How to remove sewer odor from a kitchen sink

The pungent smell of sewage is a problem that definitely works against the comfort of home. Even the most thorough cleaning will not hide the amber. Regardless of the reasons for the smell of sewage from the sink in the kitchen, it is worth dealing with the problem immediately, since toxic fumes are harmful to human health.

Why sewer odor is dangerous for health

Man has the ability to recognize aromas. In addition, nature is arranged in such a way that we perceive amber, dangerous to health, as disgusting. Sewer smell is no exception. It contains the following gases:

• ammonia;
• hydrogen sulfide;
• methane.

Each individually and collectively, they seriously harm health:

• Disrupt the work of the respiratory system;
• provoke oxygen starvation;
• lead to general weakness, fainting, nausea;
• disrupt the work of the central nervous system.

Methane gas has no specific smell. But if it accumulates in large quantities, an explosion is possible if an apartment ignites: setting fire to a cigarette, gas stove, fireplace, etc.

Causes of Sink Odor

To fully remove sewer odors from the sink, you need to find out the reason for their appearance.

• Blockage in piping including siphon. In this zone, food debris and fat deposits accumulate more often. They provoke the appearance of a disgusting smell.
• Incorrect installation of the siphon. If its plastic pipe is not submerged in water by 2-3 cm, the water seal is considered inoperative. Amber from the collector will ooze into the house.
• Violation of the sealing of the joints. If the sealant has dried out from time to time, cracks have appeared in the joints of the rubber gaskets, odors from the public sewer can also penetrate into the apartment.
• Violation of the integrity of the corrugation or section of the pipeline. In this case, water will ooze onto the floor, which is impossible not to notice. The stench will permeate the apartment with her.
• Long-term simple sewerage of the apartment. If no one lives in the house for a long time, the water from the water seal evaporates. As a result, unpleasant sewer odors ooze into the apartment. Here it is enough to open the water so that it stops again in the water seal. Thus, the access to the stench to the apartment will be blocked.

Another cause of the problem is the airing of the system. In this case, gurgling is clearly heard from the manifold. To troubleshoot problems, you need to call a professional plumber.

How to fix the problem

Odors from the sewer in the kitchen are eliminated depending on the reason for their appearance. Experienced craftsmen recommend the following:

• Siphon flushing. Here you should observe the operation of the system. If in general the water quickly goes down the drain, but the stench persists, you can thoroughly rinse the siphon. To do this, use soda, salt and boiled water. The solids are sent to the sink drain. About 1-1.5 liters of hot water are poured there. A reaction should occur that will remove fat deposits on the walls of the siphon and pipes. All the same can be done with household detergents or special preparations for the sewage system - "Mole", "Flup", "Tiret Turbo", "Mister Muscle".
• Siphon cleaning is mechanical. If standard flushing does not help, you can disassemble the siphon yourself and remove the blockage. To do this, put a bucket under the sink, untwist all the connections. The disassembled siphon is thoroughly washed with running water, the blockages are removed. In parallel, you can change the corrugation, in which a large amount of fatty film accumulates in just six months.After cleaning the siphon, the system is reassembled in the reverse order.
• Elimination of depressurization. If it turns out that over time, the sealant or rubber gaskets in the joint areas have worn out, you need to restore them. You will have to buy a silicone sealant. The most durable and durable is a polyurethane-based product. To restore the tightness of the joints, all joints are disassembled, thoroughly cleaned of the remnants of old products, again treated with a sealant and joined. Complete drying of the product occurs within 24 hours.
• The use of a plunger. If none of the listed remedies helps to get rid of the amber, it is possible that the blockage is somewhere further down the pipes. In this case, you will have to act globally. You can use a plunger. To clean the system, open the water in the bathtub and in the kitchen sink. As soon as the sink is a little full, you need to work well with the plunger, creating a vacuum in the system. The same should be done in the bath. The pressure drop in the pipes should push the plug further towards the common riser. All that remains is to flush the collector with plenty of hot water.

Another option for eliminating the unpleasant sewer amber is replacing damaged pipes. But this should be done by an experienced master. A similar problem can be identified by the method of inspection and feeling the system. If there are leaks, violations of the integrity of the collector, the pipes in these places will be wet to the touch.

Preventive measures

It is important not only to eliminate the possible causes of the appearance of amber in the house, but also to prevent them. To prevent fatty blockage in the system, you need to regularly do the following:

• Avoid pouring fatty waters into the sink: broths, borscht leftovers, etc. If cold water is opened immediately behind them, the fat on the walls of the system thickens and settles. Thus, at first, the lumen of the pipes decreases, and then a plug is formed.
• Flush the drain with plenty of hot water once a week. It will dissolve siltation, thereby increasing the useful lumen of the sewer.
• Preventive cleaning of sewer pipes should be carried out twice a month. For this, it is advisable to use modern household chemicals. Preparations are sold in the form of granules, gel, liquid. In accordance with the instructions, the product is poured / poured into a siphon, about a liter of hot water is added on top. Leave the drug for an hour and a half. The resulting reaction should eliminate the fat plug. Then you just need to flush the drain with plenty of clean water. It is advisable to wear protective gloves when handling chemicals. If corrosive agents come into contact with the skin, rinse thoroughly. Citric acid (soda) and vinegar and salt are often used as aggressive agents.
• Once a month, it is advisable to inspect the manifold for possible depressurization. It is always easier to fix small flaws than to deal with global problems.
• Avoid getting hair, food debris into the sink drain. They can provoke the formation of a plug.
• And change the flute under the sink once a year. Due to its complex configuration, a large number of bends, creases, it quickly accumulates grease and dirt. It is almost impossible to clean them from the pipe walls.

Reliable operation of the sewer system in the house is a guarantee of compliance with sanitary standards, and therefore the health of all household members. Therefore, you need to get rid of possible problems urgently.