If you smell a funny stench or odor coming from your floor drain, it’s very likely your P-trap is dry. Simply pour a few gallons of water to re-establish the proper water barrier. You can add a small amount of vinegar to help remove any persistent odors.
How do I freshen my basement drain?
To further clean your drain, pour a bucket of boiling water down and wait 15 minutes. Then add a 16oz box of baking soda down the drain and make it fizzle by adding 3 cups of vinegar. Wait another 10 minutes and add 6 cups of boiling water slowly. Wash away what’s left of the vinegar and baking soda.
What to pour down drain to make it stop smelling?
Dump a good handful of baking soda into the drain, let sit (don’t run any water) for 15 minutes, then pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar down . Watch the bubbles, hear the pops and fizz, and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, boiling water and voila!
Why does my basement drain smell like rotten eggs?
Sewer gas. That “rotten egg” smell in the basement is sewer gas, or hydrogen sulfide. ... A gas odor can be a sign of a small problem , like a dried out water seal in a floor drain. On a bigger scale, it can also indicate a broken sewer line or vent stack.
Can I pour bleach down my basement drain?
Bleach is a powerful, toxic substance that should be used carefully and properly, and pouring it down a drain is not a proper use. Bleach can react with other substances in your pipes, potentially release fumes, and further plug up the system. ... Pouring bleach down them will do much more harm than good .
Can you put Drano in basement drain?
Liquid drain cleaner rarely works, and only makes things more toxic and difficult to deal with. In the case of clogged floor and basement drains in particular the clog–often household debris or even tree roots invading damaged pipes–won’t even be affected at all by the cleaner. ... So don’t use liquid drain cleaner.
Why does my shower smell like sewer?
Smells in a shower drain can be caused by odor-causing bacteria that feed on debris in the pipe. Some of these anaerobic bacteria live in fetid water in the P-trap and produce hydrogen sulfide gas , which smells like sewage. Other odors can also be caused by the debris itself, like hair or soap scum build-up.
Does Drano help with smell?
To get rid of this smell, try these solutions: Use a bio- enzyme drain cleaner These natural drain cleaners use enzymes that eat away at the food in your drain without harming your pipes. ... We recommend avoiding harsh chemical drain cleaners like Drano and Liquid-Plumbr.
Why does my sink smell like dead animal?
A buildup of soap scum, grease, food particles or rotting food can all contribute to bad odor issues in your kitchen sink. ... Sometimes sponges can grow bacteria, or the remains of a dead animal could cause nasty odors.
Why do I keep smelling rotten eggs?
Natural gas and propane are odorless, but gas companies inject them with a chemical called mercaptan that gives them a sulfur smell—like rotten eggs— to alert residents to a gas leak . A small gas leak could be creating the occasional foul odor you’re noticing, so don’t take any chances.
Is it normal for basements to smell?
Underground living spaces can’t hold moisture like the upper levels of your home. When the warmer air from above seeps into your basement, the moisture in the air condenses, and ends up on your dark basement walls and cold water pipes. Mold begins to form, and the unpleasant smell you can’t seem to shake is born.
Will Coca Cola unclog a drain?
Coke is a lesser-known fix you can find in your refrigerator. Pour a 2-liter bottle of cola — Pepsi, Coke, or generic brand substitutes — down the clogged drain . Coke is actually quite caustic and effective at clearing away buildup in your drains, but it’s far milder than commercial drain cleaners.
Is it OK to pour white vinegar down the drain?
If you suspect a grease clog, a mixture of very hot water and vinegar can also help melt and remove the grease that’s blocking the pipes. Allow it to work for a few minutes, then use a plunger to help move the clog along. You may have to repeat this more than once.
What do you do with the floor drain when you finish a basement?
Any floor drains should go to plumbing buried under the floor . You can’t just relocate them without a lot of destruction. If they exist, they were put there for a reason. You generally don’t want to simply remove or cover them.
Is it normal to see water in basement drain?
Common causes of water in the basement include a leaking HVAC system or water heater, or a leak in the foundation caused by heavy rain. ... Some homeowners even make the mistake of sweeping their basement dirt into the floor drains, which is something you definitely want to avoid.
Why is my basement drain gurgling?
Gurgling is caused when something is preventing water or air from flowing through your drains . As the water slowly travels through your drains, air bubbles begin to form and create a gurgling sound.
