That water keeps sewer gas from making its way into your home.
Kitchen sink smells like sewer gas.
A typical sink trap.
A rancid odor coming from your sink drain may just be coming from debris in the p trap but if it smells like a sewer it probably means venting problems in your drain system.
The trap is so called because it traps a little water in the part shaped like a u.
Sewer gas and its smell is obnoxious.
Sewer gas is a byproduct of the breakdown of natural human waste.
So if you smell something like a skunk in your home you must call the local natural gas company immediately and evacuate the building if the odor is strong a natural gas leak can lead to a violent explosion.
You can do some activities yourself to find the cause and correct the problem before you call a plumber.
The hydrogen sulfide in sewer gas is what gives it.
When you smell sewer gasses coming from the area around your kitchen sink the smells are not only offensive but they can put anyone in the house at risk until the source of the sewer gas leak is found and taken care of.
Your pipes could be leaking from rust corrosion a blockage or holes along the pipes or pipe joints.
The sink trap if you look under your kitchen sink you ll see a sink trap.
If the trap is dried out the sewer gas has a clear path into the house.
One common cause of sewer gas leaks comes from damage to your sewer or septic pipes.
If the smell is coming from a sink simply run the water for a few seconds to restore the trap.
They work trapping water inside the curve and blocking the gas from traveling back into the house.
When the vents are blocked flushing a toilet can create sufficient vacuum to suck water out of the trap and allow sewer gases into your home.
The heath risks of sewer gas are significant if you breathe it for an extended amount of time.
If the sink gets overfilled the overflow mechanism offers some relief.
The plumbing in your house is designed to contain harmful gases flush away sewage and provide you with clean and potable water.
First inspect whether your bathroom sink is designed to have an overflow mechanism.
If you are smelling sewer gas in your kitchen something has gone awry with the system.
The best plan is to locate the break in the pipe or pipes and stop the sewer gas in the house.
That there is a trap.
What is sewer gas.
Sewer gas is an odor that can come from your household s septic or sanitary sewer system.
O if you smell sewer gas check.
Sewer or septic pipe leaks.
It comprises a mixture of gases including hydrogen sulfide ammonia and more.