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Posted on May 19, 2017 by

Take a Look at the Top 3 Reasons if You Have Stinky Drains and Smelly Water

As a homeowner, you want to enjoy your home and the sanctuary it provides. When you’re constantly having to deal with the issue of stinky drains or smelly water, finding peace at home is hard to do.
There are three top reasons to look at if you find yourself questioning why these smelly issues keep occurring. Read on to find out where these issues originate, and how to beat them.

1. Ventilation Issues

If you’re the owner of a home, you most likely have a ventilation system installed that leads sewer gas up and away from your home.
This ventilation system allows atmospheric pressure to enter, and the free-flow of air allows the gas to leave. However, your blocked-drainhome’s ventilation system might clog up.
The source of most clogs is limited to these materials:

  • Snow.
  • Leaves.
  • Organic debris.
  • Animal nests.

When these vents become clogged, the sewer gas gets backed up. It then is forced back into waste drains, delivering its foul odor all over your home. Only try to remove a clog when it is safe and accessible.
It is recommended to call a local plumbing service provider to help you clear the blockage safely, as they have the right tools and expertise to do so.

2. Bacteria in Your Water Heater

The interior of your water heater is moist and dark – the perfect place for bacteria to grow and thrive.
With access to sulfur in some water supplies and the metal components of the water heater, these bacteria can multiply quickly, and develop that unmistakable “rotten egg” type smell.
This smell gets carried throughout a home whenever a hot water faucet is turned on.
To solve this problem, you can attempt to clean the water heater with H2O2, also known as hydrogen peroxide. This chemical works to kill off any bacteria present in the water heater.
It is safe for your water heater, and the environment, too! H2O2 breaks down into components of water and oxygen, which are natural and healthy substances.
Another option is to install a water filtration system in your home. Filtration systems remove the majority of sulfur from a water supply, leaving bacteria with fewer chemicals to interact with, and purer, healthier water for you.

3. A Dry P-Trap

P-traps are the u-shaped pipes that are located on well-installed plumbing drains. This p-trap holds water within it, which acts as a seal against sewer gas.
p-trapInstead, the gas is deferred into the ventilation system where it can safely exit without spreading its smell.
However, these p-traps can dry out due to a number of reasons, like:

  • A leak in the p-trap.
  • A disused drain.
  • A blockage in the p-trap.

If your p-trap has dried out on a pipe that has not been used in awhile, simply let the faucet run for a couple of minutes into the drain.
This works to add water back into the p-trap, re-sealing it to ensure that the sewer gas will not enter your home.
If the smell is originating in a drain that is used often, call in a plumbing professional, as these dry p-traps may have more critical issues that require repair or replacement.