You come home one day and enter your house when it hits you. Your. Home. Stinks. You didn’t notice it before because you were staying home, but now that you have a few lung-fulls of air, you can’t avoid it. After a little snooping around, you realize that it’s your drains. You don’t know how or why your gutters produce a stink, but you want it gone. Whether you’re dealing with rotting food, bacteria, or sewer gas in your pipes, you can follow a few simple steps to fix the problem. And if the following solutions don’t help, you can always contact our team of professional drain cleaners!
A Plunger May Help Remove The Source Of The Smell
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 down. In this case, a plunger may be all that you need.
Vinegar Home Remedies
Most odors require a little extra effort beyond simple plunging. While this procedure shouldn’t occur often, a vinegar and baking soda cleanse is usually enough to combat 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 hot water and a good plunging, and you’ve got yourself a handy solution to most drain odor issues.
Check U-Bends And P-Traps Near The Smell
Your plumbing has safeguards 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. Therefore, there is a good chance that your drain smells from food scraps, oil, and hair trapped in the u-bend. To remedy this situation, remove this portion of your pipes, clean it, and reinstall it.
Have Our Professionals Clear Obstructions
All plumbing is vented in one way or another, as ventilation helps maintain the proper pressure level in the system. The ventilation also benefits, ensuring that the worst of your sewer odor never makes it into your home. However, 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.
Inspect Your Lines For Visible Signs Of Damage
A backed-up or damaged sewer line is the only cause for copious sewer gas in your home. 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 replacement services using state-of-the-art technology to ensure you never suffer from the same sewer odor again.
Contact Us For Help Today!
Most foul drain odor is easy to clean up with a few household staples. It is only when the smell is intense or stubborn that you need the help of a professional. Dependable Rooter & Plumbing has you covered with all plumbing solutions, from drain cleanings to hydro-jet services. So the next time you have problems with your pipes, know that our team of experienced professionals has your back.
Are we having drain issues in Colorado? Check out our buddies over at Done Plumbing & Heating!
