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.

Ways to Go Green

On April 22, more than 200 countries around the world will converge to celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is the day to evaluate the strides we have made towards conserving the environment. There is always something that you can do to support the initiative to save the environment.

You can start with your plumbing, heating, and cooling systems. These systems use the very resources that are being depleted: water and energy. Thus, developing ways to conserve these resources will go a long way to preserving the environment.

Here are some tips to conserving energy, environment, and water.

Go for eco-friendly plumbing fixtures

Many conventional plumbing fixtures such as shower heads and toilets use a lot of water. You can cut the water consumption by investing in low- flow shower heads and water efficient toilets. These use less water but give the same result.

Install tankless water heaters

Many homes have conventional water heaters. These water heating systems have a heating unit and a storage tank. Water is stored in the tank after heating.

After staying there for a while, it starts to lose the heat and has to be reheated again to attain the correct temperature. This is a waste of energy.

Tankless water heaters do not have storage tanks. Water is heated whenever it is needed and at the temperature required.

This energy efficient appliance can save you plenty of energy and money.

Recycling

Many items can be recycled at home including plastic bags, water, and wood. Recycling non-biodegradables reduces waste on the environment and the cost of buying new items.

Recycling water lowers the amount of water consumed which means lower bills and more water conserved. For example, the water that you use for laundry and washing utensils can then be used to water flowers in the yard.

Invest in good water filtration systems instead of letting the gray water go to waste.

Lowering your carbon footprint

The more carbon that is generated into the atmosphere, the greater effect it has on the environment. You should cut down on excess sources of carbon dioxide by limiting those activities that you have control over. For example, you may ride or walk to the groceries rather than drive.

You can also avoid using solid fuel for heating your home and use renewable energy instead. You may also cut down unnecessary business travel and use technology for communication instead.

A little investment could go a long way in conserving the environment and lowering your energy bills.

If you live in San Antonio, TX and would like to know more about going green, you can reach us, A & A Plumbing, at 210-566-2665.

All About World Water Day - March 22

World Water Day is coming up this March 22, and A & A Plumbing would like to help you participate.

This global event is an annual international day that’s meant to draw attention to the world water crisis and to help solve it.

If you'd like to get involved, here are seven tips you can use around the house to conserve water, and do your part to fight the water crisis.

Plumbing Tips to Conserve Water

1. Check for Leaks and Fix Immediately

Go around the house once a month and inspect pipes and faucets for leaks. Check the toilet too, by listening for the sound of running water or looking for puddles on the floor. If you find any leaks, fix them right away or call a plumber. Even a small drip can waste as much as 20 gallons of water per day.

2. Test Your Water Use

Every few months, do a simple test to make sure that you're not leaking water somewhere you can't see, like under a floor. To do the test, just check your water meter, avoid using any water for two hours, and then recheck your water meter. If there was a change, you're losing water somewhere.

3. Upgrade Appliances and Fixtures

Most toilets, dishwashers, shower heads, and faucets these days are available in low flow versions, and you could save hundreds of gallons of water (and plenty of money) every year by upgrading.

4. Add Insulation to Hot Water Pipes

It may not be an obvious link, but you can conserve water in your house by insulating pipes, because hot water will get to the faucets faster, and you won’t have to run the water as long waiting for it to warm up.

General Water Conservation Tips for the Home

5. Flush Less

To use less water in the toilet, you can try the “if it’s yellow let it mellow” policy. You can also fill plastic water bottles and place one or two in each toilet tank to reduce the water used during each flush. Lastly, never use the toilet to flush food, waste, or other items.

6. Reuse Kitchen Water

How many times have you boiled food and then dumped the water down the drain? Everybody’s done it, but you can put that water to good use and makes soups, stocks, rice, and other grains, or water the plants.

7. Cut the Water

There are lots of ways you can reduce water use just by turning off the taps for a few minutes. This includes when you're lathering up in the shower, washing your hands, washing dishes, and brushing your teeth. Instead of leaving the water running, simply shut it off until you need to rinse.

Understanding the Importance of World Water Day

Over 663 million people in the world don’t have access to clean water, and that translates to 1 in 10 of your global neighbors who don’t have safe drinking water. For this reason, World Water Day on March 22 was established back in 1993, in an effort to help solve the world’s water crisis.

This year, you can do your part by spreading the word about water conservation, and by making sure your house is a leader in water saving practices.

A & A Plumbing of San Antonio, TX is proud to be your partner in World Water Day 2017, and we’ll be doing our part this year as well. For more information or tips, for help with plumbing problems around the house, or for assistance with a leak you found on a routine inspection, call the professionals at 210-566-2665.

Which Way Does Your Toilet Bowl Swirl?

Sometimes it’s the little things that make us wonder how they came to be that way… Do you know which direction your toilet bowl swirls? Take the video quiz below to find out! You may be surprised to see what you find.