Why Do I Have A Stinky Sink?

Your sink is one of the most used items in your household and it can quickly accumulate a build-up of food debris, grease, oil, and more, even when we work hard to prevent it. It’s no wonder that at some point we will all experience a stinky sink! However, living with a stench coming from your drains is not something you have to put up with. Whether you’ve been pouring chemicals down your drain in the hope of killing whatever the cause may be or recently detected a stench, we’ve got you covered! Let our team of experts walk you through some of the most common reasons for a stinky sink and ways you can help rid your home of it.

Garbage Disposal Build-Up

Problem: If it has been some time since you last cleaned your garbage disposal or if you are frequently placing food scraps down the drain, there’s a high probability that this is the cause of that smell. Turn off your garbage disposal and grab a flashlight to take a peak down your drain. If you see a buildup of mold, food particles, and other debris accompanied by an unpleasant odor, then your disposal is the culprit.

Solution: You can treat these bad smells and build-up by pouring a half-cup of baking soda down your drain while running warm matter. If you have a dishwasher, run it with detergent but without any dishes inside. This will allow the cleaning product to reach your garbage disposal and give it an excellent cleaning!

Dry P-Trap

Problem: The P-trap is the U-shaped part of the pipe under the sink that isolates the drain line from the fixture, blocking irritating smells. The trap holds water at the curve’s bottom to block the smell. If the P-trap is dry, it cannot perform its job, causing a sewage smell to emerge from your sink.

Solution: To fix a dry P-Trap pour half a gallon of water into the trap to restore the barrier. It will prevent the odors from seeping through the drain.

Clogged Vent Pipe

Problem: A vent pipe is part of your sink’s plumbing system and serves to direct sewer gases away from the home. When your sink smells bad and isn’t draining properly, there’s a chance you have a clogged sewer vent. This can be caused by elements out of your control like animal nests & snow. When this happens, the gases that normally get sent out of your pipes get trapped and build up, causing not only a growing odor but drainage problems, too.

Solution: Unclogging your vent pipe will include someone having to climb onto your roof using a ladder. We recommend leaving this to the experts, as it can be dangerous if you don’t have the necessary equipment and experience.

Mold or Mildew

Problem: Our drains deal with an abundance of water on a daily basis, increasing the likelihood of mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew thrive in dark, warm, and wet spaces. Though pipes aren’t always warm when hot water isn’t in use, they can still house bacteria, which causes mold growth.

Solution: To get rid of mold & mildew growth, create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar! Pour a quarter cup of baking soda together with a cup of white vinegar into the drain. Wait for 10­–15 minutes, and then run hot water down your drain. You can repeat this process monthly to ensure you keep your drain mold & mildew free!

We hope that by providing you with some of the most common causes of a stinky sink along with solutions to the problem, you are able to rid your home of that odor. However, if you have tried a few times to resolve the smell on your own without success, our team of plumbing experts at JD Service Now is here to help! We’ll pinpoint the cause of your plumbing problem and have your home running and smelly RIGHT in no time.