If a foul odor emanates from the area, it is a sign that you must repair a French drain. When your drain is clogged or damaged, water can become stagnant and produce an unpleasant odor. A foul smell is typically an accumulation of leaves, dirt in the drain, or a broken pipe that allows sewage to leak into the gutter.
Just like other types of drains, they are susceptible to clogging over time. Ideally, clean the French drain once every year. Test it by flooding the French drain to gauge its effectiveness when it comes to draining the excess water. First, you'll need to locate the ground-level access point of your French drain.
That is a partially clogged main drain. It's has some of the venting blocked at times and is pulling the trap to get it which is why you smell sewer gas sometimes. You should snake or have it snaked by a drain service like roto rooter, or a plumber with a powered machine.
If you notice the water backing up instead of running straight through, it's clogged. Step 3: Use a pressure washer to unclog the drain, which will use high pressure to send water down the drain.
If it has been smelling bad without running dishes then it might just be that your P-trap needs to be cleaned out. This can collect fallen food waste from the sink and it can sit there and rot and cause it to be smelly.
Use the Cleaning Power of Baking Soda
Then quickly block the drain tightly and wait a few seconds. The reaction will not only help force any blockages in your line to become dislodged, but will also start scrubbing any smelly residue off the inside walls of your drain line.
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that will help neutralize bad smells. Just pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of hot water. Let the mixture sit for a few hours, then flush with cold water.
If a foul odor emanates from the area, it is a sign that you must repair a French drain. When your drain is clogged or damaged, water can become stagnant and produce an unpleasant odor. A foul smell is typically an accumulation of leaves, dirt in the drain, or a broken pipe that allows sewage to leak into the gutter.
In many cases, using a pressure washer is an effective way to unclog a French drain. That said, sometimes tree and plant roots, rocks, and even compacted mud create an obstruction that is too much for a pressure washer to handle.
Generally speaking, a French drain will last approximately 30 to 40 years. However, the above-mentioned factors may shorten its life cycle and it must then be replaced by a team of foundation experts.
There could be odor-causing bacteria feeding on debris in your pipes. This process will give off a foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like sewage or rotten eggs.
Generally speaking, you're usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside of property boundaries, and sewers. Although most sewers are now publicly owned, there are still some private or unadopted sewers.
Try using vinegar and baking soda. Pour one cup of baking soda then one cup of vinegar down an outside drain then wait 20 – 30 minutes before pouring a large amount of boiling water down the drain. External drains can get blocked with mud which can be removed manually.
Going through the process at least two or three times is normal to be able to adequately unclog and clear a french drain. Hose out the drain. After snaking with the auger, feed a garden hose into the drain and turn it on. Allow the water to flush out extra debris.
Based on online research into the costs of this service, the average cleaning cost in 2024 is in the $450–$550 range. However, this is much more affordable than a complete drain replacement, which ranges from $18,000 to $24,000 according to RenoAssistance.
Disadvantages of French Drains
Another disadvantage of French drains is their potential to attract tree roots. The gravel or rock used in the system can provide a water source for trees, leading to the origins invading the drain. This can cause blockages and damage to the system.
Examine A Section of The Pipe
Choose an area you think could be clogged and dig up the gravel in the trench. If you see standing water in the channel or water flooding over the pipe itself, the storm drain is clogged.
Clay soil has poor permeability, meaning it doesn't allow water to pass through easily. In such cases, the effectiveness of a French drain may be limited as the water may struggle to drain away from the area efficiently. French drains may not be suitable for areas with high water tables.
French drains require simple but important maintenance to continue operating at their fullest capacity. Because they utilize a perforated pipe to transport water, debris will gradually enter the system. If it's not properly cleaned and maintained, your French drain will likely clog, causing your property to flood.
To do so, pour a little dry baking soda into the affected drain. Then, slowly add vinegar until all the baking soda reacts. Keep running small amounts of vinegar into the drain until you don't hear any bubbling and your drains smell fresh and clean.
Infrequently used drains and sinks will dry out, allowing these odors (usually a rotten egg, sewer, or occasionally gas, chemical or solvent odor) to escape. The solution to this problem is simple—run water in all sinks periodically or pour water down floor drains from time to time (once a month is recommended).
One step you can take is to install a filter or strainer at the inlet point of your French drain. This can help catch larger debris before it has a chance to enter the drain and cause a clog. Just be sure to clean or replace the filter regularly.
One of the most popular and effective home remedies for smelly drains involves the use of baking soda and vinegar. This dynamic duo not only eliminates unpleasant odors but also helps in clearing minor clogs.
Food Particles and Grease Buildup
While it's good practice to try to keep food and grease out of your sink, sometimes they still manage to get into your drains. Too much food and grease buildup will lead to foul odors. Once leftover scraps make their way into the pipes, they start to decompose.
To use bleach to kill odor-causing bacteria, first, fill your sink with hot water. Then, add about one cup of regular household bleach to the sink. After you've added the bleach, allow the sink to drain. Repeat the process until the drain smells more like bleach than anything else.