Few things can ruin your day faster than walking through the kitchen and getting hit with a mysterious foul scent. You immediately start to investigate. You check for dirty dishes, pet messes, something stuck in your garbage disposal, but still find no clear sign of where the awful odor is coming from. This can be a stressful experience, but it’s far from a unique one.
As the winter months wind down, we are faced with the consequences of entertaining guests throughout the holidays and having our families spend more of their time indoors. This puts added strain on our plumbing and drainage systems. In most cases, the source of that odor is living deep within your drains. The good news? Unwanted odors and unfortunate clogs are quickly remedied with the help of a reliable plumber.
What Creates Unwanted Drain Odor?
Most drain odor can be traced back to a buildup of gunk that drainpipes can’t transport effectively. More specifically, you’re smelling bacteria on clumps of food, hair, grease, and any foreign objects that make it into your wastewater system. These particles can build up in your pipes over time, creating an unpleasant smell that wafts back up into the house. Even small amounts of food waste can build up over time. This not only causes our bad smell, it also leads to slow drainage and eventually a complete blockage if not dealt with.
Preventing Unwanted Odors
There are some DIY solutions you can try for handling a stinky drain which might work to some extent as long as the build-up causing the smell isn’t too severe.
- One simple method is slowly pouring boiling water or white vinegar down the drain. Rinse that down with cold water then follow up with more hot water or vinegar and repeat as necessary.
- You can also try running hot water down your drain first, then following it with one cup baking soda and two cups hot vinegar. Let the mixture sit for an hour, then flush thoroughly using hot tap water.
Avoid store-bought clog removal solutions as they can cause additional damage to your system. When in doubt, it is best to turn to a professional.
Let Us Help
If you are experiencing unpleasant odors in your drains, you can turn to the professionals at Hawk Plumbing for help. We can assess the root cause of your drain odor problem and provide effective solutions for long-term remedies. Contact us to learn more.