a curved section of pipe to prevent objects from entering the septic tank or sewer line.
However, should this unique pipe section dry up, the protective water barrier is no longer present. With the dried P-trap all those sewer gases get released into the sink drains, and through the pipes into your bathroom.
Apart from making your bathroom stink, it is also extremely unhealthy. It is a normal process for the P-trap to dry out over time; However, it’s really simple to fix.
RELATED: Septic Smell in the House? Here’s How to Get Rid of Septic Smells
How to Get That Rotten Smell Out of a Bathroom Sink
We’ve uncovered the most common reasons why your bathroom sink smells like a sewer. This section will help you with some ideas or possible answers to fix the problem. Simply pouring vinegar down bathroom drains may be the solution.
You can also use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar poured down bathroom drains. You can also use scented candles and potpourri to effectively remove bad odors.
get rid of biofilm build-up
Biofilm is the nasty gunk at the bottom of a sink stopper, which is also a possible cause of sink odor. It would be best if you get rid of the build-up of bacteria, which is the cause of bad breath.
The first step to cleaning and ridding your bathroom of biofilm build-up is getting the right cleaning supplies. There are many products you can buy at the store level for cleaning. However, there are also household products that you can find in your pantry, such as distilled white vinegar (never mix bleach with vinegar). This will create a chemical that is harmful, and the fumes can be harmful.
flush out bacteria
It is recommended to run hot water down the drain first, to flush and break down any bacteria. Or, you can turn on the hot water faucet and let it run for a short time.
In some cases, this won’t be enough to get rid of the odor (or bacteria) causing severe build-up. If this is the case, you’ll need to shut off the main water source, and disconnect the sink plumbing beneath it. You can then clean each pipe individually. Washing each with an outdoor hose or tap and drying with paper towels. Just remember how you disconnected the pipes so you can reconnect them when you’re done cleaning.
pouring water into p-trap
As mentioned above, a P-trap drying out and sewer gases seeping into the drain can result in that awful rotten egg smell. If so, all you need to do is add some water to it, which may be simpler than you think. You can run tap water for a couple of minutes. This will allow the moisture protection barrier of the P trap to be restored.
However, if this doesn’t work, you may need to call a professional plumber. You may have misdiagnosed the problem and it is much more complex.
repair ventilation
If it is the ventilation system that has gone bad that is allowing sewer gases to escape, there may be a more complex solution. In this case, to prevent these foul gases and fumes from stinking up your home, you need the help of a professional plumber.
More ways to clean sink drain
Sometimes a smelly sink is the result of an overflow pipe that has become clogged. If so, you can clean it with a simple solution found in your kitchen pantry.
With a few household items—distilled white vinegar and baking soda—you can create a powerful cleaning compound. This combination can be poured directly down the drain and will dissolve dirt, eliminating odors almost instantly!
Another option, less toxic, is some oxygenated bleach. You can clean the overflow of your bathroom sink with this bleach. If you’re not sure where the overflow drain is, it’s a small hole found at the top of the sink.
You can also make a mixture of one cup distilled white vinegar and one cup baking soda to clean your overflow sink drain. Just follow these easy steps:
- Mix the soda and vinegar together so that it is completely mixed.
- Turn off the sink filter.
- Pour the mixture into the overflow hole of the sink.
- Let it stay for about five to ten minutes.
- Boil some water in a vessel while you are letting it set.
- After waiting the appropriate amount of time, pour hot water into this small hole to flush everything out.
This is a safe, non-toxic way to clean debris and bacteria build-up from your sink drain and get rid of sewer odors.
How to get rid of sewer smell in your drain
You can get rid of that sewer smell by pouring hot, boiling water down your sink drain. Wait about five minutes, and then add the same amount of cold water. After doing this whatever was blocking it and causing the odor should have dissolved.
a plunger can help
You can take the help of a plunger to clean the smelly drain. Simply place the plunger cup over the sink drain and pump it vigorously for a few minutes. This should get rid of any minor blockages or blockages.
After doing this you can wash it once again with boiling water. This should be enough to get rid of whatever has clogged your sink drain.
plumbing system problems
The plumbing in a person’s home is something that most people don’t think about until something unusual happens. Like clogged drains or foul smell of drains.
Why does your drain smell of sewer gases?
There are many reasons for foul smell in drains, from clogged pipe line or drain. When something solid gets stuck in the pipeline, it prevents the water from flowing freely. So, everything is stabilizing.
How do you get rid of that sewer smell?
If you’re wondering how to get rid of that sewage smell in your home, we’ve got some simple solutions. A simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar will work to get rid of most unpleasant odors.
There are also many reasons why your bathtub drain or shower drain smells bad. If your drain smells bad, you may have a dry P trap. A smelly drain may also indicate a blockage in the sewer system.
Another cause of smelly drains is a blockage in the drain system. When food particles get stuck in a garbage disposal it can cause foul odors emanating from the drain system from the kitchen sink.
How does halitosis develop?
Along all drains there is an internal area that has the potential to create foul odors. The same is true of kitchen drains and shower drains. What’s Causing That Terrible Drain Smell? Most likely there is some form of bacteria that is eating the debris left over from the soap scum and other ingredients. This drain odor can be similar to the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs, which is often described as raw sewage.
you may need a plumber
Sometimes when you’re troubleshooting smelly drains, you may need to call a plumber to find answers. If the vent pipe is damaged or cracked, it will need repair. Only a professional plumber knows how to determine the cause of drain odors and smelly drains.
If you have a garbage disposal, the drain odor can come from food particles stuck in the drain. You can fix this by pouring boiling water down the drains of the sink.
how to get rid of sewer gas smell in my sink
If you have a guest bathroom, there can be a musty smell. Perhaps the P-trap has dried up due to lack of use. Or mold is building up in the main drain.
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