What is with that God-awful smell!
If this is the first thought that comes to your head when you enter your washroom or kitchen, the problem needs immediate attention. Sewer smells are strong and persistent odors that cannot be covered by your regular room fresheners or fragrances. More often than not, you can remove this sewer gas smell from your house using some simple measures.
But, sometimes plumbing disorders can also be the primary cause of these smells. If you encounter a persistent one which is not going away, even after thorough cleaning, consult your plumber.
Here are a few, simple home remedies that help you remove sewer gas smell easily:
Renew the Caulking
The caulking around your showerhead, bathtub, toilets, faucets and kitchen slabs makes sure your apparatuses stay firmly in place and also prevents water from creeping out the crevices. However, with time, this caulking can dry up and harden, letting moisture seep through its cracks. If the caulking around your toilet is cracking, the organic waste flushing down the drain can seep to the surface, leading to a terrible sewer smell. Clean the area surrounding your toilet thoroughly and re-apply a fresh coat of caulking to remove the odor.
Stop Bacterial Growth
Microbes like bacteria and fungi not only damage your house but can cause the outbreak of foul gas from the sewer. Bacteria feeds on the organic waste discharged by your sewer drain and results in the sewer gas smell. Regularly clean your sewer pipes by pouring disinfectant down the drain. Make sure the chemicals in the disinfectants are also drained out completely, once you are done cleaning.
Unclog your Drains
Regularly clean your drainage system to remove any clogging. Use can use an auger to dislodge the sludge down your drains. Don’t forget to pour down a cup of baking soda to remove the odor.
Unclog your Overflow
Overflow is a tiny hole right on the outer wall of your sink. It serves a dual purpose. It lets air enter the drain of your sink, allowing water to pass more easily. It also lets the water pass through the hole, in case the faucet is left unattended and the sink floods.
Clean this tiny hole regularly in order to prevent microbial growth in the opening, leading to the spate of a nasty smell in your washroom.
Clean your Shower Drain
Your shower drain is a primary source that allows unpleasant gas to escape from your sewer drain. If you notice the odor from your washroom, begin by cleaning your shower drain. First, remove the trap from your shower drain using a screwdriver and pour a cup of white vinegar down the sewer. Follow this by a big spoon of baking soda. Let the drain sit for 2 hours. Pour a gallon of hot water down the drain. After 15 minutes, follow this by running cold water for about 10 minutes.
After this, pour a cup of chlorine bleach down the pipes and let it sit for 2 hours. Rinse it with hot water, followed by some cold, in the same way as earlier. Add a pinch of mineral oil and close the trap.
Noting the woozy sewer smell, is one of the many times when you should have your sewer drain checked. If the smell persists after all these measures, call an efficient plumbing service for a thorough check of your drainage system.
The post How to Get Rid of the Sewer Gas Smell? appeared first on Calgary Plumber.