WHY YOUR HOUSEHOLD WATER AND DRAINS SMELL AWFUL

by | May 19, 2017

If you experience a bad smell coming from your plumbing, this is not something that you should ignore. While plumbing is designed to carry waste away, you should never be experiencing any traces of that waste in the form of odors.

However, the solutions to smelly problems don’t have to be big, expensive fixes either. We’ve got a list of common problems here that you might be able to fix yourself.

Dried Out P-Traps

The unique bending shape of plumbing under sinks isn’t just for show, it’s designed to trap a layer of water in that location, and is known as a p-trap.

This simple configuration creates a thick, protective water layer that acts as a vapor barrier against gas that naturally flows throughout a sewage line.

When you smell something coming from your drain, it may be because your p-trap has either dried out.

Or the water got displaced by air pressure from water moving around in other parts of your home plumbing.

All you have to do is get more water and pour it down the offending drain. It’s a quick, easy fix that you should always try first.

Bacterial Colony in Your Water Heater

If it’s not the drain that smells bad, but the water itself every time you run the tap or turn on a shower, then you’re likely playing host to a bacterial infestation in your water heater tank.

A lot of bacteria thrive in moist, warm places, and a water heater tank can definitely fit these needs. However, bacteria are not that hardy and don’t deal well when you turn up that heat they find so comfortable.

It’s recommended that if an infestation is the problem, try turning up the temperature on your tank. If you can get it to about 135-140°F, that’s too hot for most bacteria to survive.

Sewage Line Problems

If your odor problems are coming from the sewage line itself, this is where you may need to bring in an expert.

Some problems, like ventilation, might be easily solved by doing a quick inspection and realizing that leaves or even a bird’s nest are blocking the vent that normally sends gas out of your home.

If the problem goes deeper than that, such as an old sewage pipe breaking somewhere down the line, this isn’t something you can fix on your own.

Call an expert to come down and do a proper inspection with the right tools and technology to determine exactly where the problem is, and what needs to be done in order to solve it.

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