GETTING TO KNOW YOUR WATER HEATERS ISSUES

All, Plumbing & Cold Water / By Edgard Wilson

IS YOUR WATER HEATER UP TO SOME MISCHIEF?

Machines; One thing that keeps us attached to our machines & devices is the simple fact that they are our assistants in the day-to-day tasks that would otherwise take us longer or cost us more energy or even superhuman strength to complete. Water heaters since their invention have remained to be among those machines that we just cannot be without, even throughout the hot seasons, hot water is a necessity that we can’t do without. And so, the frustration of having a water heater suddenly malfunction is absolutely justifiable. There is something of a betrayal to it. It’s a machine, it’s not like it needs a vacation, or even can need a vacation at all. But it is really not so surprising that a water heater will malfunction from time to time considering the complexity involved in building one and how much work we tend to put them through.

Sure, it may not need a vacation, but even machines need a time-out and regular maintenance to continue being our reliable sidekick for an extended period of time and without any glitches.
One can only hope to know a trick or two that can help them diagnose and possibly deal with a faulty water heater that happens at a time when you need it to work the most. This is why we have compiled a ‘what-to-do’ guide for you to follow if it seems like your water heater is faulty and also given some pointers on how to spot one that might start being problematic. It goes without saying that calling a qualified heating and hot water plumber to deal with this problem should be the default go-to but it is also important to have an idea of what is going on prior to doing so and this guide will take you through just that.

First things first.

What kind of faults are we on about?
So much can go wrong with a water heater so we’re obviously not going to cover all possible faults, nor are we going to cover brand or type-specific faults. Our short guide is a great help for the following common water heater problems:

1. Water from the heater looks and/or smells unusual.
2. The water temperature is too cold.
3. The water temperature is too hot.
4. The water can’t seem to get quite hot enough.
5. There is water leaking from a component of the water heater.
6. The water heater makes strange noises you haven’t noticed before.

If any of this sounds like your current water heater situation then read ahead to find out how to diagnose the problem further and the best ways to deal with it.

1. Water from the heater looks and/or smells unusual.

If the water coming out of your heater has a rusty shade and is accompanied by a metallic smell, that is a sign of corrosion inside your heater’s inner walls which is in turn caused by a failing anode rod. The best way to deal with this is to call a technician and let them examine the problem and help you decide between replacing the faulty part or the entire heater.
If the water coming out of the heater has a cloudy coloring to it then, that is a sign of mineral deposit buildup inside it which has advanced to the point of both clogging the heater and being oversaturated in the water coming out of it. At this point, it is probably affecting other components of the heater and it is well beyond time to call a technician on it as well.

2. The water temperature is too cold.

If the temperature of the water coming from your heater is way too cold for water coming out of a plugged-in heater, then proceed to first check if the thermostat is set right. We don’t want to be fixing parts that don’t need it because of a turned-off thermostat.

If the thermostat is set right, the heater is plugged in and the water is still cold then you are dealing will a low power supply to the heater which means one of the following cases is true;
1. There isn’t any power reaching the heater. Are the power indicators on the heat on? If not check both the immediate switch and your home’s circuit breakers to see if any have tripped (call a technician if it trips again soon after you turn it on, that is a sign of a bigger issue with your home’s electric system).
2.There isn’t any power reaching the heating component of the device, which might indicate a blown fuse. Find a technician to replace that and you are good to go.
3. Power gets to the heating component but it is faulty and therefore not producing enough heat. If this is the case then you have to get it replaced by a qualified technician.

3. The water temperature is too hot.

If the water coming from your heater is too hot the first culprit is always the thermostat. Either it was accidentally set to too high a temperature or it is broken. Check your thermostat’s manual to see how to regulate it if you don’t know how. The more modern varieties might even have a body of online documentation and videos you can follow easily on the internet. If you follow the instructions to the letter and the water is still too hot then the thermostat is probably broken and requires a professional to check it out.

4. The water is not cold but it is also not hot enough.

First, check if the heater is in working order, if it is then this can also be another indicator of a faulty thermostat. Check to see if it is set and all its indicator lights show that it’s working right, then proceed to diagnose the system again.

Thermostats are not the only possible culprit, water not being hot enough can also often be caused by crossed connections, that is, there is a bit of a spillover from the cold-water connection into the hot water connection pipe. To see if this is the case, turn off the normal water supply and open the hot water tap only. If the water flowing is still not hot enough then that is definitely a sign of crossed connections.

5. There is water leaking from a component of the heater.

Water leaking can cost you serious money in water damage. Never take even the smallest leakage lightly. So much can go wrong even from just tiny drops running down a wall consistently, it can also build up to a pretty hefty water bill by the end of the year. If there is a sign of any leakage around the heater tank or adjacent connection tubes, make sure that all connections are secured tightly (not too tightly as that can cause fractures which will lead to more leaking). You can also try regulating pressure so that there aren’t great amounts of it overbearing on the connected components.

6. The heater makes strange noises you haven’t noticed before

When you notice your heater making a rumbling or popping noises you never caught before, that is a sign of sedimentary buildup inside it and also a sure sign of time to schedule a check-up of your heater. The noise is a symptom of the heater failing to keep up with the hard task of heating water with a layer of minerals covering its walls and base. Adding a bit of water softener to the tank can help fix this problem but if it persists consult a technician to see available options.

Additional factors

Is your water heater old?

Good water heaters tend to last up to 10 years with proper maintenance. After that, longevity is pretty much a matter of chance. So, although not a fault, having an old heater is a good indicator that you might soon start dealing with actual faults. If you do not remember how long back you bought the heater that is a great sign that it’s too old. But don’t take our word for it, check its labelling for a manufacturer date. If it’s not explicitly specified somewhere in the labelling then the first two digits on its serial number represent the last two digits of the year( in the 2000s) it was made.

Have you been scheduling regular checks?

If not then it is also very likely that you are about to have a faulty heater in your hands. Water is not totally unreactive; this is what gives it versatility after all. Water also usually contains other substances mixed with it like particles too small to be filtered and particles eroded from pipes as water travels through them, there are also small quantities of other impurities from several other sources, which means that over time, there is going to be a build-up of all that stuff in a heater tank over time. This gradually adds more strain to the heater making it more susceptible to damage. So regular checks will not only keep your heater working smoothie, but also help it last longer.

TLDR?

Heaters, like all inventions of technology, are reliable but susceptible to breakage and faulty operation to some degree. Here is a list of possible heater woes that may trouble you and one solution to rule them all;

Issues
– Temperature issues; water from the heater is too hot, not hot enough or too cold.
– Leakage from or around the water tank
– Strange colouring and odour on water
– Strange noises coming out of the heater

The One Solution.
Call a professional to deal with it the moment you notice any of the above. A faulty heater can lead to serious water damage which can lead to serious damage to the pockets.
Our heating and hot water technicians and plumbers are experienced and certified. Get in touch with us 24/7 for Emergency Heating and Hot Water Plumbing Services.

3 Easy Tricks to Unclog Your Sink

All, Drainage / By Edgard Wilson

SAVE MONEY: 3 DIY TRICKS TO UNCLOG YOUR SINK WITHOUT A PLUMBING BACKGROUND

On top of being a serious inconvenience, clogged sinks are a plumbing nightmare that is not only threat to your health because they make a home for bacteria that causes diseases but it also makes your home or workspace unwelcoming with strong smells that attract all sorts of pests. And so, it is ideal to be able to understand what causes your sinks to clog and what to do when it happens to save yourself some time and spare yourself the discomfort. With the current state of things in the economy it is also a plus to be able to get under the sink yourself and deal with it. This guide will help you do just that.

It’s usually a blocked drainpipe that causes the water on your sink not to flow down. Unclogging sinks doesn’t necessarily require an engineering degree or a plumbing background. This guide will teach you easy ways to unclog your sink even when you know nothing about plumbing. It is worth mentioning though that this does not mean you should always resort to DIY solutions, having a professional and experienced plumber is always the best resort to getting your plumbing problems fixed.

Before we dive into the clogging solution, it is important to understand what causes the problem in the first place.

Why is your drainpipe clogged?

Different drainpipes are clogged for different reasons. Your kitchen drainpipe is clogged because of cooking grease that’s stuck on the drainpipe walls and food residue that’s tough to dissolve. It’s a no-brainer that we ignore the little residue from containers with food leftovers and assume that the drainpipes can take it. Since it’s just a little bit of food so it won’t make a difference? Wrong! As a matter of fact, it does.

Your bathroom drainpipe is clogged because of build-up of dust, skin flakes and hair that binds itself with soap scum. Hair is among the major causes for clogged drainpipes in the bathroom. When hair clumps get caught in the drain and mix up with soap residue, it gets stuck to the walls of the drainpipe and it doesn’t take long for it cause drainpipe blockage.

So, it’s usually the substances that can’t be dissolved and those prone to building up that are the common culprits of sink clogs, wherever that sink may be located.

But luckily, it’s a problem that can go away easily.

Here are the 3 easy ways to unclog your sink at home.

1. BAKING SODA AND WHITE VINEGAR

Yes, you can unclog your sink using baking soda and white vinegar. Remember those chemistry classes that most of us are guilty of zoning out in? We were taught when base and acid combine, a reaction happens. In this case, the base is baking soda and the acid is white vinegar. When baking soda and white vinegar mix, they create a foaming chemical reaction that loosens the debris coated on your kitchen or bathroom drain. And when the blockages are broken up, the still water on your sink begins to flow down the drain, business as usual!

What you need to Unclog your Sink Drainpipe using Baking Soda and White Vinegar:

2 liters of hot water (use lukewarm or cold water if you have plastic pipes)
1 cup of baking soda
1 cup of white vinegar

How to Unclog your Sink Drainpipe using Baking Soda and White Vinegar

Step 1. Empty your sink using a cup so you can have a clear space to work on it. Do this if your sink has stagnant water that won’t go down the drain
Step 2. Pour 1 liter of hot water directly down the drain. This makes the junk swell to allow an effective baking soda and white vinegar mix.
NOTE: Use lukewarm or cold water instead if you have plastic pipes to avoid damaging them.
Step 3. Pour 1 cup of baking soda directly down the drain and let it sit for 10 minutes to dissolve into the water.
Step 4. After 10 Minutes, pour 1 cup of white vinegar directly down the drain.
You will notice a foaming reaction after the vinegar mixes with the baking soda, it is a sign that the debris is being cleared by the mixture.
Step 5. Add another liter of water directly down the drain again.
Step 6. Run the tap for 5 minutes to clear away any additional debris. (You may need to repeat the process a couple of times to completely clear the clog)

2. PLASTIC STRAW TO UNCLOG YOUR SINK DRAINPIPE

Poking your drain can get the debris moving and allow water to flow down. A drain snake is perfect for pulling out hair from your bathroom sink. And yes, there are alternatives to drain snakes. Alternatives to drain snakes are metal wires, power cords, bendable metal hangers and plastic straws.

What you to unclogging your sink drainpipe using a plastic straw

A plastic straw
A pair of scissors
A pair of gloves
Tissue paper and a rubbish bin
An empty bucket

How to use a Plastic Straw to Unclog Your Drainpipe:

Make sure you wear gloves before starting this process for general safety and hygiene.
Step 1. Use a pair of scissors to slightly cut the plastic straw horizontally from the tip to the end. Leave half an inch of space between the cuts.
The cut must be slight so that when you bend the straw, it’s still intact but it has exposed cuts along it.
Step 2. Empty the sink using a cup by scooping the still water and pouring it into a bucket.
Step 3. Lower the Plastic Straw down the drain and scrape its walls while rotating it in different patterns continuously to trap the gunk from all angles (gloves come in handy in during this process as it gets messy).
Step 4. Carefully pull the straw out to reveal the debris that caused the drainpipe blockage.
Step 5. Clean the plastic straw with tissue paper and discard the debris.
NOTE: In case the plastic straw is no longer usable, have an extra one or two ready prepared as shown on step 1 above.
Step 6. Repeat the process until the drain is clear, you will be pulling out less substance with each repetition so you will know when you have cleared most of it out.
Step 7. Run the hot tap for a few minutes or pour a continuous flow of hot water down the drain to clear any residual debris (use cold water if you have plastic pipes or fixtures to avoid damage).

3. REMOVING AND CLEANING THE DRAINPIPE

If method 1 and 2 don’t do the trick then it’s time to get your hands a bit dirtier.

What you need:

A bucket: You need a bucket when you want to disconnect the sink drainpipes so that it catches the water stuck in the pipes when it gushes out.
A face mask: A face mask will protect you from dirty water that might splatter on your face.
A pair of gloves: A pair of gloves is useful for protecting your hands from being contaminated with germs and other impurities.
A wrench (just in case): Most caps can be opened with bare hands, but some are tighter than usual, and a wrench will help loosen them.

DIY How to Clean your Drainpipe and Clear the Sink Clog

Wear your face mask and gloves before starting this process.
Step 1. Shut your water system off. Under the sink, look for a shutoff valve and shut it all the way off. A shutoff valve is a device that allows water to flow to your faucet when turned on. For this process, you need it shut off completely to cut off the water flow.
Step 2. Place a bucket under the sink directly below the pipes.
Step 3. Unscrew the cap under the elbow pipe beneath your sink. Use your hands to do this, if the cap feels too tight then it’s time for the wrench to save the day.
Slowly disconnect the pipes where they meet to release the drain to reveal the source of the clog and clear it.
It’s important to do it slowly to avoid dirty water gushing all over you. After disconnecting the pipes, water will spill out and you’ll allow it to pour into the bucket you’ve placed beneath the pipes.
Step 4. You can use a draining snake or plastic straw and poke the drain to see what’s clogging it. You can have your plastic straw ready as explained in method 2 to allow easy handling of the junk that’s clogging the drainpipes.
Step 5. Clean the drainpipe with soap and water (using hot water is a good option of your fixtures are not plastic). Scrape away and get rid of any debris you will find lodged in the drain system.
Step 6. Screw the cap back on to reattach the pipe carefully and tightly to avoid water leakage.
Step 7. Turn your water system back on from the shutoff valve.
Step 8. Run the tap for a few minutes and let water flow down your sink. Carefully observe the waterflow down the drain to determine whether the problem is solved. You may additionally check under the sink to make sure everything has been refastened properly and there are no leaks.
After this step, the blockage shouldn’t be a problem anymore since you’ve cleaned the draining pipe.
Do you need a plumber to unclog your sink? Call our emergency plumbing any time, we’re available 24 hours. Plumbing is our specialty and we are happy to fix your clogged sinks.

SMELLY SHOWER DRAIN QUICK FIXES

All, Plumbing & Cold Water / By Edgard Wilson

SMELLY SHOWER DRAIN? HERE’S WHAT TO DO.

It’s disappointing when that the one place that can offer you some much needed private relaxation after (or sometimes before) a long day is also the place that causes you great discomfort. Yes, we’re talking about your bathroom. You’ve stacked your favourite products that leave a pleasant fragrance every time you take a shower so you know that horrible smell isn’t coming from those bottles. Fortunately, these are no stranger to our experienced plumbers.

A quick scan of your bathroom and you immediately realise that the one spot that can grant access to that foul smell is the shower drain. The moment it hits your nose, you know this can’t be good. The thing about sewer fumes is that, apart from being just generally unpleasant, they can cause some serious health issues as well that will have you taking a trip to the emergency room that you didn’t plan for. Sewer fumes can cause irritation to your eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system. Continuous inhalation of the gross sewer fumes can make you cough severely and make it difficult to breathe. On top of that, you can get a nasty headache, dizziness and nausea. So, you can see why it’s crucial that you solve this problem the moment you notice it.

In this article, you’ll learn how to get rid of that awful smell creeping inside your bathroom from your shower drain. You don’t need any complicated plumbing tools to do this. This simple DIY is for anyone wishing to solve the shower drain smelling problem as soon as possible and with the least bit of effort as a plumbing emergency, however, it is recommended to always call a plumber in cases of plumbing emergency for a more expert touch.

Easy Ways of Getting Rid of Horrible Smell Coming from Your Shower Drain

1. Unclog your shower drain

The clog in your shower drain could be the reason your bathroom smells like a sewer every time you swing the door open. This is because gunk consisting of organic matter accumulates in your shower drain and slowly decomposes over time. The gunk is usually a mix of hair, skin, bath products and soap.

Clogs in your shower drain can also cause the water from your showers to take forever to drain or it can completely block water from getting drained. Still shower water carries germs and exposure to those germs each time you take a shower can pose a health risk.

So, by dealing with this plumbing emergency either yourself using this guide or calling one of our qualified plumbers to help, you will be doing yourself a huge favour.

How To Unclog a Smelly Shower Drain

a) Use baking soda and white vinegar – a combination of a base and acid will break the clog down allowing it to dissolve and travel into your waste system. Once the clog is dissolved, your bathroom will be free of the horrible smell that was caused by the clog.

In this solution, the base is the baking soda and the acid is the white vinegar. These two ingredients have been proven and tested by many for solving minor household plumbing issues, including unclogging shower drains.

To unclog a shower, drain with baking soda and white vinegar, you’ll need:
1. A pair of gloves.
2. 1 cup of baking soda.
3. 1 cup of white vinegar.

Step by step guide to unclog your shower drain with baking soda and white vinegar
Step 1: With your gloves on, pour one cup of baking soda on the shower drain,
Step 2: Let it sit for 10 minutes,
Step 3: Pour 1 Cup of White Vinegar directly on the shower drain.

The reaction between the two ingredients will create a chemical fizz. If it’s a minor clog then two tries will be enough. If it’s a stubborn clog then you might need to repeat the process a few times to completely break it down to get rid of the awful smell.

If the smell persists then you can try the second trick.

b) Using a drain Snake to unclog your shower drain

Has the thought of poking the clog in your shower drain ever come to mind? If it has, then there’s a tool specifically made for that task. It’s called a drain snake or some call it a plumber’s snake. It’s a long slender object that’s used to remove clogs stuck in pipes.

Sometimes the clog becomes too problematic to break down even with the baking soda and white vinegar mix. This is where your drain snake comes in for a more up-close and personal touch. A drain snake will move the clog around and break it apart enough to flow down the drain pipe and into the waste system effortlessly in manageable chunks, there is only so much our narrow drains can handle.

You can purchase a drain snake from any convenience or hardware stores near you. But if you don’t want to spend money, the good news is you actually can make one at home using a plastic straw.
This trick is easy but it’s also risky since your plastic straw could slip and fall inside your shower drain. Also, the plastic straw trick works well with shower drains clogs when the clog is very close to the surface.

How to turn a plastic straw into a drain snake

You’ll need a pair of scissors and a Plastic Straw.
Use a pair of scissors to cut the plastic straw diagonally from the tip to the tip. Leave half an inch of space between the cuts so that the plastic straw can still grip even when it’s cut.

How to unclog your shower drain with a plastic straw
Step 1:Wear hand gloves and insert the plastic straw inside the drain snake,
Step 2: Lower the drain snake until you feel it hit something solid,
Step 3: : Scrape the drain pipe and poke at the clog,
Step 4: Lift the plastic straw to reveal any debris that the straw caught and discard it with a tissue paper,
Step 5: Repeat this process until you feel that the clog has been removed.

2. Clean the biofilm build-up

If your shower drain is coated with biofilm then it could be the reason why there’s a disgusting smell lurking in your bathroom. Biofilm is slimy in nature with a pink, black or brown stain. Biofilm is caused by bacteria and fungi that’s grown and multiplied in one space.

Bacteria floating in the air settle on wet spaces that offer them a conducive settlement. The bathroom is an area that’s usually wet and that’s why they are commonly found in showers pans, underneath hand soap bottles, and inside shower drain pipes.

Hair and soap in your smelly shower drain often decays over time and offers food to the bacteria swimming inside the pipes. And this encourages biofilm to continue to build up. This also increases the power of the intensity of smells that float back into your bathroom.
Cleaning up the Biofilm build-up will help eliminate the smell your shower drain produces. And you can easily clean the biofilm build-up in your shower drain at home with things you already have.

a) Using bleach and water to clean biofilm build-up in your shower drain

Bleach contains an active ingredient called sodium hypochlorite which can kill bacteria and fungi that make up a biofilm. Take 1 part bleach and mix it with 1 part water then pour the mix down the drain.

3. Refill the P-trap

A p-trap is located inside your home’s plumbing system and it helps keep out the sewer gases and odours from floating back inside your house. It’s made with a water seal which holds the sewage and directs it through a plumbing vent and outside the building so that they can get carried away with wind currents.

If the P-traps in your plumbing system are dry then they can’t hold sewer gases and as a result, they’ll escape and run back to your bathroom through your shower drain

When bathrooms aren’t used for a while, P-traps dry out so if this is the reason, then you can easily fix it by running water in your shower drain for a couple of minutes and the P-trap will refill making the smell go away.

Additionally, if you’d like to get more handsy with unclogging your shower drain, then you can unscrew your shower drain and pick out the clog with your hand while wearing gloves. But this is usually a sticky business that most people avoid. So, it is recommended to call a plumber instead as this is a little more technical for someone without a plumbing background. Generally, shower drains with icky smells are caused by more complex plumbing issues that are difficult to DIY your way through when you have no plumbing expertise.

For instance, when your P-traps or drain pipes are leaking and they need to be exchanged or if your plumbing vent is clogged and to unclog it, you need to climb to the roof and use specific tools to identify what’s clogging your plumbing vent. Another issue could be a broken seal that held some pipes.

These problems require plumbing experts to fix them since they could be out of your range of skillset and they’re risky to try without prior knowledge of plumbing and safety measures while at it. And that’s why you can always count on us to fix your plumbing problems. We’re always a phone call away; 24-hour Emergency Plumbing Services. Contact us to get rid of that awful smell coming from your shower drain.

SMELLY DRAINS;CAUSES

All, Heating / By Edgard Wilson

5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE MAKING YOUR SHOWER DRAIN STINK

Those moments when you just can’t put a finger on the smell lingering in your bathroom. It can range from mildly unpleasant to feeling like a whole sewer exploded in your bathroom. Whatever the intensity level it might be at, it is an unwelcome guest in the room that is also used to clear the mind for some.

Furiously spraying a can of air freshener doesn’t make that foul smell go away. Neither does opening all the windows in your bathroom. The sewer fumes seeping from your shower drain can’t be tamed by lightweight fragrances. It will actually make the air in your bathroom heavier and you’ll end up even worse off.

Since that’s an unpleasant thing that we don’t wish to happen, we’ll go for the alternative. Which is to learn what’s causing that horrific smell so that you can understand how to avoid and fix it.

In this article, we will share with you exactly that. You’ll learn 5 common things that make your shower drain stink which are easy to remember. So next time the same problem comes back again, it will be a no brainer.

5 Reasons Your Shower Drain Smells Like Roadkill

1. Clogged Plumbing Vent

A plumbing vent is an equipment that regulates air pressure in your waste system. The purpose of a plumbing vent is to remove gases and odours from your waste system and prevent them from invading your home. A plumbing vent helps water to flow smoothly due to the fresh air that is allowed into the plumbing system.

To locate a plumbing vent in your home, go outside your building and search for any vertical pipe poking through your roof.

When a plumbing vent is clogged it can cause a foul smell to crawl back into your building through your shower drain. A clog prevents gases and sewer smell to escape through the pipe so it can get carried away by wind currents. Instead, it traps the gut-wrenching smell which lingers back to your building.

A couple of things that can clog your plumbing vent are; birds’ nests, bird or rodent carcasses, leaves, small branches, trash, or other debris, Tennis balls or baseballs along with other items that could get lodged into it on the day-to-day activities.

How do you know your plumbing vent is clogged?
– If your shower drains stink,
– If you hear unusual gurgling sounds when water flows down the shower drain,
– If water takes a while to drain.

2. Debris Build-up

It’s refreshing to step under your shower and reward yourself with a refreshing hair and body wash. It’s hard to imagine that this little treat could eventually make your bathroom reek. Just like sinks, shower drains endure frequent disposal of soap, skin particles and other organic waste along with hair, lots and lots of hair. Even if your hair easily flows down the shower drain, it doesn’t guarantee that it’s completely disappeared into the waste system due to its tangly nature that makes it susceptible to trapping itself and create a build-up base for other particles to clog on.

Hair gets stuck along the drainpipes and collects more debris that gets washed down the shower drain. This leads up to an accumulation in your shower drain that makes you scrunch your nose every time you open your bathroom door as it decays and emits that unbearable smell.

A debris build-up in your shower drain is an accumulation of hair, dead skin, mould, soap scum and dirt. It compacts itself and forms a clog in your shower drain that not only prevents water from flowing smoothly but also causes foul smell to come out of the shower drain. An accumulation gunk that’s coated along the shower drain walls after a while, it begins to decay. As a result, fumes rise and come out of the shower drains making your bathroom smell like the actual sewer.

Shower drains are like kitchen drains in a sense that, material that is hard to dissolve will block the drain as it clumps and sticks together making it a breeding ground for odour producing bacteria.

To make your shower drain clog-free, keep all the indissoluble material away from it. This will also save you the trouble of unclogging it and touching gooey hair and other junk that caused the clog.

3. Dry P-Trap

There are many parts that go into a plumbing system in your house. One of the popular ones is called a P-trap. A P-trap is a curved pipe installed under your shower. And just like the plumbing vent, the purpose of a P-Trap is to keep sewer fumes and small sewer-dwellers like insects from creeping inside your house. P-traps are made with a little dip that keeps a small amount of water which holds sewer gases. When sewer gases and odours are held in the dip, they are prevented from wandering inside your house.

How is the rotten smell from the shower drain related to a P-trap?
As mentioned before, P-Traps hold a tiny amount of water. If the P-trap is dried out, no water is contained in the dip, and this paves a way for the sewer fumes to freely float from the sewer system and into your bathroom through your shower drain.

So, what dries out P-traps then?
A P-trap dries out when it goes a long time without use. This is why most toilets stink after home owners have been away for a long holiday for instance. When the water seal is broken, it can also dry out P-Traps.
If a P-trap leaks, it can also lose its ability to function and it will easily cause your shower drain to stink. Leaky P-traps are caused by wear and tear and they can also contribute to letting the sewer gases inside your bathroom.

4. Leaky Pipes.

Water on your bathroom floor is channelled to the sewer system by pipes installed under your shower drain. Strong as they are, these pipes are not immune to damage. They can get worn out and leak and when they do, sewer odours crawl back inside your house through your shower drain. Clogged drains typically cause plumbing leaks in pipes connected to sinks, tubs, and garbage disposals. Clogs cause water to back up in the drainpipe of these plumbing fixtures. The stagnant water in the pipe causes leaks through the caulking and seals.

Another common cause for leaky pipes can be Corrosion.
Corrosion often causes pipes to clog, which makes it harder for water to travel through. In such cases, the pressure from inside could cause damage to your pipes. This damage then allows water to leak out. Clogged drains put pressure on pipes, and they may burst if you don’t fix the issue as soon as you learn about it.

5. Biofilm Build-up

Something that’s common in most bathrooms is the slime on certain corners of the bathroom that always get wet. While it can seem as though the slime is just the remnants of your everyday products, that’s not necessarily the case. The slime is called Biofilm. Biofilm is a thin layer of bacteria and fungi that’s grown and multiplied on a surface. Bacteria that float in the air land on wet surfaces and multiply when there’s a source of food. When it grows it appears as a thin jelly-like stain with red, pink, grey, brown or black colour.

Your shower drain could be coated with biofilm that’s producing an unpleasant smell. When hair and other particles gets stuck in your shower drain it provides a breeding ground for bacteria. As it rots, it creates a conducive environment that attracts more bacteria and fungi. Having a hair catcher to place on your shower drain will prevent any hair from getting inside your drain and creating a base for biofilm. Another preventative measure is pouring disinfectant solutions on your shower drain on a regular basis to discourage biofilm build up.

Those are the 5 common reasons why your shower drains smell terrible.
1) A clogged plumbing vent,
2) A debris build-up,
3) Dry P-traps
4) Leaky pipes and
5) Biofilm build-up.

Regular drain cleaning, flushing and avoiding indissoluble materials from getting sucked in your shower drain can prevent your bathroom from falling victim to this scenario. Although these causes are common and can be fixed easily – there are some things that could make your shower drain smell like the sewer that aren’t easily recognizable. Things such as a poorly installed drain pipe can’t be identified easily until the plumbing system is disassembled and it takes a high level of plumbing expertise to do this.

If you try to disassemble your plumbing system without guidance, you might run the risk of losing small parts that hold certain fixtures together. You might also run the risk of damaging the pipes rather than fixing them. It is also risky climbing the roof to identify what is clogging your plumbing vent or diagnosing the sewage system without proper equipment and safety precautions knowledge.

We offer plenty of plumbing services in the UK which includes eliminating the rotting sewer smells that are creeping in your bathroom through your shower drain. We can fix all your shower drain problems and you can let us know all about it through our Emergency Plumbing Services hotline which is dedicated to serving you 24/7. Contact us anytime to book your emergency plumbing fix.

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