Why There's a Sulfur Smell Coming from Your Drain

As you enter your kitchen, you're greeted with a foul odour coming from your drain. What is that horrible smell? Did you forget to run the garburator after cracking some eggs? Could it be sulfur?

If the smell is coming from the drain and smells like rotten eggs, chances are that it's sulfur. Though the smell alone is unpleasant enough to warrant fixing it, it also means your drain is letting sewer gases into your home.

Fortunately, there's something you can do about a sulfur smell coming from drain openings. We'll detail a few fixes, explain what causes a sulfur smell, and answer some frequently asked questions about this stinky problem.

• What Causes a Sulfur Smell in Your Drain?
• How to Fix a Sulfur Smell in Your Drain
• Sulfur Smell in Drain FAQs

What Causes a Sulfur Smell in Your Drain?

There are several potential causes of a sulfur smell in drain openings - the most common is a drain clog. Clogged drains are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which multiply and produce foul-smelling waste as they live off the clog.

Another frequent culprit is a dry p-trap. The p-trap is a U-shaped bend in your drain pipe that fills with water to create an air-tight seal. If the trap dries out, sewer gas will enter your home, leading to that unpleasant scent. Dry p-traps can arise as a result of a clog or infrequent use.

Finally, your drain may smell like sulfur if you have a dirty garburator. Similar to how clogs can lead to foul smells, rotting food and bacteria on your garburator blades can result in unpleasant smells.

How to Prevent and Fix a Sulfur Smell in Your Drain

In general, it's better to prevent a sulfur smell in your drain than to fix one after the fact. There are a few ways you can do this:

• Mitigate clogs: You can easily prevent clogs using a food catcher. It’s a sieve that covers your drain to stop larger food items from falling into it. You should also avoid pouring oils and fats down your drain, as those can solidify in your drainpipes at room temperature.
• Keep your p-trap full: A dry p-trap is usually easy to prevent. Provided the trap isn't cracked, clogged, or otherwise damaged, all you need to do is routinely use the attached faucet. Run your infrequently used faucets every week or so to keep the p-trap full.

If your drain already smells like sulfur, you can still fix it. Here are some common fixes for the main causes of a drain that smells like sulfur:

• Clear a clog: In your bathroom, you can clear a clog in several ways, including pouring a half-cup of baking soda into the drain, then a cup of vinegar, and flushing with hot water. If that doesn't work, you may need to call a professional.
• Clean your garburator: Regularly run your garburator to keep food from sticking to the blades. For a deeper clean, toss some ice cubes into the drain opening and add a small squirt of dish soap. Run the garburator with ice to clean the blades and freshen up your drain.

If your drain still smells like sulfur after trying all of these methods, it’s time to call a professional. Mr. Rooter^® Plumbing offers reliable clog and drains cleaning services to eliminate that unfortunate odour and keep it away.

Sulfur Smell Coming from Your Drain FAQs

How can I check where a sulfur smell is coming from?

Sulfur smells may be caused by clogs and rotting food, and in some cases, even your water. Thankfully, there are a few ways to check if you have sewer gas in your home or are dealing with something else.

A quick test with a glass of water is one of the best ways to determine if the sulfur smell is coming from your water rather than the drain. Make yourself a glass of water from the affected sink and take it outside. If the water still smells like sulfur outside, call a plumber immediately.

If the glass smells fine, the next step is to see if the smell is coming from a dirty garburator or sewer gas. To do this, you need to first clean your garburator. Fill your drain opening with some ice cubes and a bit of dish soap. You can even add some lemon juice for freshness. Run the garburator for about 15 to 30 seconds to clean the blades. If the smell persists, you're dealing with sewer gas.

Call Mr. Rooter to Fix the Sulfur Smells in Your Drains

If your drain smells like rotten eggs, either in your kitchen, bathroom, or shower, it could be something simple, like a routine clog or empty p-trap. But it could also be something serious. Don't take chances with your plumbing. Trust the experienced professionals at Mr. Rooter^® Plumbing to evaluate and fix your drains if they smell like sulfur.

Contact your local Mr. Rooter by calling us or requesting an estimate online.