The “aroma” of sewage, especially in the place where food is prepared, evokes the most negative emotions. Therefore, eliminating odor from your kitchen sink becomes a top priority. There can be several sources at once, and therefore the methods of disposal are different. His choice depends on the cause of the problem. It is necessary to check the sewer and siphon, and use a cable, plunger and cleaning products to eliminate the smell.
Why is there an unpleasant smell under the kitchen sink?
If there is no food debris grinder, then a significant amount of debris and food debris can still get inside the flask. Therefore, not only water, but also food remains remain inside the siphon flask. Over time, they begin to rot, which leads to an unpleasant odor. Therefore, the main task is to unscrew the siphon, throw away the rotting remains, and wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Why is there an unpleasant smell under the kitchen sink:
- An unpleasant odor occurs for natural reasons, due to the fact that fat settles on the walls. It can attract food debris that sticks to the sticky surface. It is this fat with food debris that rots under favorable conditions, which causes an unpleasant odor.
- Therefore, if the house is old, with metal sewers, then there is nothing surprising in the unpleasant smell in the kitchen. Usually the problem goes away if the metal pipes are replaced with plastic ones. Due to the smooth surface of plastic pipes, grease accumulates on them much worse than on a rough metal surface covered with scale and rust.
- Usually the problem of unpleasant odor occurs with corrugated siphons. The fact is that this pipe is quite plastic and movable. Therefore, in the absence of special fasteners that will support the pipe in the required position, the corrugation is deformed, resulting in a change in the amount of water. A water seal does not form, and the smell of sewage enters the room.
Improper installation of communications
If residents who have moved into a new house feel a not-so-pleasant “aroma” in the rooms, perhaps the builders or DIYers made mistakes when installing the sewer system.
Due to violations associated with the laying of pipes - especially non-compliance with the angle of inclination, which is prescribed in the standards, wastewater in the pipes can stagnate, causing a specific odor.
When laying a sewer system, it is important to comply with engineering requirements: all work must be carried out in strict accordance with current regulations
A radical way to get rid of the stench will be a complete replacement of communications with the installation of a new system in strict accordance with technical specifications.
In some cases (when using metal-plastic pipes), the situation can be saved by adjusting tightened pipe connections, replacing gaskets, and installing specially selected sealing collars.
In order to prevent clogging, it is periodically necessary to flush the sewer system, the rules for which will be introduced in our article.
How to eliminate odor from a kitchen sink using traditional methods?
The simplest option is Mole or Domestos, any other substance that is sold in any hardware store. It is poured into the sink around the circumference of the pipe so that the particles of the product cover the entire area. Leave it for a while and wash it off. Due to the action of acids and alkalis, the lipid layer on the pipe walls is destroyed. This way the smell disappears. The problem can be solved not only by purchasing special means, but also by using folk methods.
How to eliminate odor from a kitchen sink using traditional methods:
- To do this, you need to pour a 1 kg pack of salt into the sink and pour boiling water over it. The mixture must be left inside the sink for 8 hours. It is believed that a strong saline solution dissolves fat, causing the odor to disappear. Don’t worry, the salt does not settle on the walls of the sewer pipes and is easily washed off with warm water.
- Soda solution copes well with such stains. To do this, you need to dissolve 5 tablespoons of soda in hot water and immediately pour it into the sink. It is worth remembering that it is best to use such a solution hot, and ideally use a boiling solution. Soda reacts chemically with grease, removing it from the surface of the pipe. But sometimes all the above measures may not produce the desired results.
- Citric acid has proven itself well. Unlike previous options, this is a less aggressive method that removes all fat from the surface of the pipes with minimal losses. To do this, you will need a large package of citric acid weighing 100 g. Carefully pour it into the hole and add 300-400 ml of warm water. Please note that warm water is used, but not boiling water. Cover the hole with a lid and leave for 3 hours.
- Coca Cola, Sprite and Fanta drinks have proven themselves well in the fight against unpleasant odors. These drinks are based on phosphoric acid, which destroys fat deposits on the surface of the pipe walls. To combat the unpleasant odor, you will need 2 liters of any soda. It is necessary to pour the solution into the hole, close it, and leave it overnight. Early in the morning, the pipes are washed with boiling water from a kettle. Next, within 5 minutes, under the pressure of water, the remaining fat is further washed out from the pipe.
- You can cope with the unpleasant odor after it appears with the help of mustard. It has antibacterial properties, therefore it destroys pathogenic bacteria on the walls of pipes, which cause the decomposition of organic residues. You need to pour a few tablespoons of dry mustard and pour boiling water over them. The mixture must be poured into the drain. The recipe is suitable for metal pipes; for plastic you need to choose a more gentle option.
Cleaning
Watching the car wash
In some cases, you can deal with the bad smell from the sewer on your own. Let's figure out when you can do without calling a specialist from technical services.
First, let's watch the washing machine in action. You should pass a large volume of the hottest water possible; if it flows well, does not stagnate, but the smell does not become weaker, try flushing the drains with home remedies (recipes are given below in the article) or products containing aggressive chemical compounds.
If the problem is deposits and fat that have begun to emit a putrid odor, then you can deal with it.
If cleaning the pipes did not help, then we will carefully examine the siphon and the pipes underneath it. All parts of the sewer system must be dry; if there is a leak somewhere, it must be repaired.
The pipes must be intact, without chips, all connections must be free of wet marks. There is a mess - fum or plumbing sealant will come to the rescue.
Plumbing sealants that are suitable for the kitchen:
- acrylic;
- silicone;
- silicone-acrylic.
The most popular are silicone sealants , they are optimal for the kitchen - they have excellent bonding properties, withstand temperature changes, and retain moisture well. The disadvantages include the cost of the product.
Acrylic sealants are durable and more affordable, but due to their lack of elasticity, seams can become depressurized over time. Therefore, it is better to choose another option, or to vigilantly monitor the condition of all sewerage elements.
Silicone-acrylic sealants , as the name implies, combine the best qualities of the above sealants.
If we open the tap and observe, we will notice that the water is slowly draining, standing in the sink, and we have a blockage.
Smell from the kitchen sink: reasons
It is worth noting that the situation may occur periodically due to recurring reasons. The siphon contains a siphon, inside of which a water seal is formed. Corrugated or flask siphons are now available for sale. Inside there is a device that resembles a bottle or flask. Water gets into it, rises up and goes into the sewer. At the same time, a small amount of water is retained inside the lower part of the flask, which acts as a kind of plug that prevents the smell from entering the room.
Causes of unpleasant odor from the kitchen sink:
- The riser is clogged. In this case, the water seal does not work, because the water does not drain completely, or drains too slowly. In this case, only a mechanic will help, who will clean the riser from the first to the last floor.
- Someone in the household poured an organic liquid into the sink. It could be milk. Due to the fact that it began to sour, an unpleasant smell appeared.
- An unpleasant odor occurs as a result of changes in atmospheric pressure, especially in the general sewerage network.
- A blockage is forming. This suggests that organic residues that live in a humid environment are decomposing inside.
Nothing helps: what to do?
Not in all cases, an unpleasant odor can be eliminated with homemade or special remedies. For some reasons, it will be necessary to carry out plumbing work.
Such circumstances include:
- incorrect installation;
- dried out gaskets;
- physical damage to the sewer drain system;
- airing of the entire riser.
The solution to the issue in this case is to repair the drain system, replace individual parts or the entire assembly.
To determine the source of improper sewerage operation, the best solution is to call a plumber . If the riser becomes airy, contact the company responsible for maintaining public communications.
How to eliminate unpleasant odor from the sink using combined methods?
To eliminate the smell, you need to find the source of the problem. After this, you can begin to eliminate the consequences. The combined method has proven itself well.
Combined methods for odor control in the kitchen:
- A mixture of vinegar and soda. It is believed that as a result of a chemical reaction between acid and alkali, the destruction of organic residues that are located on the walls of the pipe occurs. To do this, pour half a pack of soda into the hole and pour 9% vinegar into a glass. You can close the hole with a stopper and leave for about one hour. Boil a kettle of water and pour it down the drain when the time is up. Open the tap, rinse everything off with strong water pressure for 3 minutes. This will help remove any remaining baking soda and vinegar.
- Soda and salt. You need to pour half a pack of soda and a glass of salt into a container. All this is carefully averaged and a liter of water is added. The result will be a very strong solution, with undissolved salt residues. This mixture must be carefully poured into the drain hole and closed with a stopper. Minimum exposure time 8 hours. The procedure can be done at night. Early in the morning, boil the kettle and pour it into the hole.
- A mixture of soda and vinegar and washing powder . Unlike the first option, the mixture must be prepared separately and not mixed in the drain hole. To do this, mix a glass of baking soda with half a package of washing powder. All this perfection is averaged out and poured into the sink. Next, pour a bottle of table vinegar on top of the mixture, with a concentration of 9%. Close the lid and leave for a quarter of an hour.
From the smell
Prevention
To avoid having to clean the sink, much less call the plumbers or drown the neighbors, the drainage device in the kitchen is constantly monitored. Required:
- use a protective mesh for the hole in the sink so that it traps food debris;
- after each dishwashing, wash the sink well;
- About once a week the sink is cleaned with soda and the powder is poured into the pipes;
- Docking seams are coated with sealant once every 3-4 months.
In addition to these measures, you need to be vigilant. Once a week, after washing dishes, it is advisable to look under the sink and check all the pipes for dryness and odor. As soon as there is cause for concern, appropriate measures are taken.
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How to clean a kitchen sink from smells with a grinder?
Household chemicals will help cope with the smell, but this is heavy artillery that works due to the aggressiveness of the solutions. After all, they contain thick, concentrated solutions of alkali or acid, which can cause pipe destruction.
How to clean a kitchen sink from odors with a grinder:
- The situation becomes a little more complicated if the drain is equipped with a grinder. Very often, it is the chopper that causes the unpleasant odor, because food residues remain on the blades and rot. But there is a simple way to solve the problem.
- To do this, you need to freeze the vinegar in a regular container for making fruit ice. You can also add a little lemon zest to these molds and fill them with water.
- Now you need to alternately throw the cube of vinegar and lemon zest into the chopper, turning it on. As the ice crushes, the lemon zest will clean the surface. You can do the same with regular soda by preparing a strong solution from it and freezing it. Fine abrasive particles clean the blades, and vinegar is a solvent, allowing you to remove grease.
When is plumbing work needed?
If you've tried all the ways to clean your pipes and your sink still smells, it's time to call a plumber. Work to be carried out by a specialist:
- reinstall the incorrectly installed siphon;
- replace dried out seals;
- determine the location of sewerage damage;
- eliminate the air lock in the main riser.
Having your drain system repaired by a professional is guaranteed to save you from this unpleasant problem.
Folk remedy for sewer smell?
Very often, the cause of an unpleasant odor is considered to be a blockage; it is usually removed with a plunger or a cable. If you don’t have such simple devices in your home, you can make them yourself.
Folk remedy for sewer smell:
- To do this you will need a regular 2 liter plastic bottle. It is necessary to cut off the bottom and cut the resulting dome in a spiral. As a result, the width of the strip should be 1.5 cm.
- There is no need to cut off the top and neck. It is necessary to make oblique stripes along the entire perimeter of the strip so that the spiral looks like a Christmas tree. Now you need to insert the bottle inside in a spiral, as if twisting it, and try to get out everything that has accumulated on the walls of the pipes.
- This is a kind of improvised brush. However, unlike the standard one, it is more gentle, as it does not damage the pipes.
- Essential oils are rarely used for such purposes, as they have a greasy structure and contribute to the formation of plaque on the surface of pipes. If the surface of the pipes is absolutely clean, you can use essential oils to make the kitchen smell pleasant. For these purposes, you need to thoroughly wash the sink, clean the pipes using one of the above methods, and drop a few drops of your favorite essential oil into the drain.
Leftover food
How to fill the sink to remove the smell in the kitchen after leaving?
Very often, an unpleasant odor appears if no one lives in the apartment for a long period of time. The water in the water seal prevents the appearance of odor inside the room and evaporates over a long period of time. The hotter the room, the faster water evaporates.
How to fill the sink from the smell in the kitchen after leaving:
- To cope with the problem, it is necessary to prevent the evaporation of water. Therefore, if you plan to leave for several weeks, it is best to thoroughly rinse the sewer pipes with water, using household chemicals and folk remedies indicated above.
- The main task is to remove greasy deposits, as well as organic residues from the surface of the pipes. After this, you need to fill the sink with water. Pour 100 ml of vegetable oil into each of the drain holes in the house.
- Vegetable oil prevents the evaporation of water, so it will preserve the water seal and prevent the appearance of odors indoors.
From blockage
Problems with the water level in the water seal
Possible problems in the operation of the siphon are often associated with a water seal - a water plug, when it is “knocked out”, odors and gases begin to enter the apartment.
A similar situation can arise when the pressure in the sewer system increases, the air coming from the pipes is able to “knock out” the water seal. This usually happens when a large volume of liquid is suddenly drained from the tank. However, the process can also be gradual, allowing gases to enter the apartment unnoticed over time.
A water seal or “water plug” located in the siphon elbow creates a reliable barrier that prevents sewer gases from entering the apartment
When the pipe cross-section is completely blocked by drains, the sewer system is filled with rarefied air, which draws liquid from the siphon like a pump. Once the water is drained, the water seal will be completely eliminated, and gases will begin to flow freely into the premises without encountering any obstacles.
The latter option is usually caused by two reasons:
- Using small diameter pipes that do not correspond to the dimensions specified in the relevant regulatory documents.
- Formation of blockages or icing, partially or completely blocking the cross-section of communications.
To eliminate the first reason, it is necessary to replace the pipes with components of proper quality. To eliminate blockages, the system should be cleaned; When ice forms, warm it well with hot water.
Installing a vacuum valve will help get rid of the malfunction of the water seal:
Image gallery
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Types of vacuum valves for sewerage
Connecting a siphon to the sewer through a valve
Device for supplying air to the circuit
Device for eliminating negative odors
Sewer odor remover: list
The main task is to adjust the position of the pipes and restore the water seal. If the siphon has been cleaned and the pipes have been returned to their correct position, but the smell still remains, you can remove it using special chemicals.
Sewer odor remover, list:
- Biological product Likvazim 1l., for cleaning pipes
- Expel Granules for cleaning pipes from hair clogs
- Unicum granules for blockages in pipes Tornado
- Chirton pipe cleaner granules
- Synergetic liquid for clearing blockages
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Plumbers recommend carrying out preventive cleaning once a month using table salt. To do this, you need to pour a kilogram pack of salt into the drain hole, pour boiling water over it, close the lid and leave overnight. Such simple manipulations will allow you to remove greasy deposits, as well as stop the growth of bacterial deposits at the stage of their formation, preventing the formation of a blockage. If hair is added to this formula, clogging will be avoided.
