Main 3 Reasons That Your Drains and Water Smell BadPublished: May 19, 2017

Main 3 Reasons That Your Drains and Water Smell Bad

You count on your plumbing for convenience, but when something goes wrong, and an unpleasant odor is produced as a result, it’s not very convenient, is it?

You can always consult with your plumber if you aren’t sure what to do, but to get started on your own here are some suggestions. You can almost always narrow the reasons for smelly drains and water to the following three causes:

1. Sewer Line Problem

The first clue that it’s the sewer line is that the smell is present in various places in your home, not just in a single drain.

If something is blocking your sewer line, sewage may be backed up and pooling under your home, which is why sewer line problems are most often detected in basement drains.

If the sewer line is otherwise damaged, you might see damp spots around your home and see a spike in your water bills that you can’t explain.

There is a danger of the line rupturing and causing flood damage, so if this appears to be the source of your smells, get help right away.

2. Bacteria + Anode Rod in the Water Heater

Bacteria grow in warm, moist places, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that bacteria grow your water heater. It’s when the bacteria starts proliferating and encounter the anode rod that is in your tank to keep it from rusting that a chemical reaction happens that causes bad smells.

Sulfuric acid is produced, which gives that distinctive rotten egg odor. You can fix this by partially draining your tank and cleaning it. Better yet, switch the anode rode out for one constructed of aluminum.

3. Is Your P-Trap Dry?

To locate the P-trap, check out the piping under your sink. It’s the curved piece (hint it looks like a “P”) attached to the pipe.

It’s there to keep smelly sewer gases away from your home and to keep debris from falling down your sink into the pipes causing clogs.

Is the seal intact around the P-trap? If not, the water may have leaked out. It’s also possible that it has run dry if the sink hasn’t been used in a while.

You need water in there for the P-trap to work. Try running the water.

In addition to these reasons, it is possible that something is blocking your pipes, which is prohibiting ventilation and adding to the odor.