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Do you have foul smells coming from your bathroom or kitchen? The problem is undoubtedly in the pipes. Before resorting to conventional products full of chemicals, we’ve come up with some homemade tips to put an end to unpleasant odours. Let’s get started!
Why do my pipes smell?
Find out below about the main causes of a smelly drain:
A proliferation of bacteria
That foul smell coming from your pipes may simply be due to a build-up of dirt and bacteria. Don’t forget that it’s not just water that ends up in your drains. It’s also food scraps, hair deposits and soap residues that cause blockages in your plumbing and release unpleasant odours. It’s time to clean your drains!
A dried-out drainpipe
Drain pipes have a P-shaped section that serves to trap sewer gases and prevent them from rising to the surface through the pipe. If you don’t use your sink for a long time, the water in this section evaporates and lets the gas escape into your home. Preventing this from happening is simple! Once a month, open your unused taps to let the water run, fill the P-trap and block the gas.
A blocked or missing ventilation pipe
Your waste pipes are connected to a network of pipes dedicated to ventilation. This brings in fresh air and evacuates gases and unpleasant odours from the waste water to the outside of the house. As a general rule, these vertical ducts exit through the roof and are installed away from windows and air vents.
One of the reasons for smelly drains may therefore be a blockage in these drains. It could also be that you don’t have one, or that one is missing. A plumber should therefore be called in.
Grease stuck in the sink drain
If there’s grease stuck in your sink drain, you’ll probably smell rotten eggs or mould. That’s why you should avoid pouring greasy liquids down your drain. If this happens, put 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda down the drain, add some vinegar and then a pan of boiling water. This trick will melt the fat, which will be eliminated by the hot water.
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