Short answer
A smelly drain is usually caused by a dry trap, build-up of grease, hair or soap inside the pipe, or a blockage further down the line. In Dubai, traps in unused bathrooms and floor drains dry out quickly in the heat. Run water in every drain weekly; if the smell stays, the pipe needs cleaning.
1. The trap has dried out
Every drain has a trap, a bend in the pipe that holds a little water to block sewer gases. If a drain is not used for a while, that water evaporates and the smell comes straight up. This is very common in Dubai in guest bathrooms, balcony drains and homes left empty over the summer.
Fix: run water into the drain for a minute. If the smell goes away, a dry trap was the cause. Run water in rarely used drains once a week.
2. Build-up inside the pipe
Grease and food waste in kitchen drains, and hair, soap and toothpaste in bathroom drains, coat the inside of the pipe. Bacteria feed on it and produce the smell. Slow drainage often comes with it.
Fix: remove and clean the strainer or pop-up plug. If the drain is still slow or smelly, the build-up is further in and the pipe needs a proper clean.
3. A partial blockage further down
If waste water is sitting in the pipe instead of flowing away, it starts to smell. Warning signs are gurgling noises, water rising in a shower when you flush, or several drains smelling at once.
4. Venting or seal problems
Drain pipes need air to flow properly. A blocked vent can pull water out of traps, and a failed seal around a toilet or floor drain can let gases escape. These need a plumber to diagnose.
When to call a plumber
- The smell comes back after running water
- More than one drain smells or drains slowly
- You hear gurgling after using a sink, shower or toilet
- There is any sign of waste water coming back up
Related service
Cleaning of slow, smelly and blocked drains and pipelines in homes and businesses.
