Smelly Drain Fixes
There can be smelly drain issues that can occur in the bathroom or the kitchen from time to time. If you’re smelling a rotten egg smell or other rotting smell, it’s possible that bacteria is growing and letting off hydrogen sulfide gas.
Causes of Smelly Drain
Most common types of smelly drains are related to mold, a clogged drain, a dry P-trap or leaky pipes. If you are not cleaning out the drain regularly, it can become clogged and build up bacteria and/or mold. Mold is a major issue and can be quite a health hazard.
If your bathroom is humid and not vented properly it can lead to mold growth and a smell. It’s important to clean out the mold properly and remove the source of the smell, and it may be necessary to reach out to professionals to remedy the situation.
Clogged Drains
When a drain is clogged, it can trap food particles and other items that are going down the drain and start to grow bacteria and decay. This rotting decay can cause a foul odor which makes it difficult to enjoy the area or shower. It is possible to unclog the drain using a snake or an auger, but this is not always successful. If you’re not able to unclog the drain yourself, call a professional plumbing company like Brown Plumbing & Heating.
Dry P-trap
If a shower is not used regularly, it can lead to a dry P-trap. A dry P-trap is where the water has evaporated from the U shaped part of the pipe that keeps the sewer gases from coming up. This can lead to a foul smell in the bathroom. To fix this issue, it can be a good idea to run some water down the drains when the shower is not being used for a long period of time. This will keep the P-trap filled and prevent the odor from escaping.
Other Possible Smell Issues
It is possible that your water is contaminated with bacteria. The water does need to be tested properly to determine this. If the water is contaminated with bacteria it can have an unpleasant odor. The culprit may be the anode rod in your water heater. With the rod not working it can lead to bacteria being generated in the water heater, and that can cause quite an odor. If the rod has gone out, it will need to be replaced. You can call us and we can come out and replace the rod with a brand new one, and that will clear up the smell.
So hopefully this list of reasons why a smelly drain is occurring helps you to figure out what it is and narrow it down to figure out a solution. If you’re needing help with any of the plumbing needs listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us at 406-656-8585 and we will come out as soon as possible and take a look at it and provide a swift solution.
Brown Plumbing & Heating is always here to help you out to make sure that your plumbing and heating needs are taken care of so you always have clean and fresh water flowing through your home or your office!
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