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Does Your Shower Have an Odd Smell? Here's What to Do

Does Your Shower Have an Odd Smell? Here's What to Do
If a distinct smell coming from your drain keeps interrupting your shower time, it's time to do something about it. Luckily, you're not alone, and there may be a few explanations for the odor. First, it's important to find the cause so you can learn how to get rid of the smell in a shower drain.

Here are two of the most common explanations of why your shower smells.

  1. Biofilm Buildup

One of the common reasons your shower drain smells like rotten eggs is the buildup of biofilm. Biofilm is a thin layer of bacteria that grows from the accumulation of shampoo and water inside your pipes. Biofilm may become more of an issue if hair gets stuck in your drain often. Removing this hair as it gathers can prevent biofilm buildup and clogged pipes.

  1. Escaped Sewer Gases

If your shower drain smells like mildew, it could result from sewer gases in your pipes. You can find a P-trap, a U-shaped pipe filled with water, inside your pipes. The P-trap blocks sewage gases from entering your piping system.

Examining the P-trap can be a technical process because problems may stem from several underlying issues. Two common causes for the mildew smell are dry P-traps and sewer backups. Either way, you can eliminate the odor with the tips below.

How to Get Rid of the Smell in Your Shower Drain

If you suspect you have an accumulation of biofilm, fixing the smell only requires a few materials and a bit of your time. Gather the following items:

  • 5 to 10 quarts of boiling water
  • 1 cup of distilled white vinegar
  • 5 cups of baking soda
  • 1 gallon of hot water
  • A brush for cleaning
After you gather the supplies, complete the following steps"
  1. If necessary, remove your drain using a screwdriver.
  2. Let the boiling water cool slightly until it reaches 150-160 degrees F before pouring it down your drain slowly.
  3. Pour in the vinegar.
  4. Immediately pour in the baking soda
  5. Let the baking soda sit for a few hours before pouring the gallon of water.
  6. Use the brush to loosen any leftover biofilm.
When your P-trap is to blame, there are a few other fixes. For example, the water inside the P-trap may have evaporated. Fixing this issue is easy, as it only involves pouring about 1 or 2 cups of water down the drain. If this solution doesn't fix the mildew smell, the P-trap may have a leak. Call a professional to replace the pipe.

Trust Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida to Fix Your Shower Drain

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we have a team of licensed and professional plumbers that treat your problems as our own. If these at-home fixes fail to eliminate the smell, we can help. Contact us to request a job estimate!

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