Stinky dishwasher

[WinniWoman]

Totally off subject, kinda, but we have a shower we never use, and the bathroom was really smelling badly when I cleaned the toilet yesterday. I ran some water into the shower to get rid of the smell, and then I put some baking soda by the drain and ran the shower a bit longer because the smell hadn't dissipated quite yet.

This heat is affecting that shower, when it hasn't ever been a problem in the past. But we usually have some guests using that shower during the summer. We usually have visitors, and no one has visited yet, so that could be just lack of use. The baking soda seemed to work. Turning off the whole house fan might have fixed it. Not sure.

I actually run the water- flush toilets, faucets, shower, bathtubs- in the 2 bathrooms we don't use every single week. Another problem that could occur is your pipes in the walls can dry out and leak from non use.

 

[Quiet Pine]

Had an odor problem with new dishwasher 2 years ago. Called repairman, who showed me filter to clean (looked just like Gina's) and suggested Glisten (in supermarket) every month. His suggestions worked and no more odor problems.

 

[VacationForever]

My understanding is that smell is because the drain is dry, back-drafting sewer/septic gasses. Running water periodically in the drain is the solution.

Do you know if pipe from sinks, toilet and bathtub or showers connect in newer homes? It is easy to run water in the sinks or flush the toilets in guest rooms but the bathtub can go unused for months.

 

[Panina]

Do you know if pipe from sinks, toilet and bathtub or showers connect in newer homes? It is easy to run water in the sinks or flush the toilets in guest rooms but the bathtub can go unused for months.

Newer homes have the same problem. Best to run the tubs just for a minute or two every month.

 

[clifffaith]

So it's been about three weeks and I can smell the dishwasher again. I'll use the vinegar again after the current load is done, and I have the Glisten "destinkafier" on my grocery list.

 

[mdurette]

deleted. Didn't realize someone already mentioned the dry drain and the sewer gases coming back into the house.