You’re starting to run your shower, looking forward to enjoying a luxurious time in the hot water. Then all of a sudden you are rudely greeted by an odor emanating from the shower drain. Is this you?
No one likes their place of cleanliness to feel gross. If you find yourself with a smelly shower, here are some possible causes and solutions to restore your drain.
1. Mold/Mildew Growth
Moisture from the damp environment can be the perfect breeding ground for some mold to grow. This can result in a musty scent in your shower.
Solution: Start by scrubbing down the drain cover. Then follow up with a bleach mixture (1 part bleach, 10 parts water), pouring it down the drain.
2. Bacteria and Biofilm
Bacteria also enjoy a lot of moisture and organic matter, leading to a foul-smelling biofilm to form.
Solution: Mix baking soda and vinegar down the drain, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then wash it down with hot water.
3. Hair and Scum Build-Up
As hair and soap residue continue to go down the shower drain, they can begin to stick together and dry. This can lead to clogging and a smelly shower.
Solution: To remedy this, use a drain snake tool or a plunger to loosen and remove some of the build-up. Then flush with hot water.
4. Dirty Vent Pipe
If your vent pipe – which allows for your wastewater to flow through pipes and for the sewer air to escape – is blocked or clogged, then the odor can sometimes exit through the shower drain.
Solution: Check the vent on your roof, or if needed, call a professional, like Drain X.
5. Dry P-Trap
The P-trap in your plumbing is usually sealed by water in order to prevent sewer gas from entering into your home. If your shower hasn’t been used in awhile, the pipes can get dry, which then leads to gas exiting through the drain.
Solution: Ensure you are using your shower regularly enough to keep the pipes wet. Either pour water down the drain or run the shower to help the P-trap fill up again.
6. Infrequent Cleaning
If you aren’t staying on top of maintaining your plumbing regularly, then you can start to experience the results of that, like smelly showers.
Solution: Hiring professionals to help with routine cleaning will keep your plumbing – like your showers, tubs, and sinks – fresh and at their best. Drain X is able to help with all your drain cleaning needs: clogged drains, foul smells, weird noises, standing water, etc. We know the importance of plumbing and are able to provide services that leave you feeling confident and satisfied.
Though a bad-smelling shower is not ideal, with some at-home remedies and help from Drain X, you will be back to having a refreshing shower again.
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