Your Shower Drain Smells — What Now?

Blog

Nobody wants to smell something nasty coming out of their shower drain. After all, your shower is the place you expect to become clean. You don't expect something dirty to be lurking beneath your shower.

If you notice something smells bad in your shower, your drain might need some attention. Two major fixes may be helpful in helping you get rid of the bad smell. Here's what else you need to know.

You May Need a Drain Cleaning

Often, the fix is a drain cleaning that will help clear any debris away from your pipes. Unfortunately, drains are prone to developing a buildup of slime, typically resulting from water, soap, hair, and body oils. It all accumulates in the pipes.

Over time, this might mean that you need a drain cleaning to remove debris and leave your shower with a fresh smell again. Some people try to make their own solutions, sometimes containing bleach. Still, you should know that these cleaners do not really get to the core of the issue. They don't physically remove all the film, and they cannot remove the hair that can lead to clogs and other issues.

A professional plumber will actually clean your drainers with augers and other tools to ensure that the smells are gone as quickly as they appear. Plumbers get to the root of the problem without simply applying chemicals.

You May Need to Replace the P-Trap

Water passes through a P-trap underneath your drain. This area holds some water to block the smells of sewage that might otherwise pass back up through your drain.

One of the first things you should do if you smell something weird in your shower is run the water for a few minutes. The trap should fill up again, blocking the smell. If this does not work, you may need a plumber to take more drastic action.

The good news is that the drastic action does not have to be that drastic. You may have a leak in the P-trap, which means that you would need to replace the trap. This may accompany a drain cleaning to ensure that the area is completely scent-free.

Contact a Plumbing Professional

If you suspect that your shower drain has an issue causing it to smell, you should call a plumber. A plumber will help you determine the cause of the drain smell. Call a drain cleaning professional today to assess your system.

Share

28 October 2020

DIY plumbing - can you do it yourself?

When you get a clogged drain or a toilet that just won't flush, do you reach for the phone and call for a plumber? When you have these seemingly simple plumbing problems around your house, you have to make a decision quickly. Do you pay for someone to come out and make the repairs, or do you attempt the repair on your own? This blog is all about DIY plumbing repairs. You will learn the basics and find tips for when to cut your losses and call in for professional assistance so you don't make a small fix one that needs serious repairs.