Shower Drain Odor

Shower Drain Odor Removal TIPS

Remove strainer
Scoop out any black goo from sides of strainer
Use Stain Solver certified organic oxygen bleach
Biofilm and mildew cleaned with Stain Solver
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DEAR TIM: We have a horrible odor coming from the shower drain in our acrylic shower. Five different plumbers have not been able to solve the problem.

The first and fourth plumbers said nothing could be done, the second and third plumbers thought the problem was caused by a rocking toilet so they replaced the toilet's wax ring.

The fifth plumber said he thought the plumbing drain lines were installed improperly and that the odor was caused each time the toilet flushed.

The problem is, the odor just started and all was fine several months ago. I have poured every imaginable cleaning solution into the shower drain and the odor persists.

What could be the problem? Shari W., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

DEAR SHARI: You might be eligible for a place in the record books for having called in that many plumbers for one problem.

Sewer Gas Odor Impostor

Most foul odors in bathrooms can be traced to sewer gas leaving the drain and vent pipe system of homes. There are many reasons why this happened and the plumbers you hired were trying their best to chase down the typical sources of sewer gas.

Watch this video to see how complex the piping system is in the walls and ceilings of your home. Imagine if one of these pipes is cracked or was never sealed properly.

I've been a master plumber since age 28 and routinely do phone consults helping people solve their sewer gas problems over the phone. You'd be shocked as to what I discover by asking some simple questions.

CLICK HERE if you want to do a phone consult with me.

The issue is there's another possibility the plumbers have overlooked. Remember, the power is always in the question or questions. I don't know if they've been asking you the right ones.

Source Could Be Above The Trap

It is amazing that you have not made any progress on solving the problem. That tells me the source of the odor might not be related to actual sewer gas leaking from your system, even though it smells like sewer gas.

But to determine this, I am afraid you might have to perform a little exploratory surgery on a wall that's adjacent to the shower.

Odors coming from drains are a common problem in many homes. Some people only have the problem when they run water in a sink or a bathtub.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from handymen in your town to do this job.

Biofilm is Source

The source of the odor in almost all of these instances is a buildup of biofilm on the sides of the pipes that connect the sink or fixture to the actual P-shaped trap under the fixture. This vertical tailpiece pipe can accumulate a seething bacteria-filled organic layer of slime over time.

When water rushes past the slime, it can dislodge some of the molecules into the air and they waft up out of the sink and into your nose.

Stain Solver Cleaner

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

To eliminate biofilm as the source of the odor, take the chrome or brass strainer cover off the shower drain so you can see into the drain pipe.

Use Stain Solver oxygen bleach solution and a larger-diameter bottle brush to thoroughly clean the underside of the strainer, the bowl-shaped drain assembly under the strainer as well as the sides of the vertical drain pipe that extends downward into the p-trap.

Stain Solver is a pure powder you mix with hot tap water. It's non-toxic. It's Made in the USA with USA ingredients.

There's no offensive odor like you get with chlorine bleach.

Rinse thoroughly with clean water until the entire drain is perfectly clean. If the odor still persists, it is time to move on.

Mold May Be The Issue

Check for mold in the shower and areas near the shower. Active mold growth produces odor. That musty odor you smell when around mold is actually a puff of gas that ejects the mold spore from the mold organism.

Imagine if hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands of small mold spores are being ejected each day in your shower. This could easily produce enough gas for you to smell.

Remember, this mold could be behind the shower tile or walls and hard to discover. A recent leak that is still invisible could be the source of water that is fueling the mold growth.

These are typical bottle brushes. You want one that has a diameter of at least 1 and 1/4 inches. A 2-inch diameter one is great for shower drains. CLICK THE IMAGE TO BUY THESE NOW.

Critter Cause?

A dead animal that somehow found its way into the wall space next to the shower or under the shower assembly could be the source of the odor. This is a remote possibility and the stench of a decaying animal is very distinctive and quite unlike the odor produced by sewer gas or biofilm from a drain assembly.

If this shower shares a common wall with a closet or some other wall surface that can be sacrificed, it is time to cut into the wall(s) to see behind and under the acrylic shower assembly. The first holes can be down low towards the floor so that you can see under the shower pan.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from handymen in your town to do this job.

Mirrors Help

Purchase an inexpensive makeup compact mirror and attach it to a stick so you can see around any corners or obstructions under the shower pan. Use a flashlight with the mirror to look up the wall cavities as much as possible to see signs of mold growth.

Odors from drains are voices telling you something is wrong. Think of them as low-powered smoke detectors. This is especially true if the source of the odor is some form of mold. It is not uncommon for a water leak to remain invisible for weeks or months and cause mold to bloom in a hidden location.

Add to this the power of the average human's sense of smell. You would be shocked at how few odor molecules it takes to trigger a response. Natural gas is a great example of this. In its pure state, natural gas is odorless.

Rare Natural Gas Leak?

Gas companies add mercaptan chemicals to the gas so we can smell it if there is a dangerous gas leak. Believe it or not, you can easily smell mercaptans at a concentration level of one-half one part mercaptan to 1,000,000 parts of air!

Investigate the source of all odors. Enlist the help of friends if possible, especially those who might have a better sense of smell. Small holes drilled into walls can be very helpful to help track down the source of an odor.

Insert a small clear plastic tube into the hole and determine if the odor is stronger or weaker in that particular location.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from handymen in your town to do this job.

Watch this video to see how Tim SOLVED a problem in minutes!