bad smell under sink and in base cabinets

[plumberchrissie]

Putrid Smell in base cabinets, like very bad garbage and must.

Kitchen updated within 8 years.  Structure is mid-century.  Bathroom is about 8 feet away.  Studio, so people sleep in the room.  Smell an issue since I have moved in, eliminated other issues as possibilities over time.  Smell in kitchen is worst after using shower. There was a leak in drain about a month ago, but smell existed prior.

Thanks in advance for all help!

 

 

 

[Trent Tarter]

Hire a plumber

[plumberchrissie]

I am renting this cottage and i have been told a plumber is coming next week. However this plumber may have installed this trap and he came to fix a leak last month and did not address this. I have been told that i should close all the windows and turn on a humidifier to solve issue of smell. I was also brought an array if air fresheners. I appreciate your taking time to comment but I am trying to educate myself about possible issue so that I can advocate for myself more effectively and deal with plumber and landlord.

Edited June 30, 2018 by plumberchrissie

[Erby]

Sounds like sewer gas may be getting back into the house.  Have the plumber check the venting or see if there is an open pipe somewhere, perhaps a dried out trap with no water in it.

[Chad Fabry]

I'm voting something dead under the cabinet.

[plumberchrissie]

Not something dead under cabinet. Had persisted at least 8 months. I took the pic to a plumbing place today and plumber confirmed that pucture shows unvented p trap...probably replaced original s trap during remodel and did not bother to vent.  I looked with flashlight and can see p trap is dry after running other water in house. Sewer gas.

[Chad Fabry]

3 hours ago, plumberchrissie said:

Not something dead under cabinet. Had persisted at least 8 months. I took the pic to a plumbing place today and plumber confirmed that pucture shows unvented p trap...probably replaced original s trap during remodel and did not bother to vent.  I looked with flashlight and can see p trap is dry after running other water in house. Sewer gas.

It wouldn't stink under sink if it was that. #Plumber wrong.

[plumberchrissie]

Maybe multiple issues. The pipe is often leaking (See grungy areas) so I think it is possible that is why smell from sewer gas is strongest under sink-i would think they would leak out first available spot. . The plumber said to check with a flashlight for water in trap after flushing nearby tools I could not see water in trap.  this is terrible. I have to sleep here in this room!

[Jim Katen]

If it's sewer gas, sticking a rag in the drain will stop it. Try that for a day or two and see if the smell goes away. If it does, you have a sewer gas problem. If it doesn't forget about the sewer gas and look for something else. 

[Mike Lamb]

Single bowl sink.  Install an Air Admittance Valve - AAV (aka Studor vent).  Water may be getting sucked out of the P-trap every time you drain the sink, or other drains are using the sink drain for venting.  Is roof vent clogged?

[Tom Raymond]

You said cottage. Is it over a crawlspace? I bet its nasty down there. 

[Jim Baird]

I smell a rat.  Though I have found tomcat mummies in crawls.

[John Kogel]

It could be leaking sewer gas at the clamps. That could be a flaky connection there.

The galvanized steel pipe is smaller than what we use nowadays. I do not think it is sucking the trap dry. It does not have the volume to do that. You could run a little water into the trap to refill after using the sink to confirm the trap has water in it.

I'll bet the unvented drain is the problem. Sewer gas can't get out, so pressure builds up and blows past the hose clamp, or from somewhere below, and you smell it under the sink.

If it was the trap, you'd smell it in the sink, not under the sink.

Dead rats dry out and stop stinking eventually.

[dennispalmer]

Below are the ways that you can use to overcome bad smell under kitchen sink.

• You can remove the stopper from the sink and wash out debris lodged in it.
• Pour baking soda into the sink drain.
• Use hot water while the baking soda and vinegar is bubbling in the drain.
• Place fresh citrus rinds in sink drains.

[DieHard DIYer]

Having issues with smell coming from under counter vented sink drain.  Relatively new construction and home built on concrete slab.  I installed (diehard DIYer here) the drainage for a doubl;e bowl sink with both  sinks connecting to a p trap in the middle.  The p trap is connected to the 3 inch main drain via a sanitary T (3 " w reduced to 1  & 1/2 ).  Main drain fitted with under sink AAV vent approximately 5 inches above where p trap is connected.  Main drain is connected under the slab to the vent stack going up the interior wall  and through the roof at a distance of approximately 10 to 12 feet from the sink

Most appreciative for any suggestions as to why the smell.  Drains operate properly btw

 

Thanks

Edited February 8, 2020 by DieHard DIYer
new posting rather than response

[Chiliasm]

I'd hire a plumber if it were me.

[annanikolson]

On 6/30/2018 at 10:19 AM, Trent Tarter said:

Hire a plumber

This is the best advise. After this comment, it was possible to close the thread🤣