Odors emanating from the sink drain has an effect on the air in the kitchen or bathroom in more ways than one. The cause of kitchen sink smells is often decomposing food from the trash disposal or P-trap, but unless you’re in the habit of dumping kitchen waste in the bathroom sink, scents from the drain usually come directly from the sewer. They happen because the drain port is blocked along with the P-trap has been drained.
Garbage Disposal Smells
When little bits of food get trapped between the blades and impellers of a trash disposal, it doesn’t take long for them to decompose and create smells. To prevent the scents from building up in the first place, you need to run water through the disposal for 20 seconds after every use. Once the damage has been done, clear the impellers by pouring ice cubes in the disposal alongside a quartered lemon. Turn the disposal for 15 seconds, then allow the ice melt and flush water. Remember to completely wash the lid.
Odorous Kitchen Drain
If you do not have a garbage disposal, then it’s easier for large food items for trapped at the P-trap; they often get snagged by stringy waste such as celery fibers. You can kill the germs which cause the scents by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by water. If the issue persists, you may have to disassemble the P-trap and wash it. This isn’t a significant plumbing procedure — you can choose the trap apart by hand in many cases — but it may not be a pleasant job. Have a bucket ready to catch the water and gunk from the trap, then bend out the trap outside.
Smells from the Bathroom
Smells Generated from the bathroom sink might be the consequence of bacteria increase on hair, soap and other bathroom waste, and if that’s the case, cleaning the P-trap and pouring baking soda in the drain are successful cures. If the drain gets the feature sulfurous smell that comes from a sewer, however, the cause and treatment are distinct. The port servicing the bathroom drain — and perhaps other ports in the home as well — can be blocked, and negative pressure in the pipes has pulled water from the bathroom sink trap. To repair this, you may have to go on the roof.
Clearing the Vents
The goal of pipes ventilation would be to allow air to the pipes to stop P-traps from emptying, and if your home is a typical one, all the ports terminate in one opening on the roof. If it gets clogged by debris or leaves, you’ll probably notice that, in addition to smelly drains, a number of your drains and toilets are slow. The answer may be as simple as scaling on the roof and pulling debris away from the opening. If you do not see any debris, then spray water to the vent opening and also clear the vent with an auger in the event the water accumulates.