You walk into your kitchen ready to start your day. Then a foul, sewage-like smell hits you. It ruins the heart of your home. It's embarrassing with guests and won't go away no matter how much you clean.
That smell is more than unpleasant. It's a warning sign from your plumbing. As Sydney's Plumbing Specialists, we've fixed hundreds of kitchen sink smells across the city. Often, a small smell shows a bigger blockage growing in your pipes.
Our expert team gives you clear advice: "Don't ignore a smelly kitchen sink—it's your plumbing asking for help." This guide uses our 250+ years of Sydney plumbing know-how. We show you how to find the cause, try safe DIY fixes, and know when to call pros like SPS before a small smell becomes a big repair bill.
Why Does My Kitchen Sink Smell? Find Out Fast
Notice a smell? Don't panic. Follow these three steps.
- Work out the smell. Is it rotting food or sewage/rotten eggs? Food smells mean buildup in your pipes. Sewage smells often mean dry traps or sewer gas escaping—more serious problems.
- Check your drains. Does water drain slow? Does it gurgle? These signs show a partial blockage forming deeper in your system.
- Know when to call. If you smell sewage that won't quit, have many slow drains, or water backs up—call SPS Plumbers now on 02 9072 0760. Waiting can turn a simple clear into an emergency.
What Causes Kitchen Sink Smells? 4 Common Reasons
Why does my kitchen sink smell? Knowing the cause helps you fix it right. Here are the four most common reasons Sydney kitchen sinks smell bad.
If Your Kitchen Sink Smells Like Sewage: Common Causes
1. A Dry P-Trap (The 'Rotten Egg' Smell)
That U-shaped pipe under your sink holds water to block sewer gases. If you don't use the sink much—think holiday homes or investment flats—the water dries up. Sewer gas escapes, making that rotten egg smell.
This often happens in Sydney's rentals and granny flats. The fix is easy: run water for 30 seconds each week to keep the trap full.
2. Bacteria Drain Smell & Grease Buildup (The 'Stagnant Food' Smell)
Every bit of grease you wash down coats your pipes. Food bits stick to this greasy layer and rot, growing bacteria that make stinky gases. Even with a garbage disposal, small bits build up over time.
Sydney's cooking culture means grease buildup happens. Regular care stops it becoming a blocked kitchen sink.
3. A Partial or Full Blockage
Kitchen sink smells often mean a blockage is forming. Food scraps, coffee grounds, and grease mix into a mass that traps rotting matter. The smell gets worse as the blockage grows, finally slowing drainage fully.
A smelly kitchen drain often comes before a full blockage. The smell is your early warning.
4. Plumbing Issues (Faulty Vents, Damaged Pipes)
More serious causes are broken vents that mess with pipe air pressure, or cracked pipes letting sewer gas leak. These issues need a pro to find—often with high-pressure water jetting equipment and CCTV cameras.
How to Clean a Smelly Kitchen Sink: DIY Fixes by Cause
Try these steps in order. Use them only for mild smells and new issues. If the smell stays, stop DIY and call a tradie.
For Dry P-Traps & Small Buildup
Run the water. If the sink gets little use, just run cold water for 30-60 seconds to fill the P-trap. Do this weekly for guest bathrooms or second kitchens.
Baking soda & vinegar flush. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then ½ cup white vinegar. Let it fizz 10 minutes, then flush with hot (not boiling) water. This kills odours and mild buildup.
For Grease & Food Smells
Hot water & dish soap. Fill the sink with 5cm of very hot water. Add a big squirt of dish soap. Stir to make bubbles, then pull the plug. The soap cuts through surface grease.
Ice and salt for garbage disposals. Turn off the disposal. Add 1 cup ice cubes and ½ cup coarse salt. Turn on with cold water running. The ice scrubs the blades, salt removes smells.
What NOT to Do
Never use chemical drain cleaners on a smelly sink. They don't work on grease and food clogs, often sitting in the U-bend without reaching the problem. Worse, they eat through older Sydney pipes (common in suburbs like Paddington, Balmain) and risk your safety. As research shows, they can "harm septic systems" and are "less safe for regular home use."
If these steps fail within 1-2 tries, the problem is deeper. More DIY can push blockages further, raising repair costs.
When to Call a Professional Sydney Plumber
Spot these signs—they mean you need expert help.
- Sewage smell stays after DIY tries
- Water drains slow from many fixtures
- Gurgling sounds from drains when water runs
- Water backs up in the sink or nearby drains
- You get blockages again and again (monthly or more)
These symptoms show a blockage deep in your system or a plumbing fault needing pro gear. That's when you need a trusted blocked drain plumber in Sydney.
Why SPS is Your Sydney Expert for Smelly Sink Solutions
When DIY fails, you need Sydney's blocked drain specialists. SPS Plumbers brings exact tools and 250+ years of local know-how to fix your smell for good.
Precise Finding with CCTV Cameras
We don't guess. We put a CCTV camera into your drain. It shows us the exact cause on screen—a grease plug, broken pipe, or stuck item. This means no needless digging and the right fix first time.
Strong Clearing with High-Pressure Water Jetting
Our vans carry industrial jet blasters. This focused, high pressure water jetting scours pipes fully clean, removing grease and bits that cause smells. It's safer for your pipes than snaking and beats chemicals.
Built on Sydney Trust & Know-How
Our team has seen every blockage Sydney homes make. From Bondi flats to Penrith houses, we get local plumbing. Our best proof? 48% of our work comes from happy returning clients who trust our clear prices and quality work.
24/7 Emergency Service
A blocked kitchen sink won't wait. Our emergency Sydney plumbers answer calls 24 hours a day, every day. We serve all Sydney suburbs with fast response times.
For property managers and strata groups, we offer preventative CCTV drain inspection in Sydney to spot issues before they cause smells or blockages.
Stop Future Kitchen Sink Smells
Prevent problems with these habits:
- Use sink strainers and empty them daily
- Never pour grease or oil down the drain—wipe pans first
- Run hot water 30 seconds after each use
- Monthly baking soda flush for upkeep
- For garbage disposals: use weekly with ice and citrus peels
Think about booking a general maintenance plumbing service if you have an older Sydney home or frequent issues. For commercial kitchens or severe home grease issues, a professional grease trap cleaning can be the permanent solution to stop smells and blockages at the source.
Your Questions Answered
Q: Why does my kitchen sink smell like rotten eggs?
A: This is usually a dry P-trap, mostly in sinks used little (guest bathrooms, holiday homes). Run water to fill it. If smell stays, sewer gas may enter through cracks—needs pro check.
Q: Can a smelly sink mean a blocked sewer?
A: Yes. Bad smells can show a partial blockage in your main line. If many drains smell or drain slow, schedule a professional drain camera inspection right away to stop backup.
Q: I've tried all and it still smells. What now?
A: Stop DIY. You likely have a deep grease blockage or pipe damage. Our CCTV cameras find the exact cause fast, saving you time and repeat tries.
Q: How much to fix a smelly, blocked kitchen sink in Sydney?
A: Cost changes with the blockage's place and size. A simple clear may cost little; a main line blockage needing jetting and CCTV costs more. SPS gives clear, upfront quotes before any work—no nasty shocks. We also offer 0% interest payment plans.
Q: Are chemical drain cleaners ever okay?
A: We don't suggest them. They rarely reach deep blockages, can harm pipes (especially older Sydney terraces), and are risky. Pro jetting is safer and works better.
Protect Your Kitchen: Final Advice from Your Sydney Plumber
A smelly sink is more than a bother—it's your plumbing calling for help. Ignoring it risks blockages, pipe harm, and costly fixes.
At SPS Plumbers, we believe in Customer Priority. We give honest advice: try safe DIY first, but call pros when signs point to deeper issues. Our job is to guard your home and wallet.
Don't let a small smell become a big disaster.
- For a sewage smell that won't quit or a blocked sink, call our 24/7 emergency team now on 02 9072 0760.
- For a CCTV drain check or preventative care quote, contact SPS Plumbers Sydney online.
Trust Sydney's Plumbing Specialists. We keep your water flowing and your home smelling fresh.
