Why Does My Bathroom Sink Smell Like a Sewer?

While most people understand that bathrooms can stink from time to time, smelling a sewer-like odor can indicate a serious issue. If you’re searching for an answer to “Why does my bathroom sink smell like a sewer,” you’ve probably already tried basic solutions like cleaning and utilizing scented products. Learn what causes bathroom sinks to smell like a sewer and how you can correct the problem from the leading experts in sewer repair services in Wickliffe, OH.

Causes of Foul Smells from Your Bathroom Sink

If you’ve recently noticed your bathroom sink puts off a funky smell, the problem may come from:

A Dried-Out P-Trap

Your bathroom sink’s P-trap consists of a U-shape pipe connected to the sink’s drain system. The P-trap collects water to create a protective barrier that holds back the foul odors from your sewage system. If the P-trap doesn’t have a high enough water level, sewer gasses can invade your home.

This problem typically occurs in guest bathrooms or when you’ve been away from home for an extended amount of time.

Ventilation Issues

All residential plumbing systems require vents that lead outside, releasing foul sewer odors instead of unleashing them on your home. When these vents fail, the smells have to go somewhere, usually back through your sink and into your bathroom. Vent pipe clogs can occur due to dust, leaves, and other natural debris that may land on your roof.

Built-Up Bacteria

Your bathroom sink sees a lot of use from hand washing, shaving, and teeth brushing. All of these activities produce a good amount of waste that goes down the drain, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. This bacteria can eventually grow into something called biofilm, a mixture of bacteria and collected matter from your sink’s waste that resembles a black slime.

To check for bacterial growth in your sink, unscrew the sink’s stopper and lift it out. Check for signs of biofilm along the sink stopper components. If you find black slime or gunk collecting, then you probably have biofilm growing in your sink drains.

How to Stop Your Bathroom Sink Smelling Like a Sewer

When you’re asking, “Why does my bathroom sink smell like a sewer,” you’re probably also wondering how to stop the smell and prevent it from happening again in the future. Below we outline how you can fight against the most common reasons for foul smells coming from your sink.

Hydrate Your P-Trap

The fastest way to deal with a dried-out P-trap consists of running water into the drain. The water will push its way through the P-trap and reinstate the seal that prevents sewer gas from coming back up the line. If the smells continue even after checking for ventilation issues and cleaning out your sink, you need a professional plumber to address the issue.

Repair Ventilation Problems

Besides foul smells, ventilation issues make themselves clear if water gurgles as it goes down your drain and if it takes longer than usual for the water to go down. These tell-tale signs indicate the need to hire a plumber, since cleaning out vent pipes yourself could put you in danger of toxic gasses. 

Clean Out Your Sink

If you find biofilm in your bathroom sink’s drain, you can take care of it yourself with a deep clean. Follow these steps to stop biofilm in its tracks.

1. For two minutes, turn on your hot water faucet and let it run.

2. Spray the sink with sink-specific cleaning solutions and pour some down the drain.

3. Use a bottle-brush scrubber to scrub the inside of your drain’s pipes, rinsing every so often.

4. When the scrubber comes out clean, you’ve cleaned up all or the majority of biofilm.

How Can I Improve My Bathroom’s Smell?

There’s no getting around the fact that bathrooms will stink sometimes. Whether it’s because of biological functions or the reasons above, smells can linger far after the cause of the odor disappears. Use the below methods to make your bathroom smell better.

Keep Your Bathroom Clean

Committing to a weekly deep clean of your bathroom will improve the room’s smell overall. Important tasks to perform include:

• Clean your bathtub and wipe down the shower liner
• Scrubbing down the toilet inside and out
• Cleaning the sink handles and bowl
• Sweeping and mopping
• Wiping down counters
• Emptying trash

Let Towels and Bath Mats Dry Properly

Wadding up your bath towels while they’re still wet invites mold and mildew to set in, sometimes creating the tell-tale sour smell within a few hours. Likewise, leaving a wet bath mat down traps water that can then contribute to mildew or mold growing underneath the mat. Take time to hang up these items so they have time to dry out.

Use Scented Bathroom Trash Bags

While you don’t throw much, if any, food waste into your bathroom trash cans, you can use scented trash can bags to contribute to an overall pleasant smell in your bathroom.

Burn Candles or Use Wall Plug-Ins

You can create a more comfortable, pleasantly-scented experience for anyone in your bathrooms by lighting candles or using wall plug-ins. Other methods of creating a better smelling room could include placing air freshening cones or oil burners. To address bad smells as they occur, a sprayable air freshener can make a difference.

Keep Your Bathroom In Its Best Condition With Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co

Searching for the answer to “Why does my bathroom sink smell like a sewer,” often begins with a terrible smell and ends with discovering a deeper issue than foul odors. While these issues can have simple remedies, you also may need a professional plumber to address the deeper problems behind them.

At Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co, you’ll discover expert sink repair services that help you enjoy a better-smelling bathroom that functions as it should. Keep your bathroom sink in its best condition by calling Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co in Wickliffe, OH, at 440-485-3850 to schedule an appointment.