Bathrooms have a dual nature. They can be the best smelling place in the world when you are taking a bath. On the other hand, they can be the worst smelling place in the world if you have problems with your stomach. Regardless of that, we do as much as we can to keep the area clean, dry, and having a pleasant scent.
However, because of its nature, frequently it's the source of a lot of our problems. Hair can get in the drain, and you need to get it out. The toilet can get clogged and then you need to fix it.
But what should you do if the sink starts smelling like rotten eggs? That's the smell of sulfur, and that's never a good sign. Click here to read more about it.
You need to do a test
Bacteria in the ground make hydrogen sulfide gas. It's not pleasant to smell it, and it's a sign that something has gone wrong. It would be best if you determined whether the smell is coming from the water or the sink. First, you need to fill a glass with cold water and take it outside to check if it's coming from it.
If it is, then your water has been contaminated and you need to contact a plumber or your water service. If nothing's wrong with it, go back and fill a glass with hot water and do the same thing. This time, if it smells terrible, you can assume that it's coming from your water heater.
Finally, if none of those things is the culprit, then it's the sink.
Solutions to the problems
The most common problem is when the water heater is contaminated. That happens a lot because most anodes are made with magnesium. That is a haven for bacteria.
They stick to it and cause this kind of odor. To solve this problem, you can replace the anode made of magnesium with one that's made of aluminum. View this link for more: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/anode
The water that's in the tank needs to be disinfected too. For that you can use hydrogen peroxide. Bleach is another way to do it, but the first option is much safer. A drastic solution is to remove the anode altogether. That will solve the problem, but it will shorten the life of the appliance.
Both hot and cold water
If this happens, you need to check all of the other drains in the house. That way, you can see if the issue is local. If that's the case, then you probably have a dead leg pipe.
That's a pipe that's no longer used, and bacteria of all sorts love to live there. That contaminates the surrounding canals and produces a strong odor. You can call a plumber and take care of this problem in a single day.
What if it's the drain?
Drains are super prone to all kinds of blockages. If your bathroom sinks smells, and you start hearing gurgling sounds as well as slow draining, then something must be blocked.
This is often the case due to the toilet, which creates a lot of pressure and allows gasses to escape through the pipes. You can try to plunge it and see if that solves it.
If it's wintertime, then some of the pipes in your basement could be frozen. Try heating them and see whether everything returns back to normal. You could also go to the roof and check all of the vents and whether they have any kind of debris into them. If none of these options solve the problem, you need to call a plumber.
Why hire plumbers?
If your bathroom sinks smells, then it is not simply a nuisance but perhaps a symptom of a plumbing problem which may then necessitate you to call a plumber.
The smell originating from your bathroom sink can be attributed to several causes such as clogging of drains, gases from the sewerage system or even bacterial formation on the interior of the pipes. Both the drains and pipes will be connected to the sinks or washing machines which you may attempt to fix some issues on your own, but a plumber understands where the problem exactly lies. They employ equipment when inspecting the drains and this enables them to see things that a layman cannot see.
Sometimes it might be caused by gunk, soap scum, hair or food particles that accumulate and are trapped in the drain. Despite neutralizing the smell in the drains for a short time, they pose risks of damaging the pipes after some time. A professional plumber will properly navigate through your pipes and eliminate the stench and the root of it as well.
A foul smell from the sink may also suggest other extensive issues like a damaged sewer line or venting problems. They should not be neglected because they can cause more problems later and lead to costly repairs. These are problems that a plumber will deal with before they become big issues that take both time as well as money to solve.
For instance, if the smell originates from your plumbing system, a plumber is in a better position to diagnose and address the issue with a trap or a vent. You might end up damaging the system even more and end up paying for professional repair services.
A few final words
No one likes to be hit with sulfur fumes whenever they enter their bathroom. Even though it can be a smelly place at times, there's no reason to ignore an obvious problem. Since this room of the house is often susceptible to problems, it's essential to take care of it immediately before it turns into something bigger.
The smell is a result of bacteria, so you or your plumber in Inner West Sydney need to find where it's coming from and annihilate it.
Do some research before you hire professional plumbers because choosing the right services makes all the difference in the world. You need a professional you can rely on to do the job right from the start. The sooner you call an expert to tackle the issue, the sooner you’ll be able to enjoy your bathroom without the nasty smell along the way.