Help what can I do I live in a apt complex did use any comicals so what is it
You have no idea if its steam or a chemical reaction somewhere in the pipes. So, in an apt, if I were you, I would do my best to cover the drain so that steam' can't come up. Then I'd cover it more with a lot of blankets etc, and then I would close the door. I wouldn't re-enter until someone told me it was safe. Maybe you didn't use chemicals, but you share the building and the pipes. So someone did something. Or, its nothing. Better safe than sorry. I'd of course make the maintenance guy check it out ASAP. Make them. Someone I know didn't know better and mixed bleach with PineSol. There certainly was a chemical reaction which could have been worse. Call maintenance and make them come out. And if they give you the runaround, tell them the fire dept would be willing to come and bring their detectors to let you know what it is. (I used to live in an apt where the maintenance was overloaded and everything had to WAIT). Good luck.
if your sink was properly plumbed this wouldn't happen. most likely you have no p trap underneath, the p trap creates a standing water barrier to keep sewage gas and other vapors from rising back out of the pipes and smell up your house/apartment. check under the sink, if you have a p trap then you have a slow hotwater leak , most likely at the faucet, that is constantly re filling the ptrap with hot water, hence the steam. if you do not have a p trap tell your landlord to install one.
