When properly installed and cleaned on a regular basis, you shouldn’t smell anything unpleasant coming from your sink. However, a sink that lacks a drain trap or that is covered in grease or other organic materials will likely unleash a foul odor that can easily be detected. A rotten egg smell may also be a sign that you need sewer repair or plumbing repair services.
The Role of the Drain Trap
The drain trap is designed to prevent sewer gas from coming back through the pipe under the sink and entering your home. This is done in part through its curved design and in part thanks to a pool of water that sits in the trap and helps to absorb the odor. Working in tandem, they both help to seal gas within the pipe itself as opposed to allowing them to escape into the kitchen or bathroom.
Therefore, if there is no drain trap installed, you will likely be exposed to a pollutant that might cause significant health problems for yourself, your kids or your pets. In such a scenario, your best option is to call the professionals at TDT plumbing for help.
Dealing With a Sink Drain That Hasn’t Been Cleaned Recently
Pouring grease or bits of food down a drain may result in a thick layer of organic material sticking to the pipe. As the material breaks down, it will cause a foul odor that may be difficult or impossible to get rid of without a thorough cleaning. You may also notice that the sink drains slowly or not at all because the pipe is too narrow to allow water to pass through in a timely manner.
The easiest way to clean a clogged drain is to place a mixture of baking soda and vinegar inside of the pipe. When combined, these items will create a chemical reaction that will eat away at organic materials. You then wash the baking soda and vinegar through the drain with a blast of hot water. If this doesn’t work, a professional may be able to perform a more thorough dain unclogging to make sure that your issue is taken care of.
Has the Sink Been Used Over the Past Few Weeks or Months?
Over time, the water that is used to combat sewer gas will evaporate. When this happens, you’ll smell almost anything that happens to be located in the trap. Fortunately, there is an easy fix to this issue. All you need to do is run the tap for a minute or two to allow a fresh layer of water to get inside of the trap and neutralize the smell.
Other Possible Causes of a Smelly Drain
It’s possible that your drain smells bad because it is covered in mold or mildew. These types of spores can grow fairly easily in the dark and moist environment of a sink drain. If left unchecked, they can spread throughout the home and cause issues to interior and exterior surfaces alike. Furthermore, constant exposure to mold or mildew can result in significant breathing problems even in those who may have been perfectly healthy prior to the prolonged exposure.
If you have recently had any part of your home’s plumbing system repaired, shoddy work could be the cause of the smell. The existence of cracked or otherwise defective pipes may result in leaks and other significant issues beyond the fact that your kitchen smells terrible.
Finally, if there is too much sulfate in the water, it may cause a rotten egg smell. While you can safely ingest a small amount of sulfate, doing so may cause an upset stomach or other digestive problems. Furthermore, it can cause damage to pipes, which may require you to call a residential piping service provider to remedy.
Call a Trusted Plumber
If you notice a strange smell coming from a kitchen or bathroom sink, it’s important to remedy it in a timely manner. In addition to not offending houseguests, the process of getting rid of the smell may also get help to preserve your home’s plumbing system. The next time that you need help eliminating a rotten egg smell in your house, don’t hesitate to call the professionals at TDT Plumbing right away.