We recently moved our family into a 1957 split level home (3 weeks ago). The kitchen was recently updated (2 years ago), but within two weeks of moving in we have been smelling a foul odor underneath the kitchen sink - almost like garbage or something rotten. I have had 2 plumbers out here and 2 exterminators to evaluate our situation (even went as far as to open the wall behind the sink to see if there was a dead rodent - no luck!). Then I took another look under the sink tonight and saw an opening on the side of our garbage disposal. Could this be the problem (see attached photo)? I would be grateful for any advice on how to solve this issue. Thank you!

Push a pencil into the opening. If it stops it is not the issue. If it goes into the disposal, you may have found the issue. However, if it was open, why hadn't it been leaking. Where does the dishwasher hose connect? Is there an air gap on the dishwasher hose. Sometimes they get garbage caught in them.

Push a pencil into the opening. If it stops it is not the issue. If it goes into the disposal, you may have found the issue. However, if it was open, why hadn't it been leaking. Where does the dishwasher hose connect? Is there an air gap on the dishwasher hose. Sometimes they get garbage caught in them.

I just did and it went in and stopped. Is the picture below the dishwasher hose? I can't seem to tell if there is an air gap. How can you tell? If it's not that, do you have any other ideas on what may cause this awful smell? I'm baffled. Thanks again.

Hi Esther

What does the dishwasher discharge hose (corrugated white hose in your picture) connect to? Does it connect to its own drain? Here, DW hoses normally connect into the disposal connector... odd not to see the two connected together.

Also, what is the large white cylinder in the left corner... is that a filter?

Let us know more, OK?

Mark

Hi Esther

What does the dishwasher discharge hose (corrugated white hose in your picture) connect to? Does it connect to its own drain? Here, DW hoses normally connect into the disposal connector... odd not to see the two connected together.

Also, what is the large white cylinder in the left corner... is that a filter?

Let us know more, OK?

Mark

Hi Mark,

I took a look under the sink and it looks like the dishwasher discharge hose is connected to another white PVC pipe (see photo below). Is this OK? It bypasses the disposal all together. Thanks again for your help!

Oh, the other white tube behind the disposal is a filter for the steam oven. Could this also be a culprit? I've never had one of those before. The oven is on the opposite side of our kitchen, so it seems like a strange place to house it. Thank you, Esther

Ester, Disposal connection is closed, smell not coming from there. Drain tailpiece has DW connection. Looks pretty normal, filter connection to icemaker?

The filter says it's a deoionization (sp?) filter for a steam oven. Could that smell? What else could it be? Thank you.

The filter says it's a deoionization (sp?) filter for a steam oven. Could that smell? What else could it be? Thank you.

Can't imagine that being the problem. I can only suggest the sniff test and keep looking.