What Causes Foul Odors from Drains?

• Food Waste Stuck In the Drain Line

A foul odor from your drains can be caused by something as simple as food scraps lodged in the drain lines. Think about all the food scraps that go down your kitchen sink drains, including coffee grounds, pasta, rice, vegetable scraps, and more. These scraps can combine with grease and fats to clog your drain lines. If your kitchen sink drain won’t drain water and the plunger can’t clear the clog, call in an expert for drain line repair.

• Clogged Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal is more likely to be the source of foul odors in your kitchen, especially if you don’t use it properly. We are encouraged to run cold water while using the disposal, but some homeowners overlook this requirement. This can result in food particles sticking to the blades and causing foul odors over time. Lack of regular garbage disposal cleaning can lead to several problems, including clogs and unpleasant odors.

To prevent clogs and odors, clean your garbage disposal once a week and use it as recommended. However, persistent odors coming from your garbage disposal despite regular cleaning could be an indication of a deeper issue. If you’re experiencing this problem, contact a dependable plumbing repair service to inspect the disposal and make the necessary repairs.

• Dry P-Trap

The P-trap prevents offensive sewer gases and odors from entering your home. The fixture is able to do this by creating a water seal that blocks the passage of gases. The P-trap can dry out if you don’t use the drain for an extended period. In some cases, strong water flow can siphon water out of the P-trap, thereby breaking the seal. Without a water seal, sewer gases will find their way into your living space through the drains.

What To Do If A P-Trap Has Dried Out

The solution is simple—run water through the fixture to refill the p-trap and restore the seal. If it happens that the P-trap is leaking for some reason, contact an experienced plumber to repair it. Mr. Rooter Plumbing is here to help you fix all of your plumbing fixtures, whether it be a P-trap, showerhead, toilet, or faucet.

• A Clogged Sewer Line

A foul odor coming from multiple drains could be caused by a clogged sewer line. When the wastewater from your home’s drains won’t drain away into the sewer system or septic tank, it can back up and push unpleasant smells back into your living space. You might also experience sewage backups, especially those located at the lowest point in your house. A sewer can be blocked by non-flushable items like wet wipes, paper towels, grease, menstrual products, and many more. Tree roots growing into your sewer lines can also block wastewater and cause unpleasant smells to back up through the drains.

A blocked sewer line needs the expertise of a professional plumbing service. The experts will need to use specialized cameras to inspect the inside of the sewer pipes to identify the cause of the blockage and where it’s located. They’ll also have to use high-pressure water jetting to clear the blockage and restore the sewer pipes to pristine condition. If you’re looking for an expert to help you clean a clogged sewer line, get in touch with Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

Need professional drain cleaning? Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing today to book an appointment.