Drains clear but smell still in bathroom

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Hi All

I have an ongoing battle with the drains in our house(well outside really). I'm more than familiar with my drain rods than I'd like and every 6 months or so they come out to unblock a drain that runs from my downstairs bathroom to the end of my drive (a bit longer than a cars length). My guess is its a bit too flat. I should say the toilet in this bathroom is a few feet from the drive and the first access point.

So once again, I've cleaned these out - its just bog roll that blocks them - no wet wipes or anything naughty. I tend to rod them, then tip 3 or 4 big kitchen bin loads of water down to give them a big shove and then normally followed up by some hosing. They are totally clear. I have no shared drains btw.

However this time I'm still getting a bit of a waft of blocked drains smell. I'm sick of doing this, but as I know what I'm doing and its not a surprise I'm not too bothered but I'm now wandering how there is still a bit of a smell coming back into my bathroom. Can smells get through a u-bend?

Any ideas appreciated, but digging up my drive is not on the cards.

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Interesting. Our toilet is a cistern built into the wall. It has 2 buttons, 1 big and 1 small. Because of this we always hold the big button down for a longer flush so I dont think that will help. I intentionally never st in there, but my daughter and wife both do and I cant stop them.

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CambsBill said:

If you can get into the cistern it'll still be worth seeing how high the fill level is.

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.

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Sheepshanks said:

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If only the bog roll broke down more easily it would help, but as it is, its really quire robust.

Really? Kitchen roll is remarkably robust, but bog roll breaks down almost instantly it's wet.

Not so it’s a proper toughy. Lots written online about it.

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Im planning on doing a bit of a test!

https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/the-only-toilet...

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psi310398 said:

Out here in Italy, we have to use soda crystals on a monthly basis to help break up the clag and also keep on top of the calcification in the pipes. Not pleasant but better than fetching out the submersible pump and rods when the otherwise inevitable happens. I treat the inside pipes to muriatic acid once a year.

HG sells a useful two stage kit that can help out with stubborn pipes.

Thanks for the tips

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Pothole said:

For the smell, fill your bucket from the hot tap and add a bottle of thick bleach...pour...

On my exciting list of things to do. Life on the edge in this house

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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!

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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?