Get Rid of Your Stinky Drain

Have you ever gone into your kitchen only to be greeted by a foul odor? You start searching—it’s not the garbage can, and the nasty odor is not the fridge. No, the culprit seems to be a smelly kitchen drain. Thankfully, with a little investigating and drain-cleaning efforts, you can alleviate that undesirable smell and say hello to freshness!

What Causes a Stinky Drain?

Your sink can smell bad for a few reasons. Identifying the cause is the starting point to freshening up your kitchen and avoiding a recurrence. The most frequent causes include:

• Bacteria: A kitchen drain lined with food particles, grease buildup and other gunk is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms that make unpleasant odors as they feed.
• Clogged drain: Stopped up pipes can lead to stagnant water and bacteria growth, adding to the bad odor.
• Sewer gases: If the P-trap located under the sink dries out, sewer gases may waft from the drain, creating a lingering sewer smell. This frequently is found in household plumbing fixtures that are not used anymore
• Plumbing mistakes: From DIY problems to missing traps or drain vents, plumbing issues can allow nasty smells to penetrate your living space.

How to Clear a Stinky Drain

Here are four reliable ways to eliminate smelly drain odors:

• Hot water: Heat a mixture of water and vinegar almost to the boiling point and carefully pour it down the drain. The hot water clears out the gunk and vinegar counteracts the scent.
• Baking soda and vinegar: Start with the hot water technique mentioned above. If it’s not enough, pour a cup of baking soda in the drain and chase it with two cups of hot vinegar. Enjoy the fizz and let the solution work for an hour. Then, flush the drain with more hot water to tackle stubborn gunk and bacteria.
• P-trap cleaning: Don your safety gloves and place a bucket underneath the P-trap. Loosen the pipe by hand or with a wrench, if necessary, and set it aside. Clean out the contents into the trash, rinse the pipe and reattach your sink’s plumbing.
• A note on bleach: Although it is a good antibacterial agent, bleach is not recommended for cleaning drains. It can damage your pipes and may create toxic gases, so avoid the use of bleach in this scenario.

Strategies for Fresh and Clean Drains

It’s very easy to keep funky drains at bay with a little maintenance. Here’s what we encourage:

• Run your garbage disposal and clear it using cold water for 20 seconds after grinding up food to totally flush particles down the pipes.
• Clean the drain every week or so with a gallon of near-boiling water to stop the buildup of odor-causing gunk.
• Run water through infrequently used sinks to keep the P-trap filled. For extra protection, pour a bit of mineral oil in the drain, because that slows down evaporation.
• Sprinkle a handful of baking soda into the drain and follow that with hot water to absorb and neutralize odors.
• From time to time, follow up the baking soda process with a cup of white vinegar for a even greater clean. Leave it there for half an hour, then clean the drain extensively with hot water.
• Cut up lemon or orange peels to leave your sink smelling fragrant.
• Utilize enzyme cleaners to stop the buildup of odor-causing residue without relying on harsh chemicals.
• Hire a professional to inspect your plumbing sporadically. This can help detect odor-causing situations before they become trouble.
• Don’t pour grease and other foods into the drain that can easily clog or rot, such as coffee grounds and fibrous vegetables.
• Install mesh strainers to catch food debris and other debris before they end up in drain. Then, throw the debris from the strainers into the trash to keep your pipes flowing properly and smelling fresh.
• Schedule professional drain cleaning to ensure a comprehensive job. Licensed plumbers have the tools and skill to handle tough clogs and smelly problems. Additionally, they can supply you with personalized advice specific to your residence’s plumbing system.

Get Experienced Drain Cleaning in Calgary with A1 Chesney Service Experts

If your hard work trying to clean the stinky kitchen drain are not successful, it’s time to call in the pros. A1 Chesney Service Experts is known for fast, lasting plumbing solutions in Calgary, including professional drain cleaning. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means we’re focused on your complete happiness.

So, the next time your nasty-smelling drains make you want to plug your nose, choose the knowledgeable pros at A1 Chesney Service Experts. Make your appointment by contacting us at 587-315-5271 today!