If you smell something strange or unpleasant coming from your drains, that’s an obvious sign that you may need a plumber. Today’s blog post is all about identifying common sources of smelly pipes and different ways to avoid buildup.
Sniffing Out the Culprits
There are many things that could be making your pipes stink, but here are three of the most common sources:
- Broken sewer: Unfortunately, you cannot DIY your way out of calling the plumber for this issue. All kinds of things can damage your sewer line, and you can at least watch out for the symptoms, which include stinky smells in your backyard. They can get clogged, tree roots can break into them, or the line itself can sink into the ground as the dirt moves and settles.
- Garbage disposal: Most people toss all kinds of things down their garbage disposals, including perishable items that sit there and rot unless you do regular cleaning. Over time, this can cause build-up that leads to clogs.
- Bacterial build-up: Have you ever taken the grate off your shower drain and seen the sludge that comes with it? This is called biofilm buildup. This buildup occurs when you rinse your shampoo, soap, etc. down the drain. When biofilm accumulates, natural bacteria will begin to cling to it and feed on it, which creates that distinctive smell. Luckily, all it takes is regular cleaning to prevent this.
Preventing the P.U.
While you can’t fix a broken sewer line without professional help, you can take steps to prevent odors in your bathroom drains and garbage disposal. Here are our recommendations.
Clean your sink and tub drains regularly. In addition to keeping your bathroom clean, we recommend scrubbing the drains once every couple of weeks. You can mix water and baking soda to make a scouring paste, dip the head of a toothbrush in it, and scrub the drain till it’s clean.
Run good-smelling things through your disposal. For an easy, no-fuss way to clean your garbage disposal, pour in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, then turn on the sink and run the disposal. You can also try tossing some ice cubes and citrus peels down the drain before running it. This will give you a nice, pleasant scent.
Take control of the stench with Yoder Plumbing!
When your plumbing stinks, Yoder Plumbing is here to lend a helping hand. If the tips and tricks we described aren’t enough to kill the bad smells, you can contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Contact us today to learn more about our drain-cleaning services!
