The Stiles Blog

Does a nasty stink come from your drains? The good news is it’s quite a common problem that many homeowners experience. It doesn’t mean you’d be fine with that smell, though!

What could be causing that stink? That’s a good question because aside from solving the problems, one of the best things you can do is try to prevent them. To help you out, your trusted experts in plumbing services in Athens, GA, share some of the most common culprits behind awful smells from drains:

Bacteria Buildup<

Bacteria and other types of microorganisms can enter your plumbing system when you have cracked, outdated, or damaged pipes. With the continuous movement of water, they grow and build a layer of slime with an awful, stinking smell.

Clogged or Lost Vent Pipes

Aside from being unsightly, these are probably the most common cause of foul odor from your drains. You can easily check for these by lifting your bathroom sink, covering the drain opening, and seeing if water comes from the pipe. If not, then you’ve got a clogged pipe.

Dry P-Trap

If your P-trap is dry, then that means your water is draining into your drain right away. This is the cause of the awful smell coming from your drains because water is a natural disinfectant that prevents microorganisms from developing.

Grease

If the pipes in your kitchen have a grease buildup, then that could also cause a foul smell from your drains. The grease can build up in a pipe or clog your sink’s P-trap, thus having a foul odor coming from your sinks and drains.

Garbage Disposal

If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, then it can also produce an awful smell coming from your drains. This happens when food particles are ground up and trapped in the garbage disposal’s mechanism.

Bad Chemicals

If you’ve just used a commercial cleaner around your drains and pipes, then that’s also a possible cause of the foul odor coming from your drains. Commercial cleaners usually have strong, toxic chemicals that could leave a residue in your pipes.

Stink Coming from Sump<

If you’ve noticed a foul odor coming from your sump, then you may be having a problem with the water that is being pumped into your home. This usually happens when there is a problem somewhere on the line, such as a cracked pipe or a leak.

Water can become contaminated due to its contact with the ground, which can cause an awful smell.

Drain Trap

Another possible reason for foul odor from your drains can be a damaged or blocked drain trap. Because this is the last part of the plumbing where the water goes before it gets to the pipes, it can get clogged with debris.

If you have a clog in your sink or tub, then the water will back up and go into the trap, which could become contaminated and smell awful.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about what causes those awful smells from drains, you can be sure to immediately act on it should you experience it. By calling a professional to provide you with plumbing services, you can be assured that the problem will be addressed and fixed and that the foul odor from your drains will be gone. In case you’re diligent enough to check your drains regularly, then you can be assured that you won’t experience the same problem.

Stiles Services is one of the trusted experts that provides plumbing services in Athens Georgia. We have been providing plumbing and HVAC services since 1974 and remain to this day the trusted team of most residential and commercial clients in the area. Get in touch with us today to schedule a plumbing service to address that smelly drain!