Bathroom renovation portal. Useful Tips

How to remove an unpleasant odor from the kitchen sink? Causes of Sink Smells Smells from the sink drain.

We are used to the fact that the kitchen usually smells like freshly prepared food. But sometimes the pungent smell from the sink can disrupt this idyll of scents. There can be many reasons for such a stench, in order to completely and permanently get rid of this problem, it is necessary to correctly deal with the design of the siphon and sewer pipeline in the kitchen. In addition, if you have a washing machine in your kitchen, then its drain is connected to a siphon from the kitchen sink, so an unpleasant smell can also come from the car. In addition to the usual discomfort, gases from sewer pipes can be harmful to humans, since they contain hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other toxic substances.

There can be many reasons for a strong smell from a kitchen sink or washing machine. First of all, you need to understand why it smells like sewage, and then try to fix this problem.

So, an unpleasant smell from the sink can occur for the following reasons:

  1. Most often, the problem lies in the siphon or water seal in it.
  2. Sometimes the unpleasant odor is due to clogged sewer pipes.
  3. Damage to the sewer pipeline.
  4. It may not smell from the drain hole of the sink, but from the overflow that most modern kitchen sinks have.

When you understand where the stinks come from, you can figure out what to do next to fix the problem. Our recommendations will help you with this.

Siphon problems


In most cases, the smell from the sink is due to a malfunction in the siphon. You can see this product if you look under the sink. A plastic structure in the form of a curved smooth or corrugated pipe and is called a siphon. It is designed in such a way that water always remains in its bent knee - a water plug that prevents gases from the sewer pipes from entering the room. If the kitchen stinks of sewage, it means that the siphon is not doing its job.

Siphons are of two types: corrugated and flask. They all have the same operating principle. There should always be water in the elbow of the siphon, which serves as a cork and does not allow odors to pass from the pipes. If the gases pass, then the siphon has one of the following faults:

  1. The corrugated siphon tube may sag... This usually happens if the pipe bend is not fixed with special holders, but with electrical tape or tape. However, even a properly fixed pipe can deform over time. In this case, you need to either correctly attach the pipe bend using clamps, or buy a new siphon.
  2. If mistakes were made during the installation of the siphon, then the air from the sewer pipes will penetrate into the room. To get rid of the unpleasant odor in the kitchen, you need to properly assemble the flask siphon. Usually, with self-installation, many owners make a mistake and fix the branch pipe that goes from the sink bowl to the siphon above the level of the water seal. In fact, it should be attached to the siphon 2-3 cm below the surface of the water plug in the water seal. In this case, you should not do so that this pipe touches the bottom of the flask.
  3. Drying out of the water seal... If you left home for a long time, and no one used water, that is, water did not drain into the drain hole, then the water plug in the siphon can simply dry out. In this case, gases from the sewer pipes will freely enter the room. To get rid of the unpleasant odor in the kitchen, it is enough to drain the water into the sink drain hole, and the water plug will be restored.

Tip: if you are going to leave for a long time, then add a little vegetable oil to the drain holes of all sanitary appliances. The oil film on the surface of the water seal will prevent the water from evaporating, and upon returning home you will not find an unpleasant smell from the sewer pipes in the apartment.

Sometimes it is impossible to eliminate the unpleasant smell due to the fact that the drain from the washing machine is incorrectly connected to the siphon in the kitchen. The drain hose from the washing machine is not connected directly to the sewer, but to the siphon, since the specified distance from the floor level must be observed. In addition, such a connection will not allow gases from the sewer to penetrate through the drain pipe into the washing machine, since there will be a siphon water seal on their way.

However, if you did the connection of the washing machine yourself, you could violate this requirement and connect the drain directly to the sewer. In this case, the unit may smell unpleasant. To connect the drain from the washing machine, you need to buy a special siphon, in which an additional pipe is provided for these purposes. It is located slightly above the water seal, and not below it, like a sink from a sink.

Breakdown of the water seal


Sometimes, even with the correct installation of the siphon, the hydraulic seal breaks down. This happens when problems arise in the main sewer pipeline or in case of violations during the installation process:

  1. If the installation of the sewer pipeline was carried out using pipes of a smaller diameter than provided for by the requirements, then when draining the water will completely fill the lumen of the pipe, cause a vacuum pressure and breakdown of the hydraulic seal. To get rid of this problem, you need to replace the pipes with new products of a suitable diameter.
  2. Sometimes, even in pipes of the required section, a vacuum pressure may occur when the water is drained and the hydraulic seal breaks off. This happens when the pipeline is clogged, then the flowing water will fill the entire narrowed lumen of the pipe. To fix the problem, you need to clean the sewer pipeline in the apartment.
  3. To equalize the pressure in the main sewage system, a fan ventilation pipe is brought out to the roof of the house. If it gets clogged, then with a massive drain of water, the water locks will break off in all apartments running along this riser. In this case, you need to call professionals and clean the drain pipe from the roof.

Fighting blockages and damaged pipes


If everything is in order with the siphon and the water seal, then the cause of the unpleasant odor in the kitchen may lie in the pipes. To check them, you need to do the following:

  1. Clogged pipes can be indicated by slow drainage from the sink. It does not flow out immediately, but stagnates in the sink for some time. The blockage can be dealt with with a plunger. To do this, you need to open the water so that it gets into the sink. After that, the plunger is tightly pressed to the drain hole and vertical movements are made to it. Then remove the plunger from the drain, and allow the water to drain. Instead, you can use special cleaning agents to remove blockages in the sewer pipes. Usually the composition is poured into the drain. After that, a glass of warm water is poured. You shouldn't use the sink for half an hour. After this time, the drain is rinsed abundantly with tap water.
  2. If water flows out of the sink normally, then the problem lies in the leakage of the pipe. This can happen due to its damage or depressurization of the connection. In this case, you need to change the damaged section of the pipeline or seal the weak connection with sealant.

Overflow odor


Modern kitchen sinks are equipped with an overflow protection system. To do this, above the drain hole, not reaching the upper edge of the sink a couple of centimeters, another hole is made. A tube runs from this hole to the siphon. This overflow protects you from flooding. For example, if water flows from the tap and the drain hole is covered with dishes, the sink will quickly fill. To prevent water from going over the edge, an additional overflow hole is made in the upper part of the sink bowl.

Since water and food debris often get into it, they can be deposited in the form of plaque on the walls of the pipe and emit an unpleasant odor from the overflow hole. To eliminate such a smell, periodically you need to pour boiling water into the overflow.

To get rid of the unpleasant odor from the drain hole, you can use baking soda (3 tablespoons) by diluting it in a glass of warm water and pouring it into the drain. They also use vinegar or citric acid, drenched in boiling water. After 30 minutes after any procedure, the sink must be rinsed with water.

Washing dirty dishes with particles of grease and adhering food leaves its mark on the walls of the drain system. A large accumulation of these particles leads to decay and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Equally important in this matter is the state of the drain and siphon, whose exit from work also makes itself felt.

Sources of odor

It is easy to determine the source of your troubles, it is enough to inspect all possible objects that can cause an unpleasant odor in the kitchen. First of all, pay special attention to the siphon, drain pipe and sewage system. These three plumbing parts are the most vulnerable to clogging and dirt build-up. Also, inspect the space between the sink and the wall, it is possible that the hose has torn off, water leaks, or an old dirty washcloth or floor rag is stuck.

If the water does not pass well and, as a result, an odor appears, the sewer system should be inspected. Perhaps a large object got into the drain, which created a plug or a blockage. It is the latter option that is one of the most common reasons for the very same sink. The largest blockage is concentrated in the siphon. It is here that when washing dirty dishes, a huge amount of grease, debris, dirt, hair particles, adhering food debris and burning accumulates. Of course, special grids for the sink hole help to minimize waste entering the drain system. However, over time, even such gentle care will crack. A sediment forms on the walls of the siphon, which begins to rot and emit an odor.

You can help solve this problem by cleaning the siphon. The mechanism of action is as follows. Place a bucket under the base of the bottom part of the siphon, carefully unscrew the lid and remove all accumulated dirt, fix the lid in its place. After that, we rinse the drain with boiling water with the addition of a small amount of detergent. If the siphon has a corrugated tube, then it must also be disconnected and thoroughly cleaned. But in houses with an old drainage system, disconnecting the siphon is quite problematic, especially with a cast-iron elbow.

If the water does not pass well and, as a result, there is an odor, you should inspect the sewer system.

The main purpose of the siphon is to create a water seal, that is, a special barrier that blocks evaporation and the penetration of foreign odors into the apartment from the sink hole. If there is no water seal in the siphon, then the appearance of foreign odors is inevitable.

Most often, the problem lies in the improper installation of the drain system itself with a siphon. Depending on the type of construction, this problem can be solved in the following ways. If you have a bottle-type siphon, fix the position of the drain connection correctly so that it is about 2-3 cm below the water level.

With a corrugated drain, it is important that the tube remains slightly bent and does not straighten. Check if it is correctly installed and, if necessary, shape it as needed. This will help create a water seal, and so that the tube does not return to its original position again, fix it with special clips.

If there is no water seal in the siphon, then the appearance of foreign odors is inevitable.

Other reasons for the breakdown of the water seal can be vacuum breakdown. A characteristic sign of this violation is the bubbling of water in a clogged drain hole. There are two ways to solve this problem. The first one is cleaning the fan tube, for which it is best to seek help from a specialist. The second is the installation of a vacuum valve that normalizes the pressure in the sewer.

Other causes of sink odors

In addition to the main reasons for the appearance of a smell from the drain hole, there are also minor ones that also provoke this problem.

If an unpleasant smell concentrates under the sink, then perhaps the reason lies in the violation of the tightness of the structure and the appearance of cracks. To find the very source, you need to smoothly open the water and take a closer look at the state of the pipes and joints. If water seeps out at the junction of the pipes, then reliable fixation with silicone sealant or replacement of the seal will help to eliminate the problem. If cracks are found, we immediately replace the old pipe with a new one. If a leak occurs, the odor can be absorbed into the floor covering. Therefore, after replacing pipes and linings, thoroughly wash the floor with a refreshing cleaner.

The reason for the smell may lie in the violation of the tightness of the structure.

Long absence of exploitation

If you have not used the sink for a long time, then the water in the drain system may stagnate and the walls dry out, which also provokes an unpleasant odor. Therefore, before a long business trip or travel, add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil to the drain hole. This will create a reliable enveloping film, preventing moisture evaporation and odor spreading at the same time.

Drainage system cleaning methods

Chemical and mechanical means are used to clean the sewer system and all parts of the drainage system from blockages, as well as to remove foreign odors from the sink. Recently, a hydrodynamic installation, which flushes the sewer system under high water pressure, has also been very popular.

Soda is based on sodium carbonate, however, as in many chemical cleaning products. Therefore, this substance can be attributed to folk remedies for combating odor, blockage in the sink and similar chemical effects. This tool can be combined or used separately.

For the first option, let's prepare a solution. Dissolve three tablespoons of baking soda or soda ash in warm water and pour the mixture down the drain, letting it sit for 20-30 minutes. After a while, rinse the drain with warm water, or even better, scald it with boiling water.

Vinegar
Soda

This method works well for minor blockages. If the problem is more pronounced, then you can combine the use of baking soda with table vinegar. To do this, pour about half a pack of soda into the drain hole and fill it with a glass of vinegar. The mixture will begin to fizz and foam, this is a normal chemical process. We also leave this mixture to interact with the walls of the drain system, after which we scald everything with boiling water and rinse thoroughly. To combine useful with pleasant, use lemon juice instead of vinegar. This will allow you not only to cope with the problem that has arisen, but also to fill the kitchen with citrus aroma.

For better results and raising the pH level, like with chemical cleaning agents, experts recommend calcining the baking soda in a dry frying pan, and after cooling down, dilute it with water and pour it into the drain hole.

Attention, do not pour water into the hot soda pan, otherwise you may get a chemical burn.

If there is a serious blockage and an unbearably creepy odor, use a chemical drain cleaner. They contain sodium, which softens the formed plaque on the walls. However, when using these products, be extremely careful, following the instructions clearly so that corrosive chemical components do not corrode the walls of plastic pipes. So before using the product, familiarize yourself with the proportions and rules of application.

These drugs are sold in a wide variety of variations, in the form of powders, granules, gels and liquids. Powdered preparations work slowly, so consumers give more preference to liquid components. They have relatively the same cost, so it is important to rely on the careful action of a means that does not destroy the polymer base of the drain system. We can recommend Tiret, Mister Muscle and the well-known Mole.

Observe safety precautions

When working with any sewer cleaner, do not forget about safety rules.

Put on rubber gloves and a respirator on your hands so as not to provoke skin burns and inflammation of the mucous membranes. Pour the liquid into the sink drain slowly, without unnecessary splashing. Leave the solution to interact with sediments on the walls of the sewer for the time specified in the instructions. After that, flush the drain system with plenty of water and scald it with boiling water. Such an event will help you get rid of the blockage and completely eliminate the odors from the sink that bother you.

Unfortunately, not all types of blockages and odors can be eliminated with folk and chemical remedies. Sometimes the seals and plugs in the sink drain pipes are so serious that only special mechanical devices can handle them. Among them, plumbing cable, metal tape, spiral loops, etc. are used. Outwardly, all these devices differ from each other, but in practice they have one mechanism of action - the elimination of blockage and the removal of the remains of solid particles into the central sewer or septic tank.

If you do not have such specialized tools in your home, you can use steel wire. The main thing is that it is flexible and easily penetrates into all hard-to-reach places. Use the hook attachment when removing hair and tissue.

Plumbing cable
Steel wire

However, the best fixture will still be a plumbing cable, thanks to its convenient design. The spiral has good flexibility and penetrates into all parts of the drain system, and the handle allows rotating movements without sliding on the hand. In addition, you can always choose a model that is convenient for you, based on the characteristics and diameter of the pipes.

Be sure to prepare buckets and rags, and put on your old clothes before you start cleaning. Believe me, this will all come in handy. After the end of the procedure, and the washstand, using for this.

Hydrodynamic unit - a new solution to the problem

An unusual way to deal with blockages is to remove the blockage using a strong pressure of water, which pushes all clogged particles out. For these purposes, a special compressor is used, powered by the network or on gasoline. It provides a high flow of water to the hose under pressure. This method helps to cope even with the extra complex blockages themselves.

When carrying out this procedure yourself, consider several important rules:

  • pressure and pressure of water supply;
  • the amount of solid particles and the scale of the blockage;
  • material from which the sewer system is made.

Be especially careful when using this unit with plastic pipes. If the plastic is of poor quality and is made of cheap polymeric materials, then under high water pressure and mechanical stress, its fragile walls may not withstand the pressure and collapse.

Each house has its own characteristic smell. But the room does not always smell like pleasant detergents, refreshing agents or flowers. It is not very good when the unpleasant odor spreads throughout the apartment. Perhaps it is just clogged and needs cleaning. Many housewives don't know how to remove odor from the kitchen sink, so we'll look at the reasons for it and what to do about it.

The main reason why an unpleasant odor appears in the kitchen is sewage problems. The main function of the wash is to remove various types of dirt. The drain installed under the sink is directed to the sewer pipes.

The reasons for the malfunction of the sewer system may be the following:

  • clogged siphon. The siphon is a small, curved section of the drain pipe. Its role in maintaining the water level inside the bend, as well as the separation of the air environment in the room and the sewer pipe. Over time, oily deposits can form inside the pipe or siphon due to poor maintenance. Small particles of food waste adhere to it;
  • airing the sewer riser. This malfunction is indicated by the characteristic gurgling sound inside the sink. In this case, only an employee of the housing office can fix the problem, because this is a malfunction of the main system;
  • mechanical damage to the drain pipe;
  • contamination of the inner surface of the pipes by means of fats, food debris;
  • deformation of the corrugated pipe. Over time, the corrugation has the ability to stretch, sag. Such situations happen even with proper installation. Due to the stretching of the corrugation, the water is unable to retain and is drained directly into the sewer. In addition, she can come back;
  • violation of the seal between such parts of the sewer as a riser and a drain. This is a flaw of the sewerage system installers. Quite often they do not bother with sealing and simply insert the corrugated pipe into the riser hole;
  • evaporation of moisture from the water seal due to the non-use of the sink, the location of the heating pipes under the valve. If the sink is rarely used, water evaporates from the water seal that forms in the bend of the siphon and prevents the spread of the sewer odor;
  • installation flaws (workers may incorrectly select the diameter of the pipe section).

Types of siphons of different types and how they work

In addition to the main reasons for the appearance of a stench from the sink, you need to take into account the more rare provocateurs of an unpleasant smell in the kitchen:

  • severe wear, cracking of plastic pipelines;
  • malfunction of the siphon;
  • improper design of the drain system at the bottom of the sink;
  • holes in metal sewer pipes.

Why is the smell from the sink dangerous?

The stench from the kitchen sink is not only a nuisance for the hostess, but also poses a danger to the health of the residents of the apartment. Humans are able to recognize odors, which is considered a natural survival mechanism. The body defines a scent as "disgusting" only in situations where the stench can harm it.

The air that enters the room from the sewer system contains poisonous gases:

  • hydrogen sulfide;
  • ammonia.

These components explain the unpleasant odor from the sink. Sewer air also contains methane. It is formed as a result of decomposition of sewage. This gas does not have any odor, but it is still dangerous. Long-term exposure to toxic gases on the body threatens with negative consequences.


The smell from the sink is not only unpleasant but also dangerous.

Important: Methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide harm the respiratory system and can provoke a partial loss of smell. When the nervous system is exposed to fetid aromas, there is a feeling of increased anxiety. Sometimes they provoke nervous breakdowns, fainting.

Considering the above facts, it is better to fix the problem with an unpleasant odor than to harm yourself and your loved ones.

Effective ways to eliminate sink odor

You can remove the smell in different ways that experts suggest.

cable

When kitchen waste enters the sewer system, toothpicks retain fat, food debris, and a plug forms, which reduces the throughput of pipes. Adhesion of fat, food provokes a putrid smell. A metal cable will help to remove the plug. It should be firmly grasped with the palm, slowly rotated and pushed further. The plug can be pushed further along the pipe or removed from the sewer (in the case when the cable is equipped with a hook at the end).

If the blockage is removed, the water flow is normalized. Water must first be supplied in a thin stream, then you can open the tap harder. This is to ensure that the blockage has been removed. It is recommended to turn on hot water. It helps to get rid of greasy deposits, cork residues from the pipe walls.

After cleaning the system, a special cable for cleaning the sewer should be rinsed, wiped, lubricated with machine oil. These actions will prevent the appearance of rust on the product. The dry rope must be rolled up and stored.

The use of a cable for punching blockages

Using a plunger for cleaning

The siphon must be inspected. If the problem was provoked by the stretching of the corrugation, improper installation of the structure, it is enough to install everything correctly and fix it. If the stench provoked a blockage, the siphon and drain are cleaned with a plunger. It must be new, which has not been used to clean the bathtub, toilet.

The drain hole of the sink is covered with a plunger cap, pressed, then a hot water tap is opened. After the cap is closed with water, you need to press firmly on the handle of the device several times. This is necessary to pump water up and down and destroy the plug formed in the pipe. Then the plunger is removed to wash off the remaining blockage with water.

Dismantling, flushing the siphon

Before proceeding with this action, you should substitute a bucket under the sink. This is to prevent water from flowing out of the water seal onto the floor. Then we unscrew the sump cup with a wrench or with our hands. If you have a non-separable design, then you need to remove the entire siphon. After all the water has drained off, we begin cleaning.

The pipe behind the siphon is checked, cleaned if necessary. The siphon itself is washed with household chemicals (dish detergent, dissolved powder, washing gel). After such cleaning, the siphon is assembled, the tightness of the joints, the position of the entire structure are checked.


Methods to help remove a small blockage in the siphon

Sealing joints

When the smell is provoked by the depressurization of the joint between the drain and the sewer pipe, it is required to seal it. The simplest method is considered to be fum tape wrapping, but a better solution is the use of a special plumbing sealant ("Moment", Tytan, Ciki Fix, Ceresit). It will prevent the appearance of mold, mildew, and the growth of microorganisms.

To prepare the surface for applying the sealant, you need to use acetone, alcohol, dry soft rags. Apply the sealant with a soft, narrow spatula. The joints should be initially wiped dry and degreased. Then the sealant is squeezed out so that it covers the entire joint with one strip (no tears). A spatula is used to level the seams.


Sealants for sewer pipe joints

Protection of the water seal from drying out

To do this, it is enough to open the tap more often, replenishing the water level in the siphon.

Disinfection with baking soda and salt

These folk remedies are considered good disinfectants to help remove bad odors from the drain. To do this, you need to fall asleep inside the sink drain hole, stand for 20 minutes, then rinse the sink with plenty of water. You can use this method for prevention.

Soda + vinegar

To flush out a simple blockage, you can use baking soda + vinegar. Pour half a pack of soda inside the sewer drain, fill this mass with vinegar, and plug the hole with a rag. The drain must be flushed out after 20 minutes.

Note: To improve the smell in the room, scented oil (mint, lemon, rose, lavender, etc.) can be added to the mixture. Thanks to this simple method, the room will smell good.

Lemon acid

You can also use citric acid. A large pack of powder is poured into the drain hole, poured with boiling water. Such an improvised tool will help eliminate unwanted odors from the kitchen sink at home.


Pipe odor removers

Flushing with special products

There are many different household chemicals that are produced for sewer cleaning. Its purpose is to eliminate plaque on pipes, dissolve blockages, disinfect, and eliminate unpleasant odors. Very popular and effective means are "Mole", "Mister Muscle", "Flup", "Potkhan", "Tiret".


Means for removing blockages and prevention

We have already considered how you can remove the smell from the sink if it appears in the kitchen. Now we will give you the ways to prevent the stench from the sink:

  • you can not clean off the remnants of food in the sink;
  • for prevention, pour soda + vinegar into the pipes once a week;
  • use personal protective equipment when cleaning chemical pipes. means (gloves, glasses, bandage);
  • rinse the drain hole with hot water every time you wash the dishes;
  • if you are away from home for a long time, pour into the sink an agent that prevents water evaporation in the bend (sunflower oil or other oil). This is ideal for summer cottages;
  • install a removable siphon;
  • ventilate the room if you use Mole and its analogues;
  • do not use aggressive chloride agents for metal sinks;
  • install.

If there is a stench from the sink, you already know what to do and therefore, in most cases, you will be able to cope with the problem on your own. You should not tolerate the unpleasant and rather dangerous smell of sewage in a place where the whole family gathers, and the housewife spends most of the day to cook everyone's favorite dishes.

Tweet

You can remove the smell from the kitchen sink using home methods or remove it with special chemicals, such as Anti-clogging, Sanfor, Tiret Turbo.

The unexpected smell from the sink in the kitchen causes various reasons, the nature of which is not always possible to establish on your own. It is advisable in such situations to invite a specialist in order to quickly cope with an unpleasant problem.

Possible reasons

A detailed inspection of the pipes in the kitchen can help to identify damage or insufficient tightness of the riser joints. Simple defects can be eliminated independently by carefully tightening the pipe joints, additionally applying a special sealant.

Inspection of the siphon can show that it does not comply with the standards, having a shortened baffle. This affects the insufficient dimensions of the water seal, which breaks off from the volume of the incoming water. In this case, the siphon must be replaced. In another type of device, a corrugated pipe, which simply unbent during operation, can provoke a sudden appearance of odor. It can be fixed in the desired angle with adhesive tape, planning a replacement for the near future.

It is difficult to determine how the probable cause of the smell is the breakdown of the water seal, although it is given out by squelching sounds. Only a qualified master can help in solving the problem, since a serious examination of the entire sewer system will be required.

Knowing that, due to rare use, the odor trap can dry out, causing the penetration of odor, it is advisable, if the whole family is absent for a long time, to fill it with machine oil, which prevents evaporation.


Often, odors are caused by plaque on the inner surfaces of the pipe, dirt, which accumulates simultaneously in the siphon.

Home remedies for odor removal

Among the household supplies in the kitchen, it is easy to find substances and devices that can quickly help in leveling unpleasant odors coming from a clogged sink. The first technique is traditionally the use of a plunger. If the blockage is serious, then other methods will be required to solve the problem of how to eliminate the smell from the sink.

  1. Unscrew the siphon flask and rinse it.
  2. Use a flexible string inserted into the pipe. In reciprocating movements with simultaneous rotation, the cable pushes part of the debris further, and pulls out part of it.
  3. In some cases, ordinary salt helps, which is enough to pour it into the drain hole for an hour and a half, and then rinse it off with a sufficiently strong water jet.
  4. You can insert a hose into the drain hole, tightly closing the joints with cellophane, and start up hot water under strong pressure.
  5. Helps to remove impurities and knowledge of chemistry, that is, the application of a neutralization reaction. To do this, the soda, placed in the drain, is poured with table vinegar, as a result of which a foam forms. The hole is closed tightly for half an hour, and then everything is washed out.


If you spill the pipes weekly with a liter of boiling water with washing soda diluted in it (two tablespoons are enough), then the problems of blockages in the pipes in the kitchen can be practically avoided for a long time.

Chemicals

From household chemicals, the effectiveness of the following compositions is noted - Homestar, Tiret Turbo, Sanfor, Selena, Antizasor, Mister Muscle.

Special products aimed at cleansing plaque and eliminating the resulting blockages contain rather aggressive components, so it is advisable to protect your hands with gloves when working.

Means of a thick consistency, being more concentrated, cope with plaque faster and dissolve even complex blockages. They are placed in the drain for a certain period of time in accordance with the instructions, and then the pipes are rinsed with large volumes of water.

It takes ~ 2 minutes to read

Housewives work hard to get a comfortable, cozy atmosphere in the apartment. Particular attention is paid to the kitchen, because food is prepared here, dishes are cleaned from contamination. Unpleasant odors often appear in this room, which gradually spread throughout the apartment. One of the reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon is considered to be a blockage in the sewer system. From our article we will learn how to eliminate the smell from the sink in the kitchen, consider the causes of its occurrence and methods of struggle.


    Save

Causes

Before choosing a specific method for eliminating an unpleasant odor, it is necessary to understand the cause of its occurrence:

  1. Blockage in the siphon. When washing dishes, grease, cereals, peeling vegetables and food waste get into the sewer system. Over time, these substances accumulate on the walls of the pipes or in the siphon and form plugs. Rotting deposits create an unpleasant odor, which can only be removed by thoroughly cleaning the siphon.
  2. The second popular reason is the inconsistent operation of the sink. A water seal is not formed in the siphon, which should prevent the penetration of foreign odors from the sewer system. If the plumbing has not been used for its intended purpose for a long time, the liquid will evaporate and the smell will penetrate the room.
  3. Incorrect installation of the siphon.
  4. Deformation of the corrugation during operation. Over time, the tube changes its initial position, may sag or stretch. In this position, a blockage or complete drainage of the liquid into the sewer is formed, which prevents the formation of a water seal in the siphon.
  5. Lack of sealing at the joints of the riser and pipes. The corrugation is simply stuck into the drain hole after the siphon, its second end is inserted into the sewer.
  6. Airing is accompanied by the characteristic gurgling sound of the sink. This phenomenon often occurs when the neighbors from above have installed plugs on the sewer inlets.

As we can see, unpleasant odors in the kitchen can appear for various reasons. Next, we will learn how to get rid of the smell from the sink.


    Save

Relevance of the issue

The smell from the sink is not only unpleasant, substances that enter the premises can affect human health. The air entering the room from the sewer system contains harmful gases (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and methane). The last substance is especially dangerous, it is impossible to notice its presence, because methane does not emit a smell.

Prolonged exposure to harmful vapors leads to loss of smell, affects the respiratory organs. These gases also act on the nervous system. A person develops a feeling of anxiety, which can lead to nervous breakdowns.


    Save

A plumber will help to diagnose sanitary equipment, but a specialist will have to wait a long time and then pay for services. This option is recommended for use in case of serious breakdowns, most of the work can be done independently without special skills.

First you need to follow the work of the sink. If the liquid runs off normally but the odor persists, flush the pipe with hot water and detergent or a vinegar and baking soda solution. If such operations did not give the desired result, you will have to inspect the pipes and the siphon for cracks, leaking connections. Perhaps there is a leak in the utilities. If moisture is detected, the joints are sealed with sealant or wrapped with fum tape.


    Save

Methods for dealing with unpleasant odors

Before you eliminate the smell of sewage in the kitchen, you need to figure out the cause of its occurrence. If all the connections of sanitary appliances are tight, then an unpleasant odor enters the room through the formation of blockages in the pipes. There are several methods for destroying plugs, let's get acquainted with them in more detail.

Cleaning rope

A standard steel cable will not solve the problem; a special tool with a hook and a brush must be used to break the plug. Its length ranges from 3-5 meters; a handle is installed at the end for carrying out rotational movements.

To remove the blockage in the sewer, the following steps must be taken:

  • Remove the corrugation from the inlet to the sewer system.
  • Insert the cable into the pipe and start pushing it to the maximum depth.
  • We rotate the handle and at the same time hold the casing.
  • Such manipulations are carried out until the cable comes into contact with the blockage. Next, you can try to destroy the cork or pull it out with a hook.

After the procedures, the instrument is thoroughly washed, its surface is lubricated with machine oil and placed in a box for storage.


    Save

Using a plunger

The specified device is used when deposits form in the siphon, when there is no desire to disassemble the device. Next, we will describe how to get rid of the smell from the sink using a plunger. This requires:

  • install the hood on the drain hole on the sink;
  • turn on the hot water tap and wait until the liquid completely covers the cap;
  • we close the valve and move the plunger handle one by one, up and down;
  • after several such techniques, we take out the device, while part of the deposits from the siphon should fall into the sink;
  • open hot water and wash off the dirt.

Instead of a siphon, you can also use improvised means, for example, a bag of juice or milk. In such a container, we cut off the upper part, insert it into the drain hole and act on the principle of a plunger with periodic up and down movements.


    Save

If the reason for the unpleasant smell is in the siphon, then this device can be disassembled. We take out the corrugation from the sewer pipe and substitute the bucket, open the tap and pour water into the sink. If the liquid does not flow, it is necessary to disassemble the siphon. For this:

  1. we substitute the container and carefully unscrew the cap;
  2. unscrew the nuts and remove the corrugation, remove the blockage;
  3. the siphon is assembled in the reverse order.

At the final stage of work, we check the tightness of the joints. To do this, just turn on the water. Tighten the fasteners if necessary.


    Save

Fighting blockages using available tools

How to remove the smell of sewage from the sink if the necessary equipment is not at hand? Improvised means will help in this:

  • Pour a glass of salt into the sink drain and add 500 milliliters of boiling water. After 3 hours, turn on hot water.
  • Stir the baking soda and salt in equal proportions and pour into the sink. After half an hour, we act on the mixture with boiling water. If the smell remains, we repeat the procedure or use more effective methods.
  • Pour 2 tbsp into a siphon. Spoons of baking soda, then pour a glass of vinegar and block the hole with a rag or cork. After 10 minutes, rinse the pipes with boiling water.
  • Pour the contents of a sachet of citric acid powder into the drain, add a small amount of hot water. The chemical reaction should help break up the blockage.
  • We use a special product "Mole" according to the instructions on the package. This drug is more aggressive than citric acid or baking soda and vinegar.

Other chemicals can be used to remove blockages in the sink. They are bought in a household chemicals store, used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

How to remove odor from kitchen sinks? Preventing blockages is considered the best way. This requires:

  1. Use a special mesh to trap food waste in the sink. Do not sprinkle tea leaves or coffee grounds into the sink.
  2. After washing the dishes, rinse the pipes with hot water. This will prevent grease from accumulating in the siphon or in the corrugation.
  3. Carry out periodic maintenance of the sink. Pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain hole. Such operations must be performed at least once a week.
  4. If the plumbing will be idle for a long time (the owners have gone to rest), pour some vegetable oil into the siphon. Such a liquid does not evaporate, which will prevent the penetration of foreign odors from the sewer system.

Buy quality siphons that you can disassemble by hand. In this case, the user will be able to repair the equipment himself without calling a plumber.


    Save

Conclusion

There are a huge number of ways to get rid of the smell in the sink, but before taking specific actions, it is necessary to identify the cause of its occurrence and choose the most effective means. The recommendations indicated in the article will help you solve the problem on your own and achieve the desired result.