Have you noticed your Arizona sink has been smelling lately? Does it smell like sewage? Could it be pollution or rotten eggs? It could be methane. It also depends on how new your sink is. If you only recently had your sink installed, it could be an issue with the venting.
Below are some quick do-it-yourself tips to help you solve your stinky sink problem. However, if none of these tips work, you may want to consider hiring the services of a professional like Plumbing by Jake.
Sewer Smells
Smelling the sewer – something that’s supposed to be outside – inside your home is disturbing, to say the least. However, most of the time, what you think is the sewer is really just fetid water resulting from a clog somewhere in your pipes.
A sewer smell becomes a cause for concern when you actually can smell it outside your home. If the smell gets stronger when you go outside, and if you see puddles of stinky water populated with mosquitos and flies, then you definitely need to call in a professional. These are all signs of a sewer main line that has either already burst or is on the verge of doing so.
When the Sewer Line Is the Problem
Sometimes the smell has nothing to do with your home. Do you have a lot of trees surrounding your home? Do you know if the pipes that connect your home to the city’s sewer lines are made from clay? If so, tree roots can actually grow into the pipes, causing a whole host of problems.
To combat this, you can call in a professional for regular maintenance. A licensed technician can regularly clean the line, ensuring that your toilet always flushes, and your drains continue to drain properly!
Find the Source
If the smell is limited to inside your house, this is better news. Next, you need to find the source of the smell. If it smells like gas, don’t panic. And, obviously, if you smell gas don’t light any flames. If the smell is truly methane, this gas is flammable, and you can’t take any chances.
Check your drains and the pipes under your sink. Do you notice the smell getting stronger anywhere? Do you see any leaks? Can you tell if the smell is coming from a vent?
Here’s something interesting – if you’re having trouble flushing your toilet, the issue may actually be coming from your roof! You may have an issue with the lining of your roof, which is causing there to be a lack of pressure necessary to flush the toilet and remove wastewater from your home.
Venting Issues
If the smell is due to a venting issue, a licensed technician may be able to clear it by simply snaking a plumber’s snake through the vent. However, if the vent was clogged because of faulty installation, then you’ll need to take this up with the company that recently installed your sink.
Less Serious Causes
Just because your sink smells, this does not mean you have a dire catastrophe on your hands. The cause of the smell could be any of the following lesser concerning causes:
- Bacteria – Your stinky sink could simply be the result of bacteria in your drain pipes. Kill it with vinegar, baking soda, and a splash of bleach.
- Sink Trap – Pour boiling hot water onto a clogged sink trap to kill the smell. If it’s leaking, however, you’ll need to call in a professional to help.
- Garbage Disposal – Start by giving your garbage disposal some ice cubes to chew on, then chase it with boiling hot water. This should remove any built-up residue that has rotted and started to stink.
To prevent smells from occurring in your garbage disposal in the first place, you can get ahead of the problem by placing a slice of lemon or orange in the disposal every once in a while. This will give your kitchen that fresh, clean, citrus-y smell. You can also use kosher salt for the same deodorizing effect.
Stinky Sink? Call Plumbing by Jake!
If you’ve tried to solve this problem yourself, or if you’ve recognized the problem is the result of a larger issue, give Plumbing by Jake a call. We have a staff of plumbers available ‘round-the-clock to help with plumbing emergencies just like yours, anytime day or night.
Call (928) 377-5910 to talk to a live person to schedule a service appointment. You can also use the contact form on our website in the event your issue is a non-emergency.
At Plumbing by Jake, we offer all our customers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on every repair and installation we carry out. We are punctual and professional. We know what it’s like to lose a whole day’s worth of work waiting for a technician to show up, and we certainly don’t want to do that to any of our customers.
We serve several locations throughout Arizona, including Golden Valley, Lake Havasu, and Mohave County. So, if your sink smells terrible and you don’t know where to turn, don’t panic – call Plumbing by Jake today!