I started noticing an odor around my kitchen sink (I’m in the US.) The odor is dirty, more than rotten. Almost like wet cigar ashes. It’s a double sink and both sinks drain easily. I have a garbage disposal which is working fine and clean inside. I ran a deodorizer through it, but that did not help. Next, I took off the U trap (which was filled with water) and emptied it. The odor persists. I only keep cleaning supplies in the cabinet under the sink and I have removed everything.
What else should I check with my (limited) plumbing skills?
The under-sink cabinet is dry, correct? Because some of the stankies spaces in a kitchen can be that cabinet after there was a leak, as long at it is wet.
I’m in the middle of fixing our kitchen after a water supply tube to the refrigerator sprung a leak. Strangely, all the water seeped into the floor, the wall, and under the cabinet. There was no water at all visible under the sink or on the tile floor. However, when we took up the floor and cabinets, mold had already formed under the floor and under the cabinets. Again, no visible traces in the cabinets or under the sink. We also noticed a significant increase in the number of flies in the house about the same time.
There may be some disposals where that is the case, but in every disposal that I’ve lived with, the gasket just pushes in place from the top. It’s trivial to pull it out, clean it and replace it.
“Gasket” is probably not the best word for the piece I’m thinking of. “Splash guard” or “sink baffle” probably are.
ETA: and if you have a double-sink, and if there’s anything (stopper, strainer, sink baffle, etc.) in the second sink side, clean/keep clean that sucker, too.
Yeah, that’s the thing. Baffle is probably more accurate than gasket. The last time I cleaned it, I pulled it out, scrubbed it, and soaked it in vinegar for a little while.
OK, I just went to the hardware store to buy a replacement baffle/gasket/splash guard. I have an Insinkerator disposal which is about 8 years old. The helpful clerk told me that I wanted to replace the baffle, I would have to completely remove the disposal. Which is what I originally thought. So I’ll just continue to clean it as best I can with an old toothbrush.
You can’t remove it? Most of the ones I’ve seen are slip-fit into place, not attached to the disposal itself. If you can remove it, take it to a hardware store to make sure the replacement is the same size. I don’t know if they come in different sizes or not, but it’s good to be safe.
As a follow up, the odor is almost all gone. The only thing I actually did that was any sort of remediation was to take off the U trap and clean it (it wasn’t very dirty.)
We have had a lot of heavy rain the last few days. I wonder if that would have anything to do with it. Not sure why it would, but the smell was “earthy.” I put a box of baking soda under the sink too.
As for my baffle, I also have an Insinkerator and mine is not easily removeable.
IIRC, some people just cut that one out and then shove one of the new types in from the top-side.
You’d really only have to measure the ID (Inside Diameter) of the upper part of your disposal – I think they’re mostly 3-3/8" – and ensure that the new ones will fit your sink drain.
The old one was a combination gasket+splash guard. You can cut away the splash guard and still leave the gasket intact. If you do this, leaving a little ‘lip’ of the old rubber behind will ensure you have a nice place for the new-style splash guard to rest/sit.
For anybody with a bit of DIY game, it isn’t that hard to drop the disposal and formally replace the gasket/splash guard, but … I’m not sure I’d bother.