Q. For the last several months, I’ve noticed the water from the kitchen faucet has an odor. Could you tell me what causes that and if there is anything we can do clear it up?
Jean K. Gale, Elmhurst
A. One possibility is that the odor is coming from the drain, said Rocko Jankoski of Jankoski Plumbing in Chicago. Sewer gas can seep up the drain if there’s a problem with the trap under the sink, he said.
The trap is the P-bend in the waste line beneath the basin. It holds water at the bottom third of the bend, preventing sewer gas from entering the house.
An odor also can develop if there’s a problem with the venting in the plumbing system, Jankoski added. A clogged or cracked vent stack could choke the flow of water and waste.
The vent stack, which runs through the walls and leads up through the roof, could be blocked by leaves and other debris. It needs to be checked from the roof.
Scum also sometimes accumulates in sinks with a built-in overflow, the small opening near the top of the rim. Pouring bleach down the opening or running a baby bottle cleaning brush through it to scour the interior walls may help.
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If the odor is the water, you’d likely notice it when showering or bathing too. If that’s the case, contact your municipality.
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Have a question about home repair? Send a note to Home Remedies, Your Place, baiduhai, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611, or e-mail [email protected]. Please include your name, address and phone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Unpublished letters can’t be answered individually.