A sewer smell in the bathroom or kitchen is more than just unpleasant. If the smell disappears for a while and then comes back, the cause is usually in the drainage system itself.
Sometimes the fix is simple and the problem is just the trap (siphon). But the smell can also point to deposits inside the pipe, a partly blocked drain or a poorly made connection. Pay special attention when the smell comes together with slow drainage or gurgling sounds from the pipe.
Why the trap matters
The trap under a sink or other fixture is not only there to carry water away. It holds a small amount of water that forms a barrier between the sewer pipe and the room.
If a sink or floor drain is not used for a long time, the water in the trap can evaporate. Then sewer smells can rise into the room much more easily.
If the smell disappears after running some water and does not come back, this was probably the cause. But if the problem returns soon, other parts of the system should be checked.
When the problem is in the pipe
Over time, kitchen pipes collect grease, small food particles and detergent residue. In the bathroom the main culprits are usually hair, soap and other debris.
At first the water still drains normally, but the inside of the pipe gradually narrows. The result is slow drainage, a bad smell and eventually a full blockage.
Once the build-up is inside the pipe, cleaning the trap alone is not enough. In that case you need indoor drain cleaning to remove the deposits with professional equipment.
What a gurgling sound means
If a sink, floor drain or toilet makes strange sounds from time to time, it often means the flow of water and air is being restricted.
Pay particular attention when using water at one fixture makes a sound at another — for example, when water drains in the kitchen and you hear it in the bathroom floor drain.
If this comes with a bad smell and slow drainage, the problem may already be in a shared section of the drainage line.
Why the problem returns after cleaning
Sometimes the pipe is cleaned and everything is fine for a while, but a few weeks later the same problem appears again.
The reason may be deposits left inside the pipe, a damaged section, an incorrect slope or another defect that cannot be seen from the outside.
If the drain blocks often or the smell keeps coming back, a sewer camera inspection is useful. The camera shows the real condition inside the pipe, so the problem is not judged by guesswork.
The cause may be the installation
A sewer smell does not always mean a blocked pipe. It can also come from an incorrectly installed trap, a damaged joint or a connection to the sewer that is not airtight.
This happens especially often after a renovation or after new fixtures are installed. That is why it is important that plumbing fixtures are installed correctly and every connection is checked.
When you need a specialist
If the smell keeps returning, water drains slowly, several fixtures have problems at once or the drains make strange sounds, simply masking the smell is not a solution.
You need to find the cause and fix the specific problem behind the smell. Clearing a small build-up early is always easier than restoring a fully blocked system. In Tbilisi or Batumi, contact Chalicha.
