There is a weird chemical smell coming from my sink...what is causing it???

Question

There is also a slow leak from the pipes under this sink - before I knew about the leak the water had already made an orange circle on the tile... The smell is kind of like products used when dying hair... The smell is strongest when the water is running. What is causing this, and what should I do to fix it???

Answer 1

If it is a kitchen sink, mix up one part bleach and 4 part water solution and pour it down the drain. If it is a bathroom sink, check near the top of it and make sure there is an overflow hole. Then use the stopper to plug the sink and add a cup of bleach and slowly (to avoid splashing) fill the sink with water and let it go through the overflow. Allow to flow until you no longer smell the bleach. Bacteria can grow inside the sink walls and the bleach solution will kill it. The water, after going through the overflow, then goes down the main drain in the sink. This means all pipes will be treated.

Answer 2

If you have a water softener, you should check it. It may not be working. If you have a well, you should also check that out. It could also be a leak or backup from somewhere else. If your local home improvement center can't help you solve the mystery, call a plumber before the problem gets worse.

Answer 3

It could be as simple as dumping a box of baking soda into the wet drain before going to bed at night then rinsing in the morning.
Also vinegar may neutralize the odor.

Answer 4

trying pouring some bleach down the drain before you take any drastic measures drains need to be cleaned too

let the bleach set for about 5 to 10 minutes before running water or put in it right before you go to bed pour about 1 cup down each drain

Answer 5

Call the water company, they'll test the pipes.

Answer 6

Too many hair products eating away at your pipes?