The First Possibility: A Pipe Blockage

If you have a slow-moving drain, then it is definitely within the realm of possibility that a mass of sludge has accumulated somewhere in the pipes. Sewer gasses in particular need adequate ventilation. If their usual route is blocked, they will happily come up into your kitchen or bathroom.

You can try to unblock the drain yourself, but you may need to schedule professional drain cleaning.

Could it Be an Unused Sink?

With an unused sink, you don’t have to worry about clogs. However, an infrequently used drain can cause other problems. All sinks have something called a P-trap. It’s basically where water collects and is used as a barrier to prevent sewer odors from traveling into your home.

A sink’s P-trap may be empty or low if:

• The sink hasn’t seen much use lately.
• You have been on vacation for a long time.
• You have recently moved into your home.
• There is a leak below the sink.
• It is in an older home which has not been updated.

Running the sink for a minute or so should refill the trap and block those nasty odors.

When Your Water Heater is the Issue

If it’s your water rather than a drain that has a smell to it, the culprit may be your water heater. Sometimes a chemical reaction occurs with a piece in water heaters, called an anode rod, that produces a foul rotten-egg odor. It sounds pretty disgusting, but it is fairly harmless. The solution is also pretty straightforward. Just have the anode rod replaced.

Looking Into a Mold Problem

The above reasons all address sewer odors. If the smell you are noticing is a musty one, and it is emanating from multiple drains, your main line may need immediate attention to remove mold or mildew.

Still unsure what is causing the distressing odor? Call Combat Plumbing at (773) 724-9272 for assistance with location and solutions. And don’t worry—we’ve seen it all.