Have you deep-cleaned your kitchen, taken a deep breath in satisfaction, and then realized something stinks? Nothing is more frustrating than having unpleasant smells that linger no matter how much you clean. In many cases, this is due to food, grease, or bacteria trapped inside your garbage disposal.
If you’re dealing with a smelly garbage disposal, there is hope. This is a common problem Birmingham residents face due to issues like hard water, humid air, and aging drain lines. Once you figure out the specific cause of your odors, it’s easy to find the right cleaning solution.
Quick Takeaways
Here are the basics you need to know about smelly garbage disposals:
- Most unpleasant odors are due to bacteria or old food.
- A biofilm of grease and bacteria can smell even if you don’t see food.
- The grinding chamber is often the source of smells.
- In some cases, the splash guard can also hide a lot of odors.
- Smells coming from your garbage disposal may also indicate clogged drains.
- You can often fix smells with a deep clean, but sometimes you’ll need professional help.
Where Is the Smell Coming From?
The first step in fixing your smell is figuring out where the smell is coming from. Tracking down the location will make it much easier to address the issue at the source, but garbage disposals have a lot of different areas that can harbor smells.
Odor Inside the Disposal Chamber
The disposal chamber is one of the leading culprits of garbage disposal odors. Greasy and starchy foods often build up in this area and hold onto odor-causing bacteria. You can also develop odors due to large or hard pieces of food that get stuck around the impeller plate or grinding ring.
Dirty Splash Guard
While people often make sure the visible side of the splash guard is clean, they don’t realize the underside is where most residue accumulates. As food particles splash up onto it, it ends up getting a greasy coating that can smell very unpleasant.
Smell From the Drain or P-Trap
The drain pipe and P-trap right underneath the disposal might be the source of your unpleasant smells. If there is a partial clog, water will still drain, but the clump of food sludge can be quite stinky. It’s often especially bad-smelling if the clog causes wastewater to stand in the P-trap for too long.
Sewer Gas Smell
If your plumbing isn’t set up correctly, gas from the sewer can waft up the pipes and into your home. This is often caused by things like a dry P-trap or a poorly shaped vent stack. It will lead to an unpleasant sulfur smell coming up from your disposal.
What Causes Garbage Disposal Odors?
The culprit behind every garbage disposal odor is bacteria. Once microscopic bacteria start to eat your food, they produce toxic byproducts that cause extremely bad odors to develop.
The bacterial decomposition happening in garbage disposals can be particularly bad because it’s often anaerobic. The water in your disposal blocks oxygen, so it allows aerobic decomposition to develop. This type of decay produces methane and other stinky gases that you’ll smell from far away.
Is a Smelly Garbage Disposal Dangerous?
A smelly garbage disposal is definitely an inconvenience, but it’s usually not a major emergency. Sometimes, it means your plumbing needs a little extra attention.
To avoid letting plumbing issues worsen, make sure to look out for the signs:
- Dripping or trickling sounds
- Mold underneath your cabinets
- Damp patches on your walls or floors
- Clanking or gurgling noises
- Slow moving drains
- Water backing up in your sink
- Grinding noises from your disposal
- Burning smells from your disposal
How to Get Rid of Garbage Disposal Smells
Follow these steps to do a deep clean and get rid of most garbage disposal smells:
- Unplug your disposal.
- Use soap and water to scrub the splash guard.
- Put equal parts baking soda and vinegar in the disposal to create bubbles that dislodge gunk.
- Turn the disposal back on and run a handful of ice cubes through it to break up any food particles.
- Flush your disposal with cold water.
When Cleaning Isn’t Enough
If a thorough clean doesn’t do the trick, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. Make sure to call a plumber if smells keep coming back or if you see any other signs of a leak or clog.
A trained plumber can assess your plumbing system and let you know if you have a broken vent stack, incorrectly angled P-trap, or other problem. With professional help, you can banish bad smells for good.
FAQ: Garbage Disposal Smell Questions
Here are the answers to some common questions we get about smelly garbage disposals.
Why does my garbage disposal smell like rotten eggs?
If you’re smelling something that smells like rotten eggs, there’s a good chance you’re smelling sewer gas.
Why does my sink smell even when the disposal is clean?
If there are still bad smells after you’ve made sure your disposal is sparkling clean, the odors could indicate a P-trap issue or a drain line clog.
How often should I clean my garbage disposal?
To prevent bad smells, make sure you’re cleaning your garbage disposal on a monthly basis.
Can a clogged drain cause disposal smells?
Yes, clogs often cause food to back up in your disposal, and this leads to some very unpleasant smells.
Should I replace my garbage disposal if it smells?
If your garbage disposal is regularly getting clogged, it might be an aging unit that requires repairs or replacement.
Stop Garbage Disposal Odors at the Source
Don’t let bad smells make your kitchen an unpleasant place to be. Call the punctual plumbers and address the problem fast.
The Benjamin Franklin Plumbing team can inspect your garbage disposal for issues like drain blockages and failing units. We’re happy to help with removing clogs, repairing garbage disposals, and more.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Birmingham, AL to tackle your garbage disposal problem at its source.