Does your household plumbing smell? Find out why here.

For the most part, however, homeowners can rectify and prevent stinky pipes with regular drain cleaning, and this will keep your sinks and homes smelling great.

Sewers, sinks, and drains can harbor bacteria and get clogged up with organic matter, and if the conditions are right, sometimes this can lead to the creation of hydrogen sulfide gas.

The problem here is that hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs, so if this gas is being created in your plumbing system, then there's a good chance this terrible smell could be present in your drains, sinks, and home.

Moreover, if this is a common occurrence, then there may even be sulfur buildup in your pipes, and this too will cause a rotten egg smell in your plumbing. When you clean your drains thoroughly and regularly, it will remove the bacteria, organic matter, and sulfur in your pipes causing the smell.

While regular drain cleaning will resolve most smelly drain problems, there are times when you might need to call in expert help with stinky plumbing. For instance, if there's a problem with the venting system that’s responsible for allowing gasses to leave your house, then you might be struggling with sewer smells in your drains and house.

Another issue that could cause such smells in your home is a break in your sewer line, and that will need to be addressed by a professional. Finally, a blockage deep in your plumbing system might be preventing water from flowing freely and could be causing smells in your drains as the clogged matter decomposes.

Sometimes, smelly drains are merely the result of organic matter stuck to the pipes, and this could include anything from hair to soap to food or even grease. As these materials break down, they create rotting odors just like they do in your garbage. But when this happens in your drains, it leads to foul-smelling plumbing.

Another type of organic matter that can cause stinky drains is mold because conditions inside your pipes (where it’s damp and dark) are perfect for mold and mildew growth. Fortunately, all of these problems and their smells can be eliminated with regular drain cleaning.

Drain cleaning is a necessary chore that should be on your regular honey-do list because this will remove debris and blockages from your drains that can lead to smelly plumbing. Although there are a few instances where stinky drains are the product of a more pressing issue that will require professional assistance, clean drains are generally the best way to prevent bad odors from forming in your pipes and coming up through your plumbing and sinks.