LESLIE: Cami (sp) in Iowa, welcome to The Money Pit. What can we help you with?
CAMI (sp): We live out in the country and we have well water. And like in my kitchen sink and what not I get these odors. I’ve used drain odor deodorizers and we have changed the pipes. Is there any solution to get rid of that smell?
TOM: And that’s coming from the pipes where?
CAMI (sp): In the kitchen.
TOM: In the kitchen.
LESLIE: Only the kitchen? Not your bathroom sinks? Nothing else?
CAMI (sp): No. Just in the kitchen.
TOM: And have you replaced the kitchen pipes recently? Have you done any plumbing work there?
CAMI (sp): Yes. Yeah, we just did new countertops and sinks and plumbing.
TOM: Sometimes the plumber’s putty, if there’s too much of it and it sort of sticks into the inside of the drain pipe a bit, it can react with some foods and other things that you flush down there and it can really stink. And so …
CAMI (sp): Yeah. (chuckling)
TOM: … if the plumber comes back and then rebuilds those connections and is very careful not to have an excessive amount of plumber’s putty come into the drain line itself …
CAMI (sp): Mm-hmm.
TOM: … that actually might solve the problem. I’ve actually seen that happen a number of times and it’s kind of a very odd situation. That’s why I asked you …
LESLIE: And there’s no solvent or anything you can put down the drain to work it from the inside?
TOM: No, I wouldn’t put that down there. But that’s why I asked you if you had done some work on it recently because this is a very common condition.
CAMI (sp): Mm-hmm, yeah. Yeah, I just thought maybe it was because of the well water. But you know, we didn’t have it and then – oh, we’ve dealt with it for about eight months now. And I guess you would say it was kind of right after we had the kitchen redone.
TOM: Yeah, that’s not – it’s not unusual, Cami (sp), and I think if you have the plumber come back and rebuild the drain line underneath …
CAMI (sp): Mm-hmm.
TOM: … then that’s going to solve it.
CAMI (sp): OK. Alright, I’ll let my husband know and …
TOM: (chuckling) You do that.
CAMI (sp): … we’ll give that a try and hopefully that’ll take care of it.
TOM: Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
LESLIE: You are listening to The Money Pit. And hey, are you planning a DIY vacation this summer? You know, one where you take a few days off and you’re really working on a project and not going on a vacation at all? Well, we can help you get organized and ready to tackle any project. Just call in your home repair or your home improvement question 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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