Eliminate bad orders from your drain

Maintaining a clean home can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, especially when you are confronted with an unpleasant odor you cannot identify. After you check the obvious sources of orders such as your trash area, the source of the odor could be hiding in your plumbing—your sinks, drains, and drainage pipes. Your plumbing holds several sources of foul orders but assuming it is built properly, it is designed to prevent these foul smells from escaping into your living area. If you find the orders emanating from one of your drains, often, getting rid of these odors is a straightforward fix.

Try Unblocking Your Drain–using your plunger or if necessary, a small drain snake

Before moving on to more complex solutions, it is worth trying your household plunger. It is by far the least expensive and fastest method. The unpleasant odor could be a result of a minor clog that is not enough to cause a backup but could be enough that your u-bends are traping some material that is the cause of the odors. After plunging, run hot water for a few minutes. Stop running water immediately if you notice water backing up. If you do, keep plunging to clear the clog. If a plunger does not work, try using a small drain snake.

Your plumbing has safeguards in place to prevent sewer gas from wafting into your home. The u-bend is one such countermeasure. As the name implies, the u-bend is a portion of pipe shaped like a U. This shape makes it impossible for the rising gas to travel downwards and eventually out through your sink. However, this u-shape that keeps smells out often also keeps debris trapped. There is a good chance that the smell in your drain is from food scraps, oil, and hair trapped in the u-bend. Plunging the drain will often clear a clog in your u-bend. If not, you can always unscrew the u-bend (it will be obvious what it is if you look under your sink). If your clog is from your toilet, the u-bend is built into the toilet’s body–again, try a drain snake if you have not already tried that solution.

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda To Deodorize

After plunging, for more stubborn smells, a vinegar and baking soda mixture is an effective solution. Begin by pouring dish soap down the drain, followed by a good amount of boiling water. Then, add one cup of baking soda, followed by an equal amount of white vinegar. The resulting foam will help kill bacteria, deodorize the drain, and possibly clear any remaining clogs. Flush the drain with more hot water and finish with another round of plunging.

Rent a large drain Snake (auger) or call a professional Plumber

If the above remedies do not solve the problem, you can rent a larger drain snake (auger) from stores like Home Depot. If you choose this route, it’s important to find a convenient cleanout to feed the cable into, unless you are certain the clog is in the u-bend. Keep in mind that this can be messy—sewage can get on the cable, which spins during use. Gloves and goggles are highly recommended.

At this stage, it may be worth considering a professional plumber. Many residential-focused plumbing companies offer drain cleaning as part of their core services. When working with a professional, we recommend asking for visual evidence, such as a live camera feed, if they advise any repairs. It is also wise to get a second opinion or repair estimate to make sure you have all the facts before proceeding. Some companies may offer commission-based incentives for recommending repairs, so taking an extra step to verify the condition can provide peace of mind.

Our experience in the industry has taught us that second opinions can sometimes reveal different perspectives. For example, we have conducted inspections where no repair was needed, despite other companies recommending significant work. Ultimately, your goal should be to feel confident in the decision you make.

While we do not typically offer drain cleaning services unless they are part of a larger project, we are well-positioned to handle sewer repair work. As a specialist in this field, we often provide competitive pricing on sewer repairs compared to companies that focus primarily on drain cleaning. If you have received a sewer repair estimate, we would be happy to offer a second opinion or estimate. Taking the time to explore all options may extend the timeline, but it could save you money in the long run.

— Time for a professional or motivated DIYer —

Ensure Proper Plumbing Ventilation

Proper ventilation in your plumbing system is essential for maintaining pressure and keeping unpleasant odors at bay. If you are still experiencing sewer smells, there may be a blockage in your ventilation system. In this case, having a professional plumber assess the situation is best. Resolving this challenge is beyond the scope of this article but resources are available on the web for the DIYer.

When to Call a Professional for Sewer Line Damage

If sewer gases are entering your home, it may be due to a damaged or blocked sewer line. Once you have tried the simpler fixes mentioned earlier, it is time to consider a professional camera inspection of your sewer line. This inspection is essential for determining whether there is damage that needs to be addressed.

At Freedom Underground, we provide camera inspection services and, if you choose us for the repair, we will credit the inspection cost toward your project. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 408-693-6018 or use our contact form.

You also have the option of getting a camera inspection from another plumber. We can work with the footage to provide a free repair estimate. We encourage getting more than one estimate to ensure you feel confident in your decision and have a trusted alternative.