Have a Smelly Shower Drain? Here’s How to Fix It

Imagine walking into your bathroom to discover an awful smell that you cannot pinpoint. The smell is horrible and just penetrates your nose. As you look around, you get closer to the shower drain and notice that the smell is coming up from there!

You probably did not know this, but shower drains can start to smell and pretty bad at that. There are several reasons why the drain itself starts to smell and all of the reasons are preventable and easy to fix.

Below, we will talk more about the potential reason for the smell and then how to rectify the situation. It is recommended that you speak with a professional plumber when you experience any type of plumbing issues.

There Is a Clog

You have a built-in stopper over the drain in your shower or tub and while it is meant to catch things, it does not catch them all, especially hair. Over time, your drain starts to become backed up with soap scum, hair, and debris that makes its way past the stopper. In most cases, the smell coming from your drain is a build up of all this material and it is easy to fix.

To solve the problem, you first want to make sure that you put on some gloves. That smell is quite upsetting and the last thing you want to do is put your fingers into the mess that may be lurking there for you. Once your gloves are on, pop off the stopper and then take a look in the drain. Remove any and all debris that you can see. After the debris is removed, take some hot water and a soapy toothbrush and clean the drain.

If the drain continues to smell or has too much build up it is recommended that you call a plumber to come take a look.

The P-Trap is Bone Dry

The P-trap is better known as the pipe that curves and connects your drain system to the drain. The reason there is a curve in the pipe is to keep some water in the pipe thus blocking out any sewer gasses that may try to come up the pipe if it were dry.

One of the key ways to tell if the problem is with the P-trap is to identify what the smell is. If it is a smell of rotten eggs then the P-trap is likely dry. The best way to fix this problem is to take about two cups of water and pour it into the drain and then wait 60 minutes. If your P-trap is not working properly, the water is be gone and at that point, it is important that you call an experienced plumber.

Mildew or Mold is Growing and Taking Over

Mildew and mold love to flourish and reproduce in areas that are moist and dark. So, what better place than your shower drain? A build up of mold or mildew can cause the shower drain to smell and you may notice it even more when the bathroom becomes warmer or there is humidity. If you have a musty smell, that is likely the culprit.

To handle mold or mildew, simply clean the drain or hire an experienced plumber to do so. You should clean the drain with hot water and bleach to kill the mold or mildew.

Smelly Shower Drains Happen!

Smelly shower drains happen and more often than you would think. The above problems are the most common ones and can be fixed relatively easy. If you do experience any problems with your plumbing, we recommend that you immediately call a professional plumber to come out to your home.