Common Reasons For Stinky Commercial Plumbing Problems

There will be times where your plumbing system stinks even if there are no problems with your toilet flush or pipes. It just smells bad for some unknown reason, which is bothering your employees and clients and could affect your company's impression. Moreover, this could be a severe threat to your and their health and cause serious illnesses. There are even times when it smells so bad that you cannot take it anymore. When this happens, it is best to call a professional plumber to check your plumbing system.

However, if you want to have some ideas where the problem originates, an article talks about the common reasons for a stinky commercial plumbing system.

Sewer Line Leak

If your sewer line has some damages, it may be the reason for your stinky plumbing problems. It is common to most commercial buildings. When there are signs of water damage near the area where there is a strong odour, it is an excellent indication that your drain line or sewer line has leaks. One way of knowing this is when you see a puddle of water forming on your lawn, even if it is not raining recently. Wherever the smell is coming from, it is still best to contact a professional for these problems.

Dry P-trap

If you are not familiar with the P-trap, it is the "P" shaped pipe located beneath your tubes, sinks, or other similar fixtures. They hold a small amount of water that seals off any incoming moisture from your drain line. It prevents sewer gas and sulphur smells from rising through the drain that makes your plumbing system stink. However, a dry P-trap means the barrier that will keep the odours from seeping into your home will not exist. Most of the time, it happens in places that people do not use often. To prevent this from happening, you need to run a little bit of water into the tubs or sinks that your employees do not frequently visit. 

Worn out or Dirty Water Heater Tank

If your water heater tank stinks, there could be two common reasons behind it. One of them is the possibility that its anode rod is wearing out, which causes chemical reactions occurring between the naturally occurring sulphate and corroded rod on the water supply. In these cases, your solution could be replacing the rod with a new one. However, if your rod is in good shape, you should consider the second potential cause. Some bacterias might be accumulating in your water tank by now. These bacterias emit hydrogen sulphide gases, which cause the hot water to smell rotten. When this happens, make sure that you drain and clean your tank thoroughly to remove the bacteria.

Dirty Drains Due to Improper Garbage Disposal 

If none of the causes above is the problem, it might be due to dirty drains that create a biofilm. It happens when grease, oils, food debris, and soap residue accumulates interior walls of your drains and pipes. The film attracts and becomes the source of nutrients for bacteria and microorganisms, which produces a bad smell. You can avoid this by cleaning your drains at least once a week with baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water. It is also best to get an annual or semi-annual professional cleaners for better drain cleaning. 

Installing louvred access doors and panels is ideal for more convenient maintenance of your plumbing system. Aside from comfortable access, it also blends well with any surfaces, which means that it will not affect your interior design. You can get the best quality doors at Best Access Doors. To order, contact us at 1-800-483-0823. 

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson