Ways to Eliminate Drain Odors

Have you ever entered your kitchen only to get hit in the face by a foul odor? You start searching—it’s not the garbage can, and the aroma isn’t coming from the fridge. No, the cause is a smelly kitchen drain. Thankfully, with some investigation and drain-cleaning efforts, you can eliminate that annoying stench and say hello to freshness!

Why Does My Drain Smell Bad??

Your sink can develop an offensive odor for a few reasons. Identifying the cause is the best way to begin freshening up your kitchen and stopping a recurrence. The most frequent causes include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain clogged with food particles, grease buildup and other sludge is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that produce unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Blocked drain: Stopped up pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, adding to the bad odor.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap underneath the sink dries out, sewer gases may emanate from the drain, triggering a lingering sewer smell. This oftentimes is found in plumbing that is no longer used
• Plumbing mistakes: From DIY mishaps to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing issues can allow unwanted smells to enter your living space.

Ways to Clean a Stinky Drain

Here are four reliable ways to eliminate potent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar to near-boiling and carefully pour it into the drain. The hot water clears out the sludge and vinegar negates the scent.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Get started with the hot water method outlined above. If it’s inadequate, dump a cup of baking soda down the drain and then pour two cups of hot vinegar. Watch it fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, rinse the drain with more hot water to get rid of stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your safety gloves and position a bucket underneath the P-trap. Unscrew the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if needed, and set it aside. Clean out the contents into the trash, rinse the pipe and reattach your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it’s a powerful antibacterial agent, bleach is not ideal for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and potentially create toxic gases, so avoid the use of bleach in this situation.

Tips for Pleasant-Smelling Drains

It’s very easy to keep smelly drains at bay with a little routine cleaning. Here’s what we suggest:

• Turn on your garbage disposal and flush it with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to thoroughly flush particles through the pipes.
• Flush the drain weekly with a gallon of near-boiling water to stop the buildup of odor-causing debris.
• Run water through rarely used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For more protection, pour a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that reduces evaporation.
• Spread a handful of baking soda in the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and neutralize odors.
• Once in a while, follow up the baking soda process with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Leave it there for a half-hour, then flush the drain thoroughly with hot water.
• Use ground-up lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling fragrant.
• Make use of enzyme cleaners to stop the buildup of odor-causing residue without resorting to the use of harsh chemicals.
• Hire a specialist to check your plumbing sporadically. This can help catch odor-causing issues before they become trouble.
• Don’t ever put grease and other food items in the drain that can easily clog or decompose, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Install mesh strainers to catch food scraps and other debris before they end up in drain. Next, empty the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing smoothly and smelling pleasant.
• Opt for professional drain cleaning to ensure a properly done job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and skill to deal with tough clogs and smelly problems. In addition, they can provide personalized advice specific to your residence’s plumbing system.

Schedule Experienced Drain Cleaning in Fort Lauderdale with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If your efforts to clean the smelly kitchen drain don’t work, it’s time to call in the professionals. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is known for fast, durable plumbing solutions in Fort Lauderdale, including professional drain cleaning. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means we’re focused on your complete happiness.

So, the next time your nasty-smelling drains make you want to run out of the room, reach out to the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Plan your appointment by contacting us at 954-736-4314 today!