Every homeowner is bound to experience a strange smell every now and then. Perhaps you forgot to take out the trash or left dinner in the oven a little longer than you meant to. If these scenarios aren’t the source, the nasty aroma might be from your kitchen’s garbage disposal.
Nobody likes a nasty smell, especially not Raptor Rooter & Plumbing! Our team is here to keep your Spokane Valley pipes in excellent condition. Read ahead to learn what can enter your garbage disposal, causing a strange odor throughout your home.
Causes Of Garbage Disposal Odors
No home system is perfect, including your garbage disposal. As it grows older, the plumbing component may experience issues that cause it to form an unusual odor. This smell won’t be pleasant, alerting you of a potential drawback.
Rotten Food
Food that isn’t completely broken up can get stuck in your garbage disposal impellers. As a result, these scraps will sit and begin to decay over time. Not only is this a hazard, but it will also produce a foul odor in your home. Certain foods should not be dropped into your system, a few of which are:
- Grease and oils
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Potato peels
- Pasta
- Bones
- Corn husks
These ingredients may produce delicious meals but will likely back up your garbage disposal. When this occurs, the food will rot and decay. To avoid any unwanted buildup, it’s best to dispose of the scraps in your compost bin or trash can.
Mold And Mildew
Your kitchen plumbing is a dark and warm environment. Unfortunately, these traits make the area a prime breeding ground for mold spores. If mildew and mold grow within your garbage disposal, the smell will make the issue apparent. It can also create a variety of health hazards if it isn’t corrected.
Sewer Gasses
Sinks are designed to hold water and prevent sewer gasses from escaping the drain. However, without the correct installation, these aromas can seep into your kitchen. Sewer gas can also emerge if your sink is blocked with debris or experiencing a leaky drain. A professional plumber can eliminate this issue, shielding you from harmful gasses.
Signs It’s Time For A Garbage Disposal Replacement
If repairs don’t correct the odor, strong odors are a common sign that your garbage disposal needs to be replaced. Additionally, the component may experience frequent leaks and clogs. This can damage your pipes if not corrected. A system malfunction can also cause your disposal to seize, producing loud noises without grinding up food scraps.
When your disposal isn’t meeting your needs, you may want to contact a professional plumber. You don’t want to experience an issue in your kitchen, especially if it’s creating a nasty smell! A technician can perform cleaning techniques to rid your system of any unusual odors.
The Grease Problem Behind Most Kitchen Odors
Grease is the one that catches people out. It goes down warm and liquid, then cools in the line just past the disposal and hardens. Food particles stick to it, and that layer is what you are actually smelling, not the disposal itself.
Cold weather makes it worse, because the drain line running through an unheated crawl space or an exterior wall cools grease faster. Scrape plates into the bin, pour cooled cooking fat into a container rather than the sink, and run cold water rather than hot when the disposal is working.
When The Smell Is Not The Disposal At All
If cleaning the disposal makes no difference, check whether the smell is coming from the drain beside it or from the dishwasher. A partially blocked line, a dry trap in a second basin, or a dishwasher drain hose that was never looped correctly all produce the same odor in the same cupboard.
A smell that returns within days of a proper clean usually means buildup further down the line. Our team handles garbage disposal repair and drain cleaning for kitchens across Spokane Valley, WA.
Contact Raptor Rooter For Spokane Valley Garbage Disposal Repairs
Raptor Rooter & Plumbing is here to help when your disposal is producing a funky smell. Our team strives to provide outstanding services to all our Spokane Valley customers. You can count on us to solve an issue with your household plumbing system! Contact us today to schedule your next garbage disposal repair service!