Having company over at your Wichita home for the holidays? Then, of course, you want your home to have a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. But smelly drains can put a damper on that. What makes drains develop bad odors? We’ll go over that — and give you advice on keeping them smelling nice for your guests this season!

What Causes Drain Odors?

These smells can happen for many reasons. But some of the more common causes of foul drain odors include the following:

  • Clogged or dry P-traps
  • Problems with your sewer line
  • Buildup of food and grease in kitchen drains
  • Buildup of hair products and soap scum in bathroom drains
  • Bacteria or mold growth

Deep Clean Your Drains

These parts of your home’s plumbing need regular care. But it’s easy to overlook this. If it’s been awhile since you’ve cleaned your drains, set aside time to do so before guests arrive. Mix vinegar and baking soda, then pour it down the drain with hot water. This should help eliminate sources of odors, like food residue.

Clean and Check Your Garbage Disposal

Pungent odors can drift up out of your disposal drain, making your whole kitchen smell bad. Give it a good cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, and hot water to clear away any buildup that’s in there.

You should also make sure your garbage disposal works right before company comes over. Turn it on while running cold water down it to test it. If you’re having any problems with it, our plumbing team can help!

Clear Slow Drains

Check all of them to see if any are draining much slower than usual — that can indicate a clog! Slow-moving drains are also more likely to be smelly. You may be able to remove clogs with drain cleaning products on your own. But don’t hesitate to call our plumbers for help with stubborn blockages.

Run Water Down Drains

Do you have a guest bathroom that rarely gets used? Don’t let the P-trap inside the sink and tub drains dry out, or you can end up with foul odors. Running water down them helps keep them moist — and keeps bad smells at bay!

Install Drain Screens

These small screens give you a great way to stop residue from accumulating inside drains. You can use them in your kitchen to keep food smells away and in bathrooms to prevent odors from soap scum and hair products.

What Not to Put in Kitchen Sink Drain or Disposal

Be careful about what goes down these drains. Putting certain kinds of food scraps in them can lead to more than bad odors — you might end up with plumbing leaks! Make sure that you and your guests don’t put any of these in your drains or disposal:

  • Oils
  • Grease
  • Fatty substances

All of these can accumulate and clog up drains, while also giving off bad smells! Other foods to avoid dumping in the disposal include stringy foods, like celery, coffee grounds, pastas, and bones from ham, turkey, or other meats.

Schedule Professional Drain Cleaning

Do your drains need more thorough cleaning to get rid of smells? A professional cleaning can remove traces of these odors — and prevent more from developing. Our team at Comfort Systems in Wichita can clean yours using products and equipment that break up residue and clear up clogs.

Have Sewer Problems Fixed Right Away

Do your drains still work slowly, even after cleaning them? That’s a possible sign of a sewer line issue. Other signs can include:

  • Sewage smells
  • Gurgling noises in toilets
  • Backed up drains

Give Comfort Systems a call as soon as you can to have these problems repaired!

Set Up Professional Drain Cleaning in Wichita Today!

Need more help with your drains before the holidays? We’re here to help! Contact Comfort Systems for cleaning or repairs!

Posted in Plumbing