Drains 101: What’s Wrong With Your Drains?

My Drains Smell Bad

Once in a while, we get a call from someone who has a stinky drain but can’t place the source of the odor.  If an unpleasant odor is emanating from your drains, it could be a sign of a more serious and unsanitary problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Check Your P-Trap

Drains that emit a foul odor typically have a p-trap issue. This curved pipe should be installed beneath each and every sink. One of the most obvious uses for a p-trap is to prevent clogs in the pipes by collecting debris that gets flushed down the toilet or sink. However, the bend in this pipe causes water to pool. This water prevents any harmful gases from rising and entering your home. When this pipe dries up, there will be a terrible stench.

Check Your Drain Vents

A faulty or poorly designed drain vent system may occasionally be the source of a foul odor. Sewer gasses are always present in your plumbing system; it’s just the way these things work. These gases must be vented so that they do not cause problems or odors in your drain lines. When gasses cannot vent properly, they can raise the pressure in your system, causing water flow issues as well as foul odors. When this becomes severe enough, the gasses can push past or through any obstruction, allowing them to enter your home.

It Could Be Your Sewer

Finally, a foul odor may indicate a problem with the sewer line itself. It’s critical to get these fixed as soon as possible, or you may end up with more expensive repairs down the road. If you have bad odors coming from your drains, we would be happy to inspect your plumbing system and provide you with a free estimate to fix the problem. Contact Rosenthal Plumbing right away to have your drains cleaned.

Drain Care

If you want your drains to keep flowing well for a long time, there are some simple things you can do to help them work well. 

Keep hair out of the drains

After you shave, instead of just rinsing the sink, give the sink a good wipe down. To prevent hair from going down the drain, use a small container of water to rinse your razor, and then strain the water using a fine strainer. Before jumping into the shower, give your long hair a good brushing. A single hair probably won’t clog a drain, but hair accumulation over time can lead to problems.

Use a mesh screen over your drains.

These are great for the bathroom or kitchen sink, but they really shine in the shower. They act as a filter, collecting anything that tries to enter your drain before it has a chance to build up and cause a clog. To prevent the screen from obstructing your drain, you should regularly remove it and throw it away.

Keep fats, oils, and grease out of your drains. 

Although these are fluid when first poured, they solidify as they cool. As they harden, they can bind to your drain, reducing its diameter and entrapping more debris. Major bottlenecks can form from these.

Remember: Garbage Disposals Can’t Do Everything!

Finally, keep in mind that there are some things even a garbage disposal can’t do. Don’t put any fibrous materials or bones (even tiny ones!) through it (like corn husks). These can either cause permanent damage to the disposal or allow debris that will eventually clog the drain to pass through. If you use your disposal sensibly, your drains will last for a long time.

Call Rosenthal Plumbing for Drain Cleaning in Santa Cruz Today!

Call Rosenthal Plumbing if you’re unsure of whether an item will cause damage to your pipes. Let us come out and take a look, and if any repairs are needed, we can provide you with a free quote. Get in touch with a Santa Cruz drain cleaning service right away!