If you notice a foul odor coming from your drains or see water pooling around them, your drains may be infected. Infected drains are caused by a buildup of contaminants like hair, food, grease, and bacteria. This buildup clogs pipes and allows bacteria to grow, causing unpleasant odors, backed-up water, and potential health hazards.
What are the signs of an infected drain?
There are several clear signs that indicate your drain is infected:
- Bad odors – A rotten, sewage-like smell coming from drains is a tell-tale sign of an infection.
- Backed-up water – Water draining slowly or pooling around drains points to a clog.
- Flies or insects – If you notice flies or other bugs around your drains, it means they are attracted to bacteria buildup inside.
- Gurgling sounds – Strange gurgling noises from drains can indicate a partial blockage.
- Visible grime – Peeking down the drain, you may see dirt, grime, hair, or grease built up.
If you notice any of these signs, it likely means your drains have become infected and require cleaning.
What causes drains to become infected?
There are a few key causes of infected drains:
- Buildup of organic matter – Food particles, hair, skin flakes, and other debris can cling to pipe walls and accumulate over time.
- Grease and fat – Grease from cooking and fat from food scraps sticks to pipes and prevents water from draining properly.
- Bacteria and biofilm – Bacteria like E. coli breed in drains and form a slimy biofilm that is difficult to remove.
- Improper plumbing – Cracked pipes, misaligned joints, and other defects can allow contaminants to enter and infect drains.
Regular cleaning and maintenance is key to preventing these contaminants from building up and causing infections in drains.
What does infected sludge look like?
Infected drain sludge has a distinct appearance:
- Dark black, brown, or gray coloring
- Thick, sticky texture – it clings to pipes
- Chunky debris – bits of organic matter mixed in
- Greasy smears
- Foul sewage-like odor
This sludge is a mixture of soap scum, bacteria, food waste, hair, and other grime. The thick, gluey texture allows it to adhere to pipes. The bacteria and organic matter rot and decay, causing rancid smells.
Can you see bacteria in a drain?
You cannot see the actual bacteria with the naked eye. However, clues like slime indicate a bacterial presence:
- Slime – A slimy, shiny film lining pipes is the biofilm bacteria secrete and live in.
- Discoloration – Bacteria can create a dark stain or multicolored hues on the pipe walls.
- Cloudiness – Bacteria make drain water appear murky and opaque.
While the bacteria themselves remain invisible, these signs suggest drain pipes are contaminated with large amounts of harmful microorganisms.
Do infected drains smell like rotten eggs or sewage?
Yes, infected drains often emit a sewage-like, rotten egg odor due to two main substances:
- Hydrogen sulfide gas – Produced by bacteria breaking down organic matter, this gas smells like rotten eggs.
- Methane gas – Generated by decomposition of waste, methane smells like foul outhouse odors.
As bacteria and contaminants accumulate, they decompose and release these smelly gases into drain pipes. So infected drains tend to emit these distinct eggy or sewage-like smells.
When should you call a plumber for an infected drain?
Call a professional plumber if you notice these signs of an infected drain:
- Foul sewage odors coming from drain pipes
- Water draining very slowly or pooling around drains
- Visible gunk and grime buildup inside drains
- Strange gurgling noises from drain pipes
- Flies frequently around drains
Minor drain issues can often be remedied with drain cleaner products and simple snaking. But if you have persistent backups, bad odors, orother signs, the infection is likely severe and needs professional treatment.
What methods do plumbers use to clean infected drains?
Plumbers have several techniques to clear out infected drains:
- Snaking/augering – Uses a long rotating cable to grind through and dislodge clogs.
- High-pressure water jetting – Blasts pressurized water through pipes to scrub away gunk.
- Sewer cameras – Checks pipes for problem spots or damage allowing infections.
- Hydrojetting – Powerful pressurized water propels a rotating nozzle to cut clogs.
Combining methods like snaking then hydrojetting provides the most thorough cleaning. For severe infections, replacement of affected piping may be required.
What are signs that a drain is no longer infected after treatment?
Here are signs a drain is clear after professional drain cleaning:
- No more foul odors coming from the drain
- Water drains quickly without pooling or backups
- No more flies hovering around the drain area
- No slime or visible grime buildup inside drain
- No strange gurgling noises from the drain pipe
The drain should operate smoothly and silently with no bad smells once the clog and bacteria have been removed. However, continue practicing good drain care to prevent future infections.
Can dirty drains make you sick?
Yes, infected drains can potentially cause illness by spreading harmful bacteria. Some risks include:
- E. coli – Strains like O157:H7 cause severe food poisoning.
- Salmonella – Causes salmonellosis infections leading to fever and diarrhea.
- Shigella – Spreads shigellosis or bacillary dysentery with cramps and stool bleeding.
- Norovirus – The highly contagious norovirus brings on vomiting and diarrhea.
Contact with drain water, inhaling gases, or bacteria entering food prep areas can cause these illnesses. Proper drain disinfection helps kill these pathogens.
Are dirty drains hazardous to pregnant women?
Yes, pregnant women need to take extra precautions against infected drains which can spread toxoplasmosis.
- Caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, toxoplasmosis infections are dangerous during pregnancy and can harm the fetus.
- The parasite reproduces in cat feces but can also spread through sewage contamination.
- Pregnant women should avoid direct contact with potentially infected drains and raw meat which may also harbor the parasite.
Prompt drain cleaning and disinfection helps remove any traces of dangerous contaminants.
Should you use bleach to disinfect drains?
Bleach is an effective disinfectant for sanitizing infected drains:
- It kills common drain bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella.
- A bleach solution prevents new colonies from taking hold after drain cleaning.
- To make a drain cleaner, mix 1/2 cup bleach into 2 gallons of water. Pour down infected drains.
- Use caution and proper ventilation, as bleach fumes can be dangerous when inhaled.
However, bleach will not clear a clogged drain – professional drain cleaning is required first. Bleach is most useful as a preventative treatment.
Table: How to Disinfect an Infected Drain
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wear gloves and eye protection when handling bleach. |
| 2 | Clean out any visible gunk from the drain area. |
| 3 | Make a diluted bleach solution, using 1/2 cup bleach per 2 gallons of water. |
| 4 | Pour the bleach solution down the drain, being sure to coat the insides of the pipe. |
| 5 | Let the bleach sit for at least 10 minutes to disinfect before flushing with water. |
| 6 | Repeat weekly or monthly for preventative drain sanitizing. |
Conclusion
Infected drains contain a revolting sludge of organic matter, grease, and harmful bacteria. Telltale signs include foul sewage odors, standing water, and visible grime. Bacteria decomposition causes the rotten egg smell. Professional cleaning like snaking, jetting, and hydrojetting clears out the gunk so disinfectants like bleach can kill remaining germs. Properly sanitized drains eliminate odors and health hazards in the home.