Plumberguys -- Garbage disposal stench (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

In this latest episode of plumberguys, we've got a pretty bad smell from the garbage disposal.  Going on a couple weeks now. Smell isn't always there but noticeable when sink hasn't been used in a little bit and is noticed when you get near the sink. You can't smell it throughout the kitchen, though.  Definitely smell it if I put my nose near the drain. Seems to improve if you run the disposal or water for short time but then returns. Could also partly be getting used to it after standing there a few moments. It's not the most overpowering smell but certainly noticeable.

I've tried lemons, ice, vinegar, bleach, and liquid plumber to no avail. I've cleaned the rubber part underneath and nothing stuck there. There is nothing down where the disposal blades are. 

What next?

ETA -- We don't use the disposal regularly for big food or anything. Only for little scraps that go through the white plastic drain cover holes essentially while washing dishes.

 

[ChiefD]

You have a dead squirrel in there.

Good luck.

 

[VA703]

take a picture of the plumbing beneath the sink

share picture here

 

[James Daulton]

Have any pets go missing lately?

 

[ChiefD]

Do you have a double sink? If so, look under your sink in the cabinet. If you have 2 separate P-traps, run water down both sides of your sink. If you normally only use one side of the sink, the water in the P-trap on the other side will start to stink.

 

[parasaurolophus]

In this latest episode of plumberguys, we've got a pretty bad smell from the garbage disposal.  Going on a couple weeks now. Smell isn't always there but noticeable when sink hasn't been used in a little bit and is noticed when you get near the sink. You can't smell it throughout the kitchen, though.  Definitely smell it if I put my nose near the drain. Seems to improve if you run the disposal or water for short time but then returns. Could also partly be getting used to it after standing there a few moments. It's not the most overpowering smell but certainly noticeable.

I've tried lemons, ice, vinegar, bleach, and liquid plumber to no avail. I've cleaned the rubber part underneath and nothing stuck there. There is nothing down where the disposal blades are. 

What next?

ETA -- We don't use the disposal regularly for big food or anything. Only for little scraps that go through the white plastic drain cover holes essentially while washing dishes.

Just went through this last night. I poured boiling water down the drain. Then I poured a bit of d-limonene in there. Smells great this morning. We sell d-limonene to lots of food manufacturers. They use it in their floor drains because it is just orange peel extract so it is safe and it is lighter than water. Smells awesome too. 

 

[jb1020]

What about a slow draining disposal side? Its fine after you turn it on for a day or two, but after that it starts holding water.  I've tried to convince my wife this is normal, but I don't think she buys it.  

We don't really put anything down the disposal. 

 

[Mr. Ected]

If I have a stench (Like if I have just sent down something I found in the back of the fridge), I turn on the disposal with warm/hot water and shoot some dish soap down the drain. The hot water and the disposal whirling make a ton of bubbles, enough to come up the other drain in my double sink. That tends to clean everything out.

 

[gianmarco]

Ok, so no double sink.  I've tried the hot water without success but will try again for longer I suppose.

Here is the disposal under the sink

 

[Funkley]

Do you have a double sink? If so, look under your sink in the cabinet. If you have 2 separate P-traps, run water down both sides of your sink. If you normally only use one side of the sink, the water in the P-trap on the other side will start to stink.

Along this same idea, check your dishwasher line and/or filter.

 

[Random]

Is it possible you are using it infrequently enough that the trap is drying up and you are getting sewer gasses through? 

 

[gianmarco]

Is it possible you are using it infrequently enough that the trap is drying up and you are getting sewer gasses through? 

No, we wash dishes daily.  It gets run at least 1-2 times each day. 

 

[gianmarco]

What about a slow draining disposal side? Its fine after you turn it on for a day or two, but after that it starts holding water.  I've tried to convince my wife this is normal, but I don't think she buys it.  

We don't really put anything down the disposal. 

How do I check this?

 

[Sconch]

Along this same idea, check your dishwasher line and/or filter.

Yeah, this too.  That line that runs between the disposal and dishwasher can get filled with stuff from the disposal sometimes.

 

[jb1020]

How do I check this?

 Sorry @gianmarco it was a slight thread hijack.  I'm having that holding water problem myself.