Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We are renting a new construction home with an undermount stainless kitchen sink no-name brand made in China. (Just says "Unique" + "made in China" and cUPC on the underside. Strong vapor chemical smell coming from the sound deadening rubber-like pads underneath each sink bowl. Black rubbery pads with a white paint-like overspray. (Just the black rubbery stuff smells).
I have only found a couple of examples of this on the internet, but no one has posted their findings on if this is toxic to be breathing. Causes nose to stuff up a bit while doing dishes... (maybe when sink bowl is heated from hot water?) Odor has persisted for a month although slightly less.
Does anyone have a sink like this? I'm thinking of asking the landlord (homebuilder) to have the sink removed if it persists. Would appreciate any feedback from someone in plumbing/building industry or homeowner with same experience.
We are dealing with the same issue. We purchased an American Standard sink from Home Depot / Lowe's (can't remember which) and it smelled bad right out of the box. Trying to find a solution. It's only been a few days, but every time we open the undercabinet, the smell escapes and stinks up the whole kitchen. It's miserable.
You all know about problems with other Chinese products, including drywall, toys and medicines. In each instance, the trouble was because they've adulterated the product with dangerous chemicals and their American partners haven't been watching them. (might damage their profits, you see).
Solution? Take out that Chinese-made sink and get rid of it. Replace it with something made in the USA. Not only will you be helping yourself, you'll also be helping to ensure some American's job.
No one has a bigger mouth about the unregulated junk that comes here from China then me. But emissions coming from a steel sink? Come on............
I think you are all smelling sewer gas. Metal does not have an odor. Perhaps the tar they coat the bottoms of the sink with is the cause of the odor?
I have had no problem with oders from the sink pads, however, all of the pads fell off of my sink within the first few weeks. There were pads on the bottom and all four sides of both "bowls" of the sink. I think there may be one or two that stayed. The pads being gone has made no difference in the sound.
Take 'em off, if it does get noisy, it has to be better than stink..! How noisy can a sink get..? I don't bang things around in my sink, so when would it get noisy? When the disposal is turned on..? That only seconds a day....
If it's really that big of a problem buy you some mastic & a disposable brush and coat the bottom of the sink and the pads with it. Make sure the surface you are coating are free of oil or gunk.
The issue is the asphalt-based sound-deadening pads they use. It's used on USA-made sinks too , so that basis alone isn't an assurance that you're going to get something that won't smell.
Your choice - either encapsulate them or remove them. They aren't going to stop smelling until the excess tar evaporates.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
