If you’ve ever noticed a funky smell coming from your sink, you’re not alone. A stinky sink is a common problem, but what causes it and how can you get rid of the odor? Keep reading to find out.
The sink is one of the most commonly used appliances in a household. It’s responsible for washing dishes, brushing teeth, and many other everyday tasks. So when something goes wrong with the sink, it can be a real headache. One common issue that people experience is a sink that smells like rotten eggs.
There are several reasons why your sink might be emitting this unpleasant smell.
There are 3 main issues that can cause that foul odor you are smelling from your drain(s).
- Problem in the P-trap under your sink
- Sewer gas
- Water Quality
Decomposing food lodged in the garbage disposal or drain pipe
If you are experiencing a sink smell that smells like rotten eggs, it’s important to take action and address the issue. The first step is to try to determine what might be causing the problem. Once you have identified the source of the smell, you can take steps to fix it.
Problem In The P-trap Under Your Sink
The P-trap is the curved pipe under your sink that catches and holds water. This part of the sink can become clogged with hair, grease, food debris, or other substances, which can lead to the smell of rotting eggs.
Another issue concerning the P-trap is with sinks that aren’t often used. Many homes in the Atlanta, Ga. area have guest bathrooms or basement bathrooms that aren’t used as often.
Sewer Gas
If the sink smell is not related to a clogged drain, it could be sewer gas. This happens when the water in the trap evaporates, and it can happen more often in the summertime.
When the weather is hot and dry, the evaporation process speeds up and can create a strong smell.
You can confirm this if you hear gurgling sounds from your drain. That is usually a very common tell-tale sign that there’s a problem in the sewer line that carries the wastewater from your home to your town’s sewer system.
Water Quality
If you ever walk into your house and smell a rotten egg odor, it’s likely that the water quality in your area is to blame. While the smell may be unpleasant, it’s important to understand the risks that come with poor water quality and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.
This usually happens in homes that are using well water but it can certainly happen in homes that are plumbed into municipal water.
Decomposing Food
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about what happens to the food after you eat it. But, believe it or not, that uneaten food is one of the main sources of sink smells.
Specifically, when food decomposes in your sink drain, it creates a gas called hydrogen sulfide. And as we mentioned earlier, that gas has an incredibly unpleasant smell.
Is Rotten Egg Smelling Water Harmful?
If you’re noticing a rotten egg smell coming from your sink, any of the 4 possibilities we mentioned above could be causing this issue.
While this may not be harmful in and of itself, it could be a sign that there is something wrong with your water quality. To be sure, you should call your local water department to have your water tested.
If the smell is coming from your sink drain, it’s likely that the drain is clogged or partially clogged. When sinks are clogged, they often drain slowly, which can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. This bacteria can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives off the rotten egg smell.
While a little bit of hydrogen sulfide gas is nothing to worry about, high levels can be harmful. If you’re experiencing this smell, it’s best to take action and have your sink drain cleaned as soon as possible.
Why Does Only One Sink Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
When the smell of rotten eggs is coming out of just one sink, then the usual culprit is an issue with the P-trap or a clog for that particular sink.
The P-trap is the curved section of pipe under the sink that holds water and creates a seal. If this water becomes stagnant, it can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. And, as we mentioned before, this bacteria can produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives off the rotten egg smell.
If you’re only noticing the smell in one sink, it’s likely that the clog is causing the gas to build up in that particular sink. In this case, you’ll want to take action and have your sink drain cleaned as soon as possible.
How Do I Get The Rotten Egg Smell Out Of My Sink?
Getting rid of that awful odor will depend on what is causing it so let’s go over each of the issues we listed above and what their solutions are.
P-Trap Problem
One way to try to clear the clog is to pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain. If the clog is not cleared, you may need to use a plunger or a sink auger to dislodge it.
If the issue is that you have faucets throughout your house that you have not used in a while then the solution is to go turn on those unused faucets for a few minutes (2 or 3 should work) and you should hopefully notice that the smell goes away.
Sewer Gas
If that terrible smell is coming from your sewer line – it’s time to call in a professional plumber to fix the issue. Don’t wait because a clog can result in a drain backflow that ends up spilling raw sewage into the home or property and let’s face it – that is not only a very messy and unsanitary scenario but it can be very costly to clean that up.
Water Quality
We recommend that you contact your water company right away and a professional plumber as well.
Decomposing Food
If your sink drain is clogged with decomposing food, you can try using a plunger to clear the clog. If that doesn’t work, you may need to use a sink auger to dislodge the clog. If the sink drain is partially drained, you can try pouring hot water down the drain to help clear it.
If you’ve been cooking some particularly pungent foods, like cabbage or broccoli, the smell might be lingering in your kitchen sink. Run some hot water and citrus fruit peels down the drain to help clear out any smells.
Some general recommendations that may help you to get rid of that rotten egg smell are as follows.
One is to pour a cup of distilled white vinegar down the drain. The vinegar will help to kill the bacteria and get rid of the smell. You can also use a plunger to try to clear the clog in the sink drain. If neither of these methods work, you may need to call a plumber to clear the clog and fix the drainage problem which may fix the smell problem.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand why your sink smells like rotten eggs and how to get rid of the smell. Thanks for reading!
If you have any questions about sinks and drains or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.