Your showers must never be ruined by that odour. But you must identify the kind of scent it is in order to get rid of it.
First of all, if your drain smells musty, there is probably mould growing actively behind the drain cover. However, if your drain smells like sewage or rotten eggs, you’re either smelling:
Sewer gases that have fled your drainage pipes, “Biofilm” from a blocked or unclean drain, or both.
So, return to your drain and give it one final strong smell to determine which of the aforementioned issues is to blame for the odour coming from it. Once you’ve determined what the scent is, go on to the section below for tips on how to permanently get rid of it.
DIY guidance doesn’t interest you? Simply give us a call, and we’ll send over a plumber for blocked drains in Northern beach right away to eliminate that odour.
You are most certainly noticing mould developing in your drain if your drain smells musty.
Active mould spores emit minute puffs of gas as a byproduct of their metabolic activity, which gives off a unique musty odour. And to make matters worse, gas may be harmful. Its inhalation might result in lethargy, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
So how do you eliminate those colonies of active mould? You should be able to tackle the cleaning yourself if the mould-infected area is smaller than 10 square feet.The steps are listed below.
You’ll require:
- bread soda
- distilled white vinegar
- heating up water
- brushes
Steps for removing mould from a shower drain:
- Combine baking soda and water in a 50 : 50 ratio.
- Apply the paste to the shower drain using the toothbrush.
- 10-minute wait Next, thoroughly scrape the shower drain with the toothbrush.
- Repeat as often as necessary to remove any mould that has built up around or under the shower drain.
- 10 quarts of water should be heated, then gently poured down the drain when it has cooled. Advice: Boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit) may destroy PVC pipework.
- Hot enough water to destroy mould should be between 140 and 150 degrees.
- Pour a cup of vinegar down the drain very slowly.
- Down the drain, put a half cup of baking soda.
- After doing this, if your drain still smells like mildew, or if the stench goes away then comes back, you could have a bigger mould issue that needs expert cleaning.
A word of caution: Despite Australia’s reputation for having a dry environment, black mould has a significant likelihood of returning even after expert drain cleaning. This is so that mould may develop, which requires food, moisture, and warm temperatures—all of which are present within your shower drain. Inquire about expert mould avoidance strategies from your plumber.
You may be dealing with one of two problems if your drain smells like rotten eggs or sewage:
- From a clogged drain, biofilm
- Your pipes are leaking sewer gases.
Let’s examine the two issues.
Biofilm from a clogged or dirty drain is the first issue.
Start by running the shower for two to five minutes. Are your drains slow?
If so, the “biofilm”—a buildup of bacteria and decaying debris inside your drain—is what is causing the odour. And those bacteria give off a gooey, glue-like substance that makes it possible for them to adhere to virtually any surface. Gross, you say?
Get rid of the obstruction and debris that are containing (and nourishing) all that bacteria if you want to get rid of that odour.
Have no slow drains? Skip the next section about sewer gases.
You’ll require:
- cleanser for drain brushes
- heating up water
- bread soda
- distilled white vinegar
How to unclog a shower drain blockage:
- Utilizing the screwdriver, remove the shower drain. If your drain is a push-pull kind, you may detach it by rotating it anticlockwise.
- Water should be heated to a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit before cooling. Then carefully pour it down the drain.
- One cup of vinegar should be run down the drain.
- After adding the vinegar, immediately add half a cup of baking soda.
- Pour a gallon of hot water down the drain after waiting two hours.
- To get rid of any remaining material, run a drain brush down the drain. This aids in releasing and getting rid of the sticky biofilm residue.
If your drain is still clogged after doing this, you must get a qualified plumber to unclog it.
Second issue: Your pipes are leaking sewer gases.
Sewer gases, also known as hydrogen sulphide, are most likely what you are smelling if there isn’t a sluggish drain present.
You shouldn’t be concerned; the quantity you are breathing in poses no threat to your health. However, the odour does suggest that there are issues with your drainage system someplace. You see, the purpose of your drain pipes is to stop any hydrogen sulphide from returning to your house.