When you smell sewer gases in your home, it means you have a serious problem you should address as soon as possible.
According to sewer cleaning companies, the gases are a combination of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane, and continuous exposure to them leads to memory loss, poisoning, headaches, dizziness, and asphyxiation. In large enough amounts, these gases put your home at the risk of fire or even an explosion.
Have you been smelling the gases in your home and are worried of your life and health? Here are tips on how to get rid of the sewer gas smell:
Clean the sink overflow
The sink overflow is the hole located underneath or across the faucet. The sink overflow is often prone to accumulation of bacteria, hair, and soap scum, and when a clog happens, foul smells result from the sink. If you live in areas with hard water, mineral buildup can also prevent the overflow from draining as well as you would want it to.
To eliminate the awful smells, you need to identify the source of the odors and if the smell is coming from the sink overflow, clean it. You can use a small bottle brush to clean out the hole or wipe away any present buildup. You can also mix a solution of chlorine bleach and half water and clear out any grime present in your sink.
Caulk the toilet base
If your toilet isn’t currently caulked, chances are water is leaking out, creating an unpleasant smell. You can bring these smells to a stop by caulking the toilet to the floor. This not only eliminates the smells, but it also secures the toilet, which is a win-win for you as a homeowner.
The cool thing is you can do it on your own (if you love DIY projects) without involving a technician. To do it:
Remove any caulk from around the toilet base using a razor knife or utility knife. You should then clear away any debris using a general bathroom cleaner then apply masking tape to the floor around the toilet. With the caulk or caulk gun at 45 degrees, place the caulk along with the space between the toilet and floor. Once you are done, peel off the masking tape you had applied earlier.
Clean out any bacteria growing in your drains
If you rarely clean your drains, they might be full of soap scum and organic matter that provide the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Luckily, you can easily clean out the existing bacteria and prevent new bacteria from growing.
Two of the easiest ways to do it is to use baking soda and vinegar, and enzyme-based cleaners. To clean the drains using baking soda and vinegar, mix the two in the target drains and listen to the sizzling and bubbling noises that signify the mixture is working. Wait a few minutes, then flush the toilet or run water down the drain.
If the smell still won’t go away, repeat the process.
If the above still won’t get rid of the smells, try getting rid of them using enzyme-based cleaners. These cleaners are excellent bacteria cultures and concentrated enzymes that naturally eat away at the organic matter.
The chances are that if the sewer smells are due to dirty drains, doing this will eliminate the odors.
Take a look at bathtubs and sinks.
Are there bathrooms or sinks in your house you rarely use? They might be the culprits. Run hot water down the drains, and this will ensure the P-trap is full hence keep the bad smells away.
When you do the above, you have a 95% chance of putting the embarrassing smells away. If you have done everything, but still they linger around, contact commercial drain cleaning services providers to inspect your system as you might be having a more severe problem.