Bad Smelling Drains – What Can You Do About Them?

You do everything you can to keep your home clean, and yet, something, somewhere just stinks to high heaven. You’ve checked the trash, bathrooms and even called an exterminator, but no luck. If you can’t find the source of your home’s stink, you might not be looking in the right place. Believe it or not, your sinks, drains, and pipes may all be harboring the smell you can’t seem to pinpoint. Your plumbing has several reasons to produce foul odors, from bacteria to rotting food scraps and sewer gas. Thankfully, ridding your home of a plumbing-related stench is easy.

First, Try To Unblock Your Drain

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.

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda To Deodorize

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.

Clear The Drains Near the Smell And Clear Any U-Bends

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.

Maintain Clear Plumbing Ventilation

All plumbing is vented in one way or another as ventilation helps maintain the proper pressure level 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.

Have Professionals Repair Any Damage In Your Sewer Line

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. They will perform extensive cleaning, relining, and replacements services using state-of-the-art technology to ensure that you never suffer from the same sewer odor again.

Have Our Team Of Professionals Clean Your Drains

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, Built With Freedom 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.

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