Do you have a smelly drain? The bad odor emanating from your drain could be sewer gas leaking into your home. The following are some of the causes for sewer gas entering the home, and other causes of drain odor. Tips are provided on how to prevent your plumbing in Sugar Land from smelling up your home.

When your home’s plumbing in Sugar Land is functioning properly, the naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide gas is discharged through the ventilation system, which penetrates the roof. In addition, all drains contain a trap, which holds water to block sewer gas. A sewer odor emanating from a drain indicates a plumbing problem.

Physical Effects

Exposure to sewer gas can cause health issues. Prolonged exposure can cause the following common symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Sinus infections
  • Bronchitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Poor memory
  • Dizziness

When a sewer gas leak is suspected, there is no need to evacuate the home. However, have a plumber to look into it as soon as possible, and provide the repair necessary to your plumbing in Sugar Land. You should not ignore it, as over time it can cause health issues to those exposed to it over time. Use the following tips before calling in a plumber, as it may be a simple problem.

Unused Drain

All drainpipes have a U-shaped trap containing water in them that prevents sewer gas from entering your home through the drain. Over time, the water can evaporate, allowing the sewer gas to enter the home. For example, if the guest bathroom is rarely used, the water in the trap will evaporate.

To correct this problem run the water to refill the trap and prevent sewer gas from coming in through the plumbing in Sugar Land.

Grease Clogs

Grease, fat, and food will decompose in the kitchen drain, and can cause both a stubborn drain clog to develop, and a foul odor. Never pour grease down the drain! Allow cooking oil, fat, and grease to cool and pour into a container that will seal tightly, and dispose of in the trash or a recycling center. Wipe the container as oil free as possible before washing. Rake food scraps into the trash and wipe the plate clean with a paper towel or napkin before washing.

You can attempt to clean the drain by pouring 1 cup of baking soda down the drain (this can be difficult to do), next pour one cup of vinegar in the drain and allow to work for 30 minutes to an hour. Fill the sink with pure hot water and place the stopper in the other sink if a dual-bowl sink. Let the hot water out to flush the drain.

Unfortunately, grease not only affects the drain, it also can create clogs further down in the home’s plumbing in Sugar Land by clogging the sewer pipe.

If drain problems and/or odor persist, contact a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg plumber in Sugar Land for professional drain and/or sewer pipe cleaning of your home’s plumbing in Sugar Land.

Dirty Garbage Disposal

Food and grease can cling to the blades of a garbage disposal, decomposing and smelling up the kitchen. Continuing to run the water for 20-30 seconds after you shut down the disposal will assist in maintaining a debris and odor free disposal.

If you do this and odor develops anyway, freeze some vinegar in an ice tray, turn the water on, and drop one or two cubes in the running disposal to clean and deodorize. Next, drop some orange or lemon peels into the disposal to assist in cleaning the blades and deodorize it. Remember, always turn the water on, then the disposal, the water helps cool the disposal to avoid a burned out motor.

Clogged Plumbing Vent

When a plumbing vent is blocked by a birds nest, wasp nest, leaves or other items, a sewer smell can back up in your home. Inspect plumbing vents annually for obstructions. It is especially important to inspect gas vents to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning from endangering your family.

After removing any obstructions in the plumbing vents, attach screens to prevent future issues. However, for the furnace, or hot water heater ensure you use a metal screen made for high heat tolerance.

Leaking Sewer Pipe

While the previous issues affecting sewer gas are fairly simple to resolve, a leaking sewer pipe is going to require a plumber in Sugar Land to provide repair to your home’s plumbing in Sugar Land. Broken seals, a cracked, broken or collapsed sewer pipe or other issues will not simply go away. Contact a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Rosenberg plumber today for professional plumbing repair. Our licensed plumbers serve Sugar Land, Katy, Houston and the surrounding areas with quality plumbing services. We are a member of the BBB with an A+ rating. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.