Drains clear but smell still in bathroom
Discussion
It’s a downstairs bathroom with just a sink. The is used very briefly but I’d be surprised if anyone ever fills the bowl so the amount of water going down it is minimal.
I did notice a significant gap around the join between the toilet and the wall today - quite a draft coming through so sealed it up. If nothing else it’ll make the room warmer and there is something back there with a bit of a weep it’ll stop that smell coming into the room.
Smells like silicone now so will be days until I can tell!
I did notice a significant gap around the join between the toilet and the wall today - quite a draft coming through so sealed it up. If nothing else it’ll make the room warmer and there is something back there with a bit of a weep it’ll stop that smell coming into the room.
Smells like silicone now so will be days until I can tell!
Mandat said:
You say it is a bathroom, therefore it also probably contains a wash hand basin and perhaps a bath and/or shower.
How often do the other appliances get used?
It sounds like perhaps the trap is drying out in one of the less often used appliances, thus allowing the sewer smells to enter the bathroom.
I get this exact problem with a guest bathroom if it is not used for a long while, and all that is required is to run the tap for a short while to re-fill the traps every so often.
This resolved my issue. A 5 minute hot tap run cleared the smell.How often do the other appliances get used?
It sounds like perhaps the trap is drying out in one of the less often used appliances, thus allowing the sewer smells to enter the bathroom.
I get this exact problem with a guest bathroom if it is not used for a long while, and all that is required is to run the tap for a short while to re-fill the traps every so often.
Another suggestion – which may be slightly harder to get to – but I have had this:
The seal between the pan and the soil pipe, even if it’s not leaking can have a gap (probably near the top) which allows fumes to blow back. If you can get to it, silicone will sort it.
As mentioned, it's most likely the sink trap that had no water in.
The seal between the pan and the soil pipe, even if it’s not leaking can have a gap (probably near the top) which allows fumes to blow back. If you can get to it, silicone will sort it.
As mentioned, it's most likely the sink trap that had no water in.
I had a smell in the downstairs loo in my new extension. Took me ages to figure it out. Changed the sink trap, sealed round the floor with silicon, extended the soils vent stack...still getting the smell. Got the drain surveyed, found 2x cracks that were sleeved (insurance covered it)..still getting the smell.
Found it by bodging some flexible pipe to a leaf blower then dropping smoke pellets into the outside drain then pressurising the whole system.
Turns out the builder hadn't properly sealed the stack under the new floor. Anyway, managed to access it without ripping up the brand new floor and dumped 3x bags of postcrete over the problem area the soaked with a hosepipe to create a large concrete plug.....sorted it and been fine ever since.
Tldr.....could it be coming from under the floor?
Found it by bodging some flexible pipe to a leaf blower then dropping smoke pellets into the outside drain then pressurising the whole system.
Turns out the builder hadn't properly sealed the stack under the new floor. Anyway, managed to access it without ripping up the brand new floor and dumped 3x bags of postcrete over the problem area the soaked with a hosepipe to create a large concrete plug.....sorted it and been fine ever since.
Tldr.....could it be coming from under the floor?
We had a dreadful smell, Installed a soil stack, Smell still there. Turned out that the Flexi pipe going from the siphon on the shower to the hole in the floor where the waste goes had split slightly. New pipe - no smell.
Is there a chance a seal has blown/dried out on the toilet pipe or sink pipe or either have developed a hairline crack?
Is there a chance a seal has blown/dried out on the toilet pipe or sink pipe or either have developed a hairline crack?
dave_s13 said:
Found it by bodging some flexible pipe to a leaf blower then dropping smoke pellets into the outside drain then pressurising the whole system.
Someone I know also has a mystery sewer smell that is infrequent. I have removed all unnecessary plumbing, and blocked others off with clingfilm to see if there is positive/negative pressure on all other appliances (sink plug holes, overflows etc but nothing. I think it could be some joint or crack somewhere not easily accessible.Is there a professional service from one of the national drains chains that offers such a "blowing smoke up ya drains" service? It seems a great way to track the issue down.
TIA
8-P said:
The button panel is removable and I think you can adjust things from in there. Everything else is concealed, toilet doesnt even touch the ground so getting to anything else is basically impossible.
Perhaps I need to make it a month task. Lift manhole cover, tip large bin of water down hole, replace manhole cover.
I had been fairly regularly dropping a bucket or two of water down the toilet for good measure, but the amount of toilet paper and poop that came out this time was a few months worth I reckon.
If only the bog roll broke down more easily it would help, but as it is, its really quire robust.
I have a sewage treatment plant and always buy the cheapest, thinnest paper possible ... NEVER buy thick, (expensive), quilted stuff!Perhaps I need to make it a month task. Lift manhole cover, tip large bin of water down hole, replace manhole cover.
I had been fairly regularly dropping a bucket or two of water down the toilet for good measure, but the amount of toilet paper and poop that came out this time was a few months worth I reckon.
If only the bog roll broke down more easily it would help, but as it is, its really quire robust.
Had various issues with drains last few years ,commercial and domestic
I'd get a camera down the main drain and take it from there
Doesn't need to be a full survey , local guy near mr charges £90 call out and use of any eqipment . I always get a camera down after a blockage , as usually there are several issues causing it
My dishwasher waste drain doesn't have enough drop on it at home so I shove mr muscle drain smell removed down every couple of months
I'd get a camera down the main drain and take it from there
Doesn't need to be a full survey , local guy near mr charges £90 call out and use of any eqipment . I always get a camera down after a blockage , as usually there are several issues causing it
My dishwasher waste drain doesn't have enough drop on it at home so I shove mr muscle drain smell removed down every couple of months
MikeStroud said:
dave_s13 said:
Found it by bodging some flexible pipe to a leaf blower then dropping smoke pellets into the outside drain then pressurising the whole system.
Someone I know also has a mystery sewer smell that is infrequent. I have removed all unnecessary plumbing, and blocked others off with clingfilm to see if there is positive/negative pressure on all other appliances (sink plug holes, overflows etc but nothing. I think it could be some joint or crack somewhere not easily accessible.Is there a professional service from one of the national drains chains that offers such a "blowing smoke up ya drains" service? It seems a great way to track the issue down.
TIA
Cut bit of ply the same size as your manhole cover.
Get an offcut of soil pipe.
Cut hole in board same size as soil pipe.
Fix soil pipe to board using strong tape to create a spigot.
Fix flexible tumble drier hose to spigot and then to leaf blower.
Now you have your pressurisation device.
Next, put plastic bags over all your vent stacks, secure with rubber bands.
Block the drain going out of the property with old towels, making absolutely sure you can get then back out!
Wedge a bit of wood in the inspection chamber, just wide enough to sit a few smoke bombs on.
Light the smoke bombs.
Put your ply cover over manhole.
Wait a bit for your smoke bombs to start really smoking.
BLOW....
Run round furiously looking for smoke!
Edited by dave_s13 on Thursday 20th February 13:09
Check whether the water seal in the trap on the basin isn’t being syphoned out when you are flushing the toilet.
If there is no water in the U bend then drain smells will come out of the basin plug hole.
You may need to fit an anti syphon trap on the basin.
Ps maybe not the cause of the smell as presumably you wash your hands after flushing toilet and hence the hand washing water replenishes the water seal. However, something else on the system (eg upstairs bathroom) could be sucking the water out of the trap?
If there is no water in the U bend then drain smells will come out of the basin plug hole.
You may need to fit an anti syphon trap on the basin.
Ps maybe not the cause of the smell as presumably you wash your hands after flushing toilet and hence the hand washing water replenishes the water seal. However, something else on the system (eg upstairs bathroom) could be sucking the water out of the trap?
8-P said:
sparkythecat said:
OP, are you sure that it's your drains that are smelling and that your wife hasn't drawn you a poo moustache while you've been asleep?
Back in the day our neighbour was a north sea diver. Apparently it was always tricky being dressed up in the kit as inevitably one of the other divers assisting would try to apply a deft arse crack dipped smelly finger swipe across the moustache just before jamming the headgear on! 
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