It may be confusing when you’re greeted by a foul, swampy odor that smells like a city sewer has moved into your laundry room. This common summer headache happens because the heat and humidity speed up the breakdown of organic matter in your pipes. The rising temperatures can even change the way air flows through your plumbing vents. When the air outside is heavy and still, those gases can get trapped and pushed back into your living space. Taking steps now will help you keep those stinky surprises away so that you can focus on enjoying your summer.

The Power of the Simple P-Trap

Almost every drain in your house has a U-shaped pipe underneath it called a P-trap. Its job is to hold a small amount of water that acts as a seal against sewer gases. During the hot summer months, the water in these traps can evaporate much faster than usual. This is especially the case in guest bathrooms or floor drains that you don’ use every day. Once that water seal disappears, there’s nothing to stop the smell of the sewer from drifting straight up into your home. You can solve this easily by walking around once a week and running the water in every sink and tub for about thirty seconds.

Cleaning the Gunk Out of the Disposal

Your kitchen sink is a major source of summer odors. It collects tiny bits of food, grease, and vegetable peels that love to rot in the heat. Even if you run the garbage disposal regularly, a thin layer of organic slime can build up on the underside of the black rubber splash guard and along the grinding chamber. In the winter, you might not notice it. However, the summer heat turns that slime into a breeding ground for smelly bacteria that can fill your entire kitchen with a sour scent. You can fight back by tossing a few ice cubes and some lemon peels into the disposal and grinding them up with cold water. The ice acts like a scrub brush for the grinding components. The citrus oils provide a natural scent that replaces the rot with something much more pleasant for your nose.

Checking the Ventilation on the Roof

Every plumbing system has a vent pipe that pokes out through the roof to let sewer gases escape and allow fresh air into the pipes so that water drains smoothly. During the summer, these vent stacks can become blocked by bird nests, spider webs, or even stray tennis balls that got stuck during a backyard game. When the vent is clogged, the gas has nowhere to go but back down into your house. Your drains might start making a weird gurgling sound every time you flush the toilet. You should take a look at your roofline from the ground and check if any branches are hanging over the vent. Falling leaves can easily plug the opening.

Taking these steps will ensure that you don’t feel embarrassed when guests enter your home. Now that you have a plan to keep the gunk and gas at bay, you can leave the windows shut, crank up the AC, and enjoy your summer. If you have concerns or require sewer line services, contact Preferred Plumbing Professionals in Topeka, KS.