Here are Reasons for Stinky Drains and Smelly Water
Do you have unwanted smells coming from your drains? Does your water smell less than appetizing? While there are a number of things that can cause this problem to happen, fixing it is generally quite easy.
Work by process of elimination to figure out what’s causing your problem and then you can identify the solution.
P-Trap Dried Out
The P-trap is the curved part of your pipe beneath your sinks.
It is there to block smelly sewer gases from getting into your home by retaining water that works as a barrier.
Sometimes that P-trap dries out, which creates a bad sewer smell.
This happens very commonly if you have a sink or a shower that doesn’t get used for a long time, so there is no water flowing.
You can fix this one very easily- no tools required. Try turning the water on and see if that works.
Start with Your Water Heater
Think about how the water actually smells. Is there a note of sulfur (i.e. rotten egg smell)? That could very well indicate that the smell is coming from your water heater.
Frequently, when a water heater has been shut off for an extended period of time, or if you’ve got the temperature set too low, then bacteria proliferates and alters the smell and the taste of your water.
This can be attributed to the anode rod in your water heater. If you change it for a new one, you should be ok.
Blocked Pipes
When debris accumulates in your pipes, gases that occur naturally from the sewer are not allowed to flow freely.
In turn, they get blocked back into your home up and out your drains.
Without adequate ventilation, sometimes a suction effect is created.
Sometimes these blockages are caused by the accumulation of food waste.
Food waste blockages can be removed with a combination of baking soda and vinegar. The mixture will dislodge this clog and freshen the drain.
Sometimes the blockages are caused by animal nests and other matter. Just to be on the safe side, you should get your drains cleaned regularly as a preventative measure.
Sewer Line
If the smell comes out of all of your pipes and faucets, you’ve probably got a compromised sewer line on your hands. Another telltale sign of this is if your drains are gurgling.
Because the pipes that carry your wastewater away from your home to municipal sewers may be cracked or broken, you should get this fixed by professionals right away.
You are running the risk of having your home flooded with sewage.