Showers are typically a soothing part of a person’s day. You can’t think of anything better than getting into the shower after a hard, stressful day at work and letting the water take away all your worries. Showers, however, can sometimes have a negative side that can be rather embarrassing. That’s right, we’re talking about a smelly shower drain.
Identifying the Smell’s Origin
When you notice unusual new shower drain odors in the restroom that make you wrinkle your nose, the first thing you should do is figure out what kind of unpleasant odor it is, then where it’s coming from.
- P-Trap (Dry or Dirty)
If your shower drain smells like sewage, it’s a sign that your P-trap isn’t doing its job of keeping sewer gases out of your bathroom. If your P-trap is still blocked and you’re experiencing a musty or general stench, it’s definitely time to clean it.
What is a P-Trap in the Shower, and How Can It Cause Odors?
A P-trap is an additional drain fitting found in many bathrooms. This particular piece of plumbing, which is designed to prevent sewage gases from backing up into your property through your drain system, is a common cause of smelly shower drains. The trap itself includes water, which acts as a seal, preventing the odors from re-entering the house.
If the P-trap is dry or has no water in it, scents will easily waft up into the bathroom through the shower drain and around your feet while you use the facility. It’s simple to inspect it because all you have to do is shine a flashlight at it and see if it looks dry or wet.
How to Clean P-Traps in the Shower
Check for debris in the trap of this portion of the pipe to clean it out. If it appears that anything is stuck within, use an old rag or paper towel to scrape out whatever is obstructing the flow.
Fill your bathroom sink tub with cold water after removing all dirt from inside it, then pour it into the P-trap until there are no air pockets. This can assist in flushing out any other blockages that may be producing a foul odor.
- Leaky Pipes
If your shower smells like rotten eggs or sulfur, it’s likely that there’s a leak somewhere in your home’s drain lines. Faulty valves, rusty pipes, and leaky faucet joints, among other things, are common reasons for smelly shower drains.
What Are the Causes of Leaky Pipes?
Because these leaks transport sulfurous fumes, which can smell like rotten eggs, up through your drain system, they can generate the most obnoxious of shower odors. Corroded pieces of pipe and loose couplings, such as those on your sink taps or behind your toilet seat, are common reasons for smelly shower drains.
How to Repair Leaky Pipes
You’ll need to tighten every corroded junction and replace pieces of pipe that are rusting away to get rid of unpleasant odors coming from your drain system due to leaking pipes. This can be a difficult task, but it’s one that must be completed in order to maintain a safe living environment in the bathroom.
- Biofilm Formation
If you can’t get a drain blockage to clear using a plunger, it’s possible that biofilm has formed inside the bowl and is blocking water from draining. This is one of the most common causes of stinky shower drains because when water doesn’t flow through the bathroom’s piping system, everything starts to rot and decay at a faster rate, releasing foul odors.
What is Biofilm?
When hair and other debris begin to rot and dissolve, a biofilm forms on the inside of a drain pipe. When dirt, dust, and other foreign particles clumped together in one sticky layer inside your home’s drain system are common causes of smelly shower drains.
How to Get Rid of Biofilm
You’ll need to wipe up any sections of pipe in the region under your bathroom sink and in between these spots once you’ve established where the smell is coming from on your property. Because this area of the drain system is difficult to access, most individuals have problems getting rid of severe clogs or odors.
You’ll need a particular enzyme-based solution that targets bacteria and germs in general, as well as a few additional tricks up your sleeve, to break down the biofilm. Unclean upkeep on these locations, which leads to buildup, is a common source of smelly shower drains.
Unclog Clogs
If there’s a blockage in your drain line caused by hair or other debris, you’ll need to take care of it right away before the odor gets worse. Drain jams and leaks are common causes of smelly shower drains because water that lingers under the house for too long begins to rot and decay at a much faster rate.
Clogs in the Shower: What Causes Them?
Heavy use and overflow from the bathtub are the most common causes of clogs in your shower drain, but they can also be caused by the collection of debris and other foreign particles that jam up your home’s plumbing system.
Are you in the Asheville, NC area and in need of a professional plumber? CONTACT Autry Plumbing LLC today!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like: What’s That Gurgling Drain Sound?
Recent Comments