Why Does My Bathroom Sink Smell?

Why Does My Bathroom Sink Smell?

One of the advantages of living or vacationing at the Jersey Shore are the fresh and welcoming sea breezes. But when a noxious odor coming from your bathroom sink is so strong that it cancels out your ocean induced zen, it’s time to take action!

What Causes My Bathroom Sink to Smell?

There is no short answer to what causes a sink to smell. The answers can vary from a bacteria build-up in the P-trap to the actual smell of your water. So let’s break down the various causes and when to know that it may be time to seek professional help from a licensed plumber.

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When Bacterial Build Up is the Problem

Sometimes bacteria can build up when a sink is used infrequently. Hair and other matter can get trapped near the P-trap – the curved portion of pipe under the sink. When a sink is out of use, the built up matter is not flushed out on a regular basis, leaving deposits of soap and other matter to decompose. So keeping those pipes open and in good working order is important.

To clean a bathroom sink and to eliminate smelly bathroom drains, it’s important to have a proper P-trap. A P-trap is the curved portion of pipe under the sink. It’s supposed to create a seal by holding water, which prevents sewer gasses from getting into the bathroom.

If the P-trap isn’t working properly, sewer gasses can make their way into the bathroom and cause your sink to stink. Your sink should also have a vent that gives backflowing gasses somewhere to go. A clogged P-trap can frequently be cleaned out with the use of a readily available drain cleaner. 

Buildup Of Dirt And Sewage Can Make Your Drains Smell Terrible

Read More: 7 Plumbing Problems To Avoid

While these cleaners are pretty effective in taking care of most minor clogs, many people are uncomfortable having harsh toxic chemicals around – especially when small children or pets are present.It you share that concern, there are some “natural” remedies that you might want to try this hack first:

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup lemon juice down the drain. Plug drain, and let sit for one hour. Finish with a pot of boiling water. You may need to repeat the process one more time, but your bathroom or kitchen sink will smell lovely without the toxic mess.

Another tried and true hack is the good old fashioned plunger followed by a pot of hot water. A plunger can make quick work of a clog and help to eliminate any kind of nasty smell.

Unfortunately if the sewer smell in your sink is caused by a blocked air vent, you may need professional assistance from a qualified, licensed plumber.

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What to Do When Your Water is the Culprit?

Sometimes when we rent a vacation home or have a well water source in our own home, we notice that the water coming out of the faucets can have a sulfur like or rotten egg smell to it. That smell comes from a naturally occurring bacteria called hydrogen sulfide. And while not typically harmful, the smell is a nuisance and not welcomed.

A short term fix for the smell might be to install a carbon filter on your faucet head. That should take care of the immediate problem. But carbon filters are expensive and frequent changing of the filter can run into real money. Carbon filters usually last only 10 to 14 days. You know when a filter needs changing because the rotten egg smell will return with a vengeance!

Read More: How To Improve The Plumbing At Your Jersey Shore Home

In the case of your water supply creating the smell in your personal home and not a short term rental, you might want to check in with your local Stone Harbor, NJ plumbing contractor to see if they can recommend a whole system water filtration plant to install in your utility area.  These systems have been proven time and again to really knock out that nasty smell and create a “spa like” experience.

When the smell is coming from the water flowing from your sink, and not the drain, there may be something in the faucet causing the odor. Take off the aerator cap and look inside for any buildup or gunk you can clean off. 

How bad the smelly drain gets usually depends on how often you clean your drains. There could also be stagnant water in your overflow drain, which can cause an unpleasant smell. Clean your bathroom sink routinely. And run a little bit of water at least once a week to keep drains and pipes open and in good working order.

Emergency Plumbing In Stone Harbor, NJ

Give Us A Call If You Can’t Fix Your Plumbing Problem

Who to call when all of your home hacks don’t work is as much an economic decision as a comfort decision. But sometimes you just need to make that call. 

After you have tried every trick in your bag of tricks, and learned a bit more about the source of your problem, a quick call to Broadley’s, your local Stone Harbor or Atlantic County licensed plumber can help you complete the circle and rule out a more serious problem. Give us a call at (609) 390-3907!

Contact Broadley’s About Your Plumbing