The plumber put one trap on two sinks. The piping after the sink and before the trap started to stink. My solution was to place a trap on each sink, close to the sink itself, and pipe the two traps together after the discharge of the traps.
Problem solved; no more stinky pipes.
By Paul from Cincinnati, OH
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I had a problem with the sink and bath, where when you turn the taps on water comes through the bath and there is a smell. I had someone out and they changed my pipes under the bath, but when the working man came and changed the pipes he said the pipes are backwards. After he did all the pipes the water from the sink that went through the bath has stopped. Now I can smell a horrible smell like sewers, but I don't know where the smell is coming from. Any help as to why?
By Becky
You could have some problem with your vents or with the sink traps. However, this is not something that you can fix yourself. Call the plumber again.
My drains of one toilet and shower smell like cocoroaches always after cleaning with clorox and water cubes. What else to do? WE don't use that bath for showering.
I've done a search on Thrify Tips for stinky drain pipes, all I can find is to use vinegar and baking soda. I've been doing that for the last 6 months and it used to work but doesn't anymore. The smell has gotten much stronger and is driving me out of my home. Does anyone have any ideas? Please!
Ellen from Maricopa, CA
Feedback:
Baking Soda Drain Cleaner: If water hasn't backed up yet, pour 1 cup baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water down drain. Repeat a few times.
Washing Soda Drain Cleaner: If water isn't going down the drain, pour 1 cup washing soda over the drain and let set for awhile to work it's way down. Once clog loosens use the Baking Soda method above.
WARNING: Don't overuse washing soda if a commercial drain cleaner has recently been used as tehy will react together. Don't overuse washing soda if you have PVC pipes as the caustic nature can slowly damage the plastic.
To keep drains clear of hair in the bathroom sinks such as shower/tub, pour 1 cup of washing soda down pipe followed by a thorough flushing of water a few times a month. Hope this works for you. (10/17/2006)
By Kylie
By Carla
By Mary
By Roberta
I have to remind myself to routinely pour a quart of water into the floor drain in my garage because I never run water down it and it dries out. Another possibility would be that some "do-it-yourself handyman" did not understand the necessity of using a "S trap" of pipe and just ran a straight section of pipe from the sink to the sewer pipe. If that is the case it won't matter how much cleaner you pour down your drain. The sewer gas will still come in and stink! If one particular drain seems to be the stinky one, I would check it to make sure it has the weird little looped section of pipe under the sink. (You know the piece your husband has to take apart when you drop your ring or earring down the sink drain!) :)
Hope this helps! (12/11/2006)
By Grandma Margie
By kg
By Paul
I tried everything from baking soda and vinegar, checking to make sure I have "S" traps throughout the entire house and making sure the vent on the roof isn't blocked. My house went from smelling like stinky farts to rotten eggs. It was truly unbearable. Eventually I figured out that the drain in my garage was bone dry. I poured a bucket of water into it and the smell is now gone. (10/18/2008)By Sil
Editor's Note: Have you had any experience with stinky pipes? If so, please leave us feedback telling us what you have tried and any advice you might have.
I solved my problem with Stinky Pipes by pouring some Clorox down the drain. I did use the plunger before I poured the Clorox in the drain. It was amazing how much dirt came up when I plunged
I just inherited my family home that had been standing vacant for two years. Every time I run the water in any sink it smells horrible like rotten eggs! Also I've got to get a plumber out today because the seal around the toilet is leaking and also when I run water in the kitchen the bathroom floods so I'm sure that the pipes are stopped up somewhere, possible tree roots because my house is surrounded by trees, there's just such a variety of things that can be going wrong. I've been reading a lot on this subject and I found out that the P traps are very important that they dry out when not used for so long so I found several home remedies involving baking soda and vinegar and bleach comma which by the way never mix bleach and vinegar it causes chlorine gas which is very dangerous, and also something having to do with mineral oil after you rinse your drains with all these things it keeps the water in the P-trap from evaporating so quickly. Basically what I've learned is that it's best to always call a reputable plumber after trying these home remedies especially if a house has not being used in so long because when they sit vacant a million things happen to them, now I understand why the old folks always said if a home isn't lived in for so long it falls down into ruin!
