There are several possibilities for why your garbage disposal would smell awful. If this is the case for your home, most of what you’ll need are a few items you probably already have in your pantry. Here are a few solutions to consider when your garbage disposal smells like sewage. Typically, there are two reasons your garbage disposal smells like sewer:
- Venting problem - if there’s a strong smell from the sewer, there’s a chance that it’s leaking through a vent or drain trap.
- Garbage disposal problem - over time, your garbage disposal may get clogged. A garbage disposal that’s clogged for an extended period can harbor rotting food and build up bacteria.
Getting Rid of Rotten Food Smell
If junk builds up in your kitchen drain and garbage disposal, then you’re likely to experience an awful smell from the garbage disposal. This is usually from putting things such as oil, fat and grease, which shouldn’t go down the drain. Try these simple tricks to get rid of the smell:
Use A Bio-Enzyme Drain Cleaner
These natural enzymes work by eating away at food particles left in your drain without harming your pipes.
Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Start by sprinkling about half a cup of baking soda down the drain. Then, pour a cup of white vinegar into the drain. Let the solution sit in the drain for a little while. You’ll see it foaming up, which means it’s working. Finally, clear the drain with a fair amount of hot water.
Put Lemon and Orange Slices in The Disposal
Running some fresh-smelling citrus fruits through the disposal can go a long way in helping to get rid of the nasty smell, leaving your drain smelling fresh. However, it’s crucial to deal with the cause of the smell; otherwise, it will just come back.
Getting Rid of Sewer Gas Smell
Now, if your drain smells like a sewer, you have an entirely different problem. The most likely cause is the smell leaking from the sewer through the drain. And this will often happen either at the sink trap or the plumbing vent.
The Sink Trap
If you look under the sink, there should be a sink trap. This will usually be the bent section of pipe designed to hold water that prevents air from the main drain vent from finding its way to the sink. As such, a smell like sewage may result from a leak in the trap or when there’s no trap in the first place. Also, if you haven’t used your sink for an extended period, the water in the trap may evaporate and let in some sewer gas. Luckily, this is a simple fix because all you need to do is run some water down the drain.
The Drain Vent
Sometimes, your trap could be perfectly functional, but you can still smell sewer gas. That’s because the pressure in the sewer fluctuates. Plumbing vents allow these changes in pressure to happen without the sewer gas entering your home. These are the familiar vents you’ll see running out of your home through the roof. Problems in the vent may include a blockage, leakage or no vent at all.
In Conclusion
Whenever your garbage disposal smells like sewage, be sure to get the root cause of the problem. Once you’ve found a solution to the problem, take proactive measures to avoid a similar situation. Remember that if your disposal smells, it is likely due to either a venting issue, or your disposal is clogged.
