Ways to Eliminate Drain Odors

Have you ever walked into your kitchen only to be greeted by a foul smell? You start looking around—it’s not the garbage can, and it isn’t coming from the fridge. No, the perpetrator appears to be an icky and pungent kitchen drain. Thankfully, with a bit of detective work and drain-cleaning efforts, you can say goodbye to that unpleasant odor and say hello to freshness!

Why Does My Drain Smell Bad??

Your sink can develop an offensive odor for many reasons. Pinpointing the cause is the first step of freshening up your kitchen and stopping a recurrence. The most common culprits include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain covered with food particles, grease buildup and other sludge is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that create unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Plugged drain: Obstructed pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, making the smell worse.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap below the sink dries out, sewer gases may waft from the drain, triggering a lingering sewer smell. This frequently is found in seldom-used plumbing fixtures
• Plumbing mistakes: From DIY accidents to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing challenges can allow unwelcome smells to permeate your living space.

How to Clean a Stinky Drain

Here are four reliable methods to banish pungent drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar to near-boiling and slowly pour it into the drain. The hot water clears out the gunk and vinegar negates the scent.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Get started with the hot water method explained above. If it’s inadequate, dump a cup of baking soda in the drain and chase it with two cups of hot vinegar. Enjoy the fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, flush the drain with more hot water to get rid of stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your rubber gloves and put a bucket below the P-trap. Loosen the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if needed, and take the pipe out. Clean out the contents into the trash, wash out the pipe and refasten your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it’s a good antibacterial agent, bleach is not suggested for cleaning drains. It can harm your pipes and possibly create toxic gases, so don’t use bleach in this situation.

Strategies for Fresh and Clean Drains

It’s very easy to keep funky drains from happening with a little elbow grease. Here’s what we suggest:

• Operate your garbage disposal and rinse with cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to totally flush particles out the pipes.
• Rinse the drain once a week with a gallon of near-boiling water to prevent the buildup of odor-causing debris.
• Run water down infrequently used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For more protection, apply a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that decreases the rate of evaporation.
• Sprinkle a handful of baking soda down the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and counteract odors.
• Occasionally, follow up the baking soda method with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Leave it there for half an hour, then flush the drain thoroughly with hot water.
• Cut up lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling citrus-fresh.
• Utilize enzyme cleaners to prevent the buildup of odor-causing residue without turning to harsh chemicals.
• Hire a professional to check your plumbing periodically. This can help detect odor-causing scenarios before they become a big problem.
• Don’t pour grease and other foods in the drain that can easily clog or decompose, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Try using mesh strainers to catch food debris and other debris before they get caught in the drain. After that, throw the debris from the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing easily and smelling fresh.
• Hire professional drain cleaning to ensure a properly done job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and knowledge to clear tough clogs and smelly problems. Plus, they can give personalized advice specific to your home’s plumbing system.

Call for Professional Drain Cleaning in Fort Lauderdale with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If your efforts to clean the stinky kitchen drain prove unsuccessful, it’s time to call in the pros. Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning delivers fast, enduring 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, choose the knowledgeable pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Plan your appointment by contacting us at 954-736-4314 today!