Sewer Cleaning in Logan Square Chicago: How to Fix a Smelly Kitchen Drain Clog
If your kitchen sink smells like sewage, you may have a clogged drain. Sewer gas can be dangerous and harmful to your health, so it’s important to fix the problem as soon as possible.
To assist all your plumbing needs, we’ll walk you through how to diagnose and unclog a kitchen sink. We’ll also discuss some common causes of kitchen and laundry room drain clogs.
What To Do When Your Kitchen Sink Drain Smells
The first thing you should do when dealing with a smelly sink is to identify the source of the odor. While there are many possibilities, a stinky sink could be the result of a clog or broken drain.
Additionally, consider that your garbage disposal could be perpetuating the unpleasant smell. Particles from dirty dishes could cause a clog.
Furthermore, sewer gas could be escaping through the drain opening from a crack in the drain pipe. These problems should be addressed by a professional plumber. Our team is happy to help call us today at (773) 799-8848!
The Causes of Smelly Kitchen Drain Clogs
The Logan Square area is notorious for kitchen clogs. With older homes and older pipes, homes in the area are prone to kitchen sink clogs.
The causes of a smelly sink are plentiful, from cooking grease build-up to old pipes. Identifying the cause of smelly blockages can be difficult.
Other Causes of Kitchen Sink Drain Clogs
When investigating the cause of a clogged sink, it is important to look out for some of the following common culprits.
Identifying the cause is the first step to fixing a smelly sink. Once you know what’s causing the problem, you can fix it!
However, in other cases, you may need to call our local plumbers at Rescue Plumbing at (773) 799-8848. We can help you get your kitchen smelling fresh!
How to Fix a Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain
There are a few things Logan Square homeowners can do to clear a kitchen sink clog. The first step is to identify the source of the blockage. If the problem is a simple clog, there are a few DIY methods you can try before calling a professional.
The Boiling Water Method
Boiling water is the easiest and least expensive clogged kitchen sink drainer of all. Here’s how to use boiling water to clear your drain: place a kettle or pot of water on the stove and bring it to a rolling boil.
While you’re waiting for the water to heat, remove as much standing water from the sink as possible.
Pour the entire kettle of water into the sink and let it sit for a couple of minutes. This could possibly fix the clog.
The Traditional Method: Plungers
If boiling water doesn’t clear your sink, it’s time to break out the big guns: a plunger. Here’s how to use a plunger to clear your kitchen sink drain: fill the sink with enough water to cover the rubber cup of the plunge. For a good seal, run hot tap water till reaching three or four inches of hot water on the clogged side of the sink.
Those with a double sink should block the unclogged side with the stopper, paper towels, or a wet rag.
Push and pull the plunger up and down for 30 seconds to one minute.
Tip: While you can use the toilet plunger, flat-bottomed plungers are most effective!
The Plumber’s Snake Method
This tool consists of a coiled spiral snake, around 1/4-inch thick, with a handle at one end. The coil reaches down into the clogged sink drain, and then the handle dislodges and pulls up the clog.
A plumber’s snake can eliminate a clog within a horizontal or elbow-shaped pipe.
Some snakes are manually cranked, while others are electrically powered for extra strength.
Using a plumber’s snake, check the P-trap (the ‘J’ curved section of pipe under the sink) to ensure it is not clogged.
Check under the sink and place a bucket underneath the pipe to catch excess water. Using an Allen wrench, unscrew the connectors of the PVC pipe that hold the P-trap attached to the vertical and horizontal drain pipe.
Once unscrewed, remove debris from the trap, reconnect it, then run water into the sink!
The Unrecommended Method: Coat Hanger
Many unreliable sources recommend a wire coat hanger to clear your clogged kitchen sink.
As professional plumbers, we recommend against using a wire coat hanger. The coat hanger method places your pipes at risk for severe damage.
If you’re still having trouble with a clogged kitchen sink, it’s time to call in a professional plumber. Contact us at (773) 799-8848 or schedule our services online today!
Preventing Clogged Kitchen Sinks
Clean your kitchen sink drain once a week to prevent future clogs.
To dissolve grime inside the drain, remove all standing water from the kitchen sink.
Pour one cup of baking soda into the drain, and top it with another cup of white vinegar.
Let the mixture sit for five minutes, and flush the mixture away with boiling water.
The Garbage Disposal
To prevent clogs and odors, clean your garbage disposal and remove debris regularly.
When using the garbage disposal, leave the water running on flush food scraps down the drain.
Next, only feed half a cup of scraps into the garbage disposal at a time to avoid overloading its motor. Avoid starchy foods like potato peels, rice, and banana peels since they will likely clog your drain.
Using these methods, your kitchen sink should remain clogged and odor-free. Call our team of professional local plumbers at (773) 799-8848 or schedule an appointment online. We’re always happy to help!
Sewer Cleaning Services in Chicago
Logan Square Chicago residents know that kitchen drain clogs are a real pain. This city area has older homes and buildings with original piping. Clogs are frequent in this part of Chicago.
Our Logan Square customer called us when they started to smell sewage in their home. We know this is a sign of a serious problem!
Luckily, our experts are trained to locate and repair any plumbing problem! The team quickly traced the smell to the kitchen drain pipe.
To our surprise, the kitchen drain line was installed incorrectly. This released harmful sewer gasses into the home.
Our trained plumbers were there to rescue this family! They connected the main sewer line to the catch basin with a sealed cast iron pipe. Then, to improve the drainage, our plumbers installed a schedule 40 PVC drainage system through their concrete floor.
The careful work of our team solved their disruptive sewer gas leak and improved their home’s drainage piping system. With this installation, we’ve added protection against future clogs and maintenance access for future repairs!
Our plumbers are always happy to rescue customers around the Chicago area! Call our friendly staff today to start your project (773) 799-8848!
FAQs
Contact Rescue Plumbing Today!
If you’re experiencing a clog, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Rescue Plumbing. We’re here to help you get your drains flowing again. Contact us at 773-799-8848 or online today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to serving you! Chicago residents deserve the best sewer cleaning services, which we provide.
Catherine Galvan
Catherine Galvan is a summer intern at Rescue Marketing. She is excited to be able to write and publish work for Rescue Plumbing. She hopes you enjoy reading the blogs as much as she enjoyed writing them!
