Why Does my Sink Smell & How Can I Fix it?
The only thing worse than a drainage problem is one that makes your house smell too. When your kitchen sink drain smells bad or any household drains for that matter, it can ruin your home environment and cause major embarrassment when friends and family visit, despite your house being spotlessly clean!
Our drains work hard throughout the course of the day, draining our sinks, baths, toilets, and washing machines to ensure our homes run smoothly and hygienically. However, our drains can’t cope with everything, and there are certain things we should avoid flushing down the toilet or putting down our drains, including grease, fat and oils, coffee grounds, eggshells and motor fluids. Over time, the cleanest household sinks will accumulate odour-causing blockages. Luckily, getting rid of these smells is usually straightforward. Below we list the most common reasons why sinks can smell and how to fix them.
Unused Drains
If the drain pipes below the sinks in your home haven’t been used in a while, e.g. you have gone away on holiday, then smells can start to build up. Every drain line has a trap that blocks or ‘traps’ sewer smells from entering your kitchen through the sink. When a sink is not used for prolonged periods, the water in the trap evaporates, allowing sewage smells to find their way into your home. In most cases, the problem is easily solved by running some water to create a seal in the trap.
Built-Up Grease
Even if you’re cautious and keep your plug hole clean, you might not notice a growing grease build-up in your drain pipe until it’s a bigger problem. Fats and oils can start to solidify in drains which can then begin to decompose over time, causing smelly kitchen sinks or smelly bathroom sinks. You can break down these fats and oils by pouring a mix of baking soda and vinegar in equal parts in the drain, then finish with hot boiling water. If the smells persist, a drainage expert is worth calling in to check your drains for a more severe problem. Remember though, fats and oils should always be disposed of via household waste systems, not your drainage systems.
Drain Strainers Can Help!
The best, most effective way to ensure you don’t have problems with your drains, now and in the future, is to avoid disposing of foreign objects via your plumbing. In the UK, our drains and sewers were not designed for oil, fats, hair or even eggshells. It’s easy to do this accidentally, therefore, purchasing small devices like drain filters will help safeguard your drainage systems.
We get your home smelling fresh again!
After a long day at work, the last thing you want to ask when you come home is: ‘Why does my sink smell?’ A smelly kitchen sink can turn the most welcoming home into an unpleasant place.
If you’ve noticed a foul smell around your sink drain and can’t fix the problem on your own, it’s time to call in the experts. Contact the team today.