If someone smells something bad in the bathroom, it could make them feel bad for the rest of the day. There are many reasons to discuss the bathroom’s bad smell. Bad shower drain smell or blocked drains can give rise to your bathroom’s sewage smell. You will feel bad, and your bathroom will look dirty if your bathroom drain smells bad. Also, mold growth is what makes a shower drain smell like sewage. You can find mold growing under the shower drain cover. This is because hair and body oils contain cellulose-based materials. It also grows because, as wastewater exits the drain pipe, soap scum gathers in long shower floor drain. The water and the wetness in the air make the drain system a good place for mold to grow.
It’s common for your linear shower drain to smell like sewage. We find that the smell is usually awful and annoying. They may also cause nausea, headaches, and dizziness, among other health problems. There are several reasons why a linear hidden shower drain might smell dirty. Why does my linear shower drain smell like sewage? If this question has recently come up in your mind as a homeowner, we can help. You can get rid of smelly bathroom drains by following the steps in this post. We talk about some of the most common causes and how to avoid them in the future. Let’s start!!
What Is Causing Your Linear Shower Drain to Smell Bad?
You may have a number of plumbing problems if the drain smells like sewage or sewer gas. It’s common for long shower floor drains to grow bad smells. There are many things that might go wrong inside the pipes. The most common reasons why drains smell bad are:
Biofilm formation
Biofilm formation is usually the source of a sewage smell. It is made up of germs that stick to surfaces and make them slimy and sticky. It is present in many areas of our houses, including the showers. Whenever biofilm starts to build up in your shower drain. It can cause a foul smell that isn’t always easy to eliminate. It smells like a unique odor because the bacteria in the biofilm make waste products. The filthy smell will also get stronger as long as the biofilm is not handled. Biofilm is tough to eliminate, and it can keep growing if you don’t take care of it immediately.
Sewage gases can back up due to a blocked vent pipe.
Plumbing vents are an important part of keeping your plumbing system working well. The purpose of these vent lines is to help control and modify air pressure. So they stop harmful gases from developing inside the drain pipe. There are many problems that can happen when a vent pipe gets jammed. Your custom linear shower drain is causing problems like foul smells and sewage odors. This usually happens because sewage gases are building up in the pipes.
Dry p-trap releases sewage gases.
A U-shaped pipe is a component of your drain system called a P-trap. Water is passing through the P-trap all the time. This makes a seal that keeps gas from getting into your home. Because of its curved shape, P-traps can retain a little water between usages. This water blocks the way and works as a cushion. It stops these kinds of things from going back through the drain. The barrier wouldn’t exist without the P-trap.
As a result, the sewer gases would keep coming into your shower, giving it a sewage smell. If you can smell sewer gas coming from your shower drain, you should fix it. It is most likely the result of a dry P-trap. If you don’t use your shower for a while, the water can disappear. The sewer gases can get into your shower through this hole. The smell of sewage gas is unpleasant and can be harmful. This makes it even more important to deal with the problem.
Shower drain clogs cause a sewage smell.
If your drains are clogged, you might also smell sewage. There are several causes of clogged drains, including the buildup of soap scum and hair. The long shower drain gets clogged up because of these. Your shower drain isn’t draining water properly because of these blockages. Because of this, water stays still in the lines and builds up. It makes a good place for germs and bugs to grow. There are other unpleasant effects of a clogged drain. It can also be bad for your health, especially if your defense system isn’t strong enough.
Drain pipe leaks cause a sewage smell.If the smell of sewers has been bothering, you in the shower. The root reason might be a leaking drain pipe. These drain pipes transport shower wastewater to your main sewer line. They may rust, break, or start to leak as they get older. In such cases, waste material cannot reach the sewer line as expected. Also, it may leak into the next area, including under the floor of your shower. Leaking sewerage can do a lot of damage and even harm your health. Usually, a bad smell is the first and most obvious sign that your pipes are broken.
How to Get Rid of the Bathroom Smell on Your Own?
If your shower drain smells bad, try these do-it-yourself options.
Manually clean the drain.
It is important to clean the drain cover of hair and soap scum every time you take a shower. You try to extract as much of the stuff as you can from the drain. You can also use a drain snake or other drain cleaning tool to go further below the drain hole.
Mold growth treatment for drains
You must follow these steps to treat your drains and stop mold from growing and musty smells:
- You start by taking the sink strainer off and cleaning it.
- It’s possible to clean the sink with an old toothbrush or a drain brush. You should also pour a cup of baking soda down the drain right away.
- The next step is to pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain carefully.
- After that, you need to cover the drain, let the vinegar mix, and soak it for a while. It destroys germs that cause smells and mold.
- Lastly, you need to use hot water to flush after 20 minutes.
Repair the dry P-trap
A sewage smell usually happens when a P-trap is dry. Is there water visible when you look under your drain? If not, there is no water in the P-trap. When your P-trap is dry, you need to do the following:
- You start by putting up to two cups of water down the drain.
- You have to wait for an hour after that.
- You need to check the drain to see if there is still water in it. If not, you should call a professional to repair the P-trap.
- If you don’t regularly use the shower. You can also stop the water from drying by adding six ounces of mineral oil.
Unclog a clogged vent pipe.
When it’s very cold outside, snow and ice can block water vents on the roof. The smell of sewers is backing up into your shower drain. It is safe for you to clear the top layer of snow. If pipe vents are frozen, find the vent in the attic of your home. Also, you will need a blower to clear the vent.
Hire a plumber for smelly drains.
If the above do-it-yourself solutions don’t work, contact a professional plumber. They have more advanced ways to get rid of smelly shower drains. In some cases, professional solutions can help get rid of the smell from your shower drain. If the smell of sewage is coming from leaky pipes in your shower. They can fix broken drain lines so that you don’t have leaks or bad smells. Their job is to find the problem and fix it properly.
How to Keep Your Shower Drain Clean?
There is nothing worse than having a bathroom with stopped drains and bad smells. In other words, you should keep the linear shower drain clean and free of clogs. It’s easy and only takes a few steps to keep your custom linear shower drain clean. We will show you a detailed guide on cleaning your linear shower drain. This will keep your bathroom clean and fresh. If you want to clean a linear or hidden shower drain the right way, you need to follow these steps. Here are the steps:
Step 1 – Get all the supplies you need.
The first step in properly cleaning a long shower floor drain is to get all of the required materials. What you will need is a bucket, some gloves, a scrub brush, and a cleaner. The most effective shower drain cleaner breaks down soap scum and other particles. It is important to wear gloves when working with chemicals in cleaners. Also, you should have a bucket nearby to catch any water or dirt.
Step 2 – Cleaning and spraying the tile insert
You can use a spray cleaner and give it five minutes to work. It is necessary to apply the cleanser to the tile insert’s surface. This will help remove any dirt, dust, mold, or other leftovers on the surface. Then, you use a small brush to remove any hair or other material. After that, you rinse with warm water to get rid of any leftover soapy water. Lastly, you clean out your drain.
Step 3 – Take off the drain cover.
There are two different ways to take off the drain cover from the floor. The first way is to raise it. The second step is to remove any nuts that keep it in place. You should be careful with the cover no matter which method you choose. You can hurt yourself on any sharp points or by touching dirt and grime.
Step 4 – Clean up any visible debris
The drain needs to be carefully looked at to see if it has any waste in it. After that, you have to take it off while wearing gloves to avoid touching anything risky. You should use a trash can to get rid of the trash properly. It doesn’t matter which you use—a plunger or a plumbing snake will get the blockage out of the drain.
Step 5 – Use drain cleaner.
You need to use a drain cleaner to clear out any remaining clogs. When you use a chemical drain cleaner, you need to be careful. It’s also important to follow all of the safety directions that come with the product. It’s best to use a natural cleaner like vinegar and baking soda. The best way to clean the drain is to mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar first. This blend won’t work until you let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 6 – Scrub the floor drain
Scrubbing the drains regularly removes debris and keeps the system working smoothly. You need to wash the drain inside using a cleaning brush or scrub brush. You also need to remove any dirt or buildup you can see.
Step 7 – Run water down the drain.
You need to give the drain a good rinsing with warm water to get rid of all the debris. You pour warm water down the drain for a few minutes. It completely gets rid of all soap and dirt.
Step 8 – Change the drain cover and tile insert.
It is possible to stop more dirt or mold growth by replacing the cover and tile insert carefully. It also stops smells from coming from the sewage system in the future. Here, you will need to decide whether to screw the drain back into place or use another method. It’s also possible to just press it back down onto the drain. Also, you should put back a tile part that you took out while cleaning before you’re done.
Conclusion
The reasons listed above are causing your linear shower drain to smell like sewage. You should carefully figure out what’s causing the bad smell and then follow the right steps. It helps to get rid of problems quickly. Still, you should talk to your plumber about how to prevent this. It helps make sure that mold and bacteria don’t come back. If you smell something coming from your shower drain. Clogs are a common issue, so it’s wise to think about them from the start. If your shower drains slowly or not at all, it may have a clog. If you have clogs or mold, they can smell like sewage.
They get dirty over time and stop water from draining effectively. Also, soap scum, hair, dirt, and other small things can make a linear long shower drain smell bad. So, you should clean your straight shower drain every month. It keeps things from getting clogged and stops hair, soap scum and other debris from building up. This will get rid of the smell coming from your linear shower drain. If your shower drain smells like sewage or sewer gas, fix it. If the do-it-yourself tips above didn’t work, call an experienced drain cleaner. We hope this post has been of great help to you and your family.
