You walk into your kitchen and a mystery smell is coming from somewhere, but you’re not sure where. You check the refrigerator to see if food or leftovers have gone bad and need to be removed. You take out the trash and spray air freshener, yet the smell still lingers. Where is it coming from? Chances are the smell is coming from your kitchen sink.

This unpleasant odor may indicate that dangerous bacteria have accumulated in your sink drain and garbage disposal from food particles and grease that have built up over time.  Considering the kitchen is the heart of many homes, and one can’t even make a cup of coffee without using the kitchen sink, its best rectify the problem as soon as possible.

Here are a few helpful tips:

Freshen Up - After using grind up “Ice” on a regular basis and a few lemon or orange peels, occasionally and enjoy the fresh scent!

The Garbage Disposal – The garbage disposal’s job is to grind down food particles so they can wash freely through the drainpipe. However, with regular use, greasy food bits can tend to build up and stick to the blades of the grinder and decompose, which can create a smelly kitchen. The easiest way to dislodge the grease from the blades is to regularly pour hot water down the garbage disposal as it’s running to help wash away the grease.

Another home remedy that also effectively works is fill the sink with 2-3 inches of hot water and then add to the water, vinegar and baking soda; unplug and let flow down the drain as the garbage disposal is running.

Bacteria Build-Up - The build up of bacteria in the drainpipe can create a foul smell. Bacteria thrive off of the warmth of the kitchen, water and the build up food that doesn’t wash through the drain. To remove the bacteria and stop the odor that it creates, you can use baking soda and vinegar, bleach or a commercial cleaner.

If using baking soda and vinegar, be sure to run hot water afterwards to flush through the pipes. If you decide to use a commercial cleaner, read all directions and verify that it is safe for kitchen use to avoid food contamination.

Clogged Vent – If you continue to have an odor after cleaning and clearing the garbage disposal and kitchen sink, this could indicate that the vent that runs from the sink to the roof vent is clogged. You can clear a clogged vent by using a plumber’s snake. From the roof, introduce the snake from the top of the vent and push until the blockage is cleared. You can also try pouring hot water into the vent and try and clear it.

Having a smelly kitchen sink can be both a health hazard and indicate a build up of bacteria, as well as become an odor filled inconvenience. In many cases if the smell is mild it can be addressed with “Home Remedies” listed above.   However, we have a product called “Bio-Clean”, which is so safe... that you could actually drink it because it is all natural. You should use it on a quarterly basis as a preventative application. Call or stop by Central, and we can share this amazing product…I also like to use it in the dishwasher…

Whether you are in Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, Columbia Falls or anywhere else in the Flathead Valley. . .As always, your Comfort is our Central concern, call 756-6656, for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs.

For Immediate Release
October 20, 2016
Contact: Trinity Clark
Ph: (406) 756-6656

Central Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical is Providing Support to the 
Save A Sister™ Initiative

 Kalispell, MT – Central Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical, is providing support to the Save A Sister™ initiative to help raise money to promote breast cancer awareness, educate the community and improve women’s access to screening mammography.

“From October 23rd thru October 29^th 2016, Central will be donating 1% of all service sales to this worthy cause and our service techs will be asking customers if they would like to make a donation”, states Debbi Waldenberg, president of Central.

 “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. But millions of women are surviving the disease thanks in part to early detection and improvements in treatment. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same,” she concludes.

 Save a Sister is a Flathead Valley community volunteer effort coordinated with help from Kalispell Regional Healthcare, North Valley Hospital, and the Flathead City-County Health Department to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention and to raise funds to support education and post-operative durable goods that are not paid by insurance. All funds stay in the local area. Call 751-7524 for more information.

Central Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical has been voted the “2016 Best of Flathead” two years in a row and is a family-owned company that provides heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning sales, service and installation for residential and commercial customers throughout the greater Flathead Valley, to include emergency service 24/7. For more information call 756-6656 or visit the web at www.centralmt.com or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/centralmt.