Professional Drain Clearing Tips For A Smell-Free Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time for celebration and the gathering of loved ones. The last thing any homeowner wants at this time is a house full of loved ones, and a bad smell coming from the drain.
Smelly drains will not only put a damper on festivities but can also pose a serious health issue. Knowing what causes the bad smells, and being armed with drain cleaning tips, will ensure the only smell permeating your hallways is that of holiday cookies.
What Causes Smelly Drains?
Many factors contribute to a smelly drain, and understanding what causes the bad smell is the first step to preventing the problem.
Some reasons the drain smells bad include:
- Food and grease build-up
- Hair and soap scum accumulation
- Clogged or dry p-traps
- Mold and bacteria growth
- Sewer line issues
Food And Grease Build-Up
One of the most common causes of a smelling kitchen drain is the build-up of food particles, oil, and grease. When washing dishes, the oils, grease, and food particles solidify in the pipes, creating a sticky residue that traps food residue.
As the food residue decays over time, it emits a foul odor. These bad smells become particularly noticeable when hot water loosens the trapped particles, releasing the odor into the air.
Hair And Soap Scum Accumulation
Hair build-up and soap scum are the main culprits of bad-smelling bathroom drains. As soap scum builds up in the pipes, it traps hair, dead skin cells, and other debris. These materials decompose over time and start emitting bad odors.
Hair is especially problematic because it forms clogs. These clogs block plumbing pipes, slow drainage, and increase debris build-up, emitting bad smells.
Clogged Or Dry P-Traps
The u-shaped pipe under the sink and toilets is a p-trap. It holds water and functions as a barrier between the home and the sewer system. If the p-trap dries due to infrequent use, leaks, or evaporation, sewer gasses leak into the home resulting in a strong, unpleasant smell.
P-traps clogged with hair, food particles, and other debris can also emit very unpleasant odors over time into the home.
Mold And Bacteria Growth
Mold and bacteria thrive in damp environments, Standing water or moisture in pipes due to a slow leak or condensation in the plumbing system, will encourage mold and bacteria growth. This will result in a musty and rotten smell in the drain.
Sewer Line Issues
Sometimes, the drains smell bad because of a sewer line issue. A clogged or damaged sewer line prevents proper flow, leading to a sewerage backup, which emits a very strong smell. Sewer line issues are a severe problem requiring professional plumbers’ immediate attention.
6 Good Drain Cleaning Habits
Keeping the drains clean can be as simple as adopting good drain maintenance habits. Scheduling regular drain inspection and cleaning with professional plumbers is essential, but here are 6 simple things you can do that will ensure your drains remain odor-free these holidays:
- Flush drains regularly
- Never pour grease down the drain
- Use drain screens
- Keep p-traps full
- Use natural enzyme-based cleaners
- Clean garbage disposal regularly
Flush Drains Regularly
One of the easiest ways to keep drains smelling fresh is to regularly pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. The boiling water will dissolve any soap or scum that has accumulated and flush it into the sewer system.
For an extra boost, pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain. This mixture helps to break down stubborn residue as well as neutralize any bad odors.
Never Pour Grease Down The Drain
Prevent the build-up of grease and oils by never pouring them down the sink. Even a small amount of grease can lead to a significant build-up of debris and grime, resulting in drain clogs and bad odors.
Use Drain Screens
A simple and relatively inexpensive way to prevent drain odors is to use a drain screen. By catching hair, food particles, and debris before they reach the plumbing pipes, you minimize the chance of them accumulating in, and clogging the pipes.
Keep P-Traps Full
P-Traps prevent sewer gases from entering the home through the drains. To prevent sewer gases from entering, you must ensure that the p-traps of the sinks and toilets are always full. Run water in sinks and showers that aren’t used frequently as the water in the p-trap may evaporate.
Use Enzyme Cleaners
A safe and effective way to keep drains clean is with enzyme cleaners. These cleaners contain natural enzymes that break down organic matter like food particles and soap scum that build up that cause bad odors.
Clean The Garbage Disposal Regularly
To prevent food build-up and bad odors from the garbage disposal, it needs to be cleaned regularly. Grinding ice cubes and a few lemon peels will dislodge debris and leave the garbage disposal clean and fresh-smelling.
Professional Plumbers Help With Bad Smelling Drains
Despite regular DIY drain maintenance, the plumbing system may have an issue that only professional plumbers can resolve. Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric has served the communities of Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami Dade for over 40 years, and offers the following services:
- Professional drain cleaning – this includes the use of drain snakes and high-pressure water cleaning (hydro-jetting)
- Video camera inspections – usually used for more serious plumbing issues in hard-to-reach areas. Video camera inspections involve the plumber inserting a small camera into the drain that allows them to visualize the condition of the pipes, and to locate any blockages, cracks, and leaks.
- Sewer line cleaning and/or repairs – In severe cases, where a bad smell is coming from the sewer line, professional plumbers provide sewer line cleaning and repairs. Professional sewer line maintenance (ensuring tree roots have not infiltrated the line) cleaning and repairs must be done regularly to prevent serious clogs and damage.
- Odor Detection – our professional plumbers have the necessary equipment and expertise to detect the source of the bad odor (sewer gas, moss, or mold), repair the issue, and in the case of mold, prevent future growth.
- Routine maintenance – we offer routine plumbing maintenance services to ensure your drains smell fresh these holidays, and all year around. Our maintenance services include:
- Drain cleaning
- Sewer line inspections
- P-trap maintenance
- Garbage disposal cleaning
To ensure your drains smell clean and fresh these holidays call Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric at 1-800-475-1504 today.
