Horrible smell in bathroom

[MrsGideon]

A few weeks ago we started to notice a really horrible smell in our bathroom. It fluctuates between a very damp smell and almost a sort of, dare I say it, pooey... decayed smell (not envy!!)

Any ideas what it could be??? I've had a good sniff around the room and it seems to be coming sort of simultaneously from under the loo and the sink, though there is boxing that connects the two encasing the pipes, so I guess the smell could be wafting back and forth inside there.

I'm dreading calling a plumber because I've heard their call-out charges are eye-watering, so any ideas on what it could be would be amazing! (Also any experiences of calling out a plumber for a reason like this would be helpful too). My husband thinks it might be that the seal around the loo u-bend pipe thing needs replacing, but I'm worried that the damp smell indicates something worse. For context, we did have our sink replaced with a vanity unit a few weeks ago and it was a handyman who did the work rather than a plumber.

Thank you!

I bet they’ve put the wrong sort of trap under the sink! Or the floor is getting damp and its mould. I’d get a proper plumber in to check it out.

Do you have cats? Very possibly brought a mouse in injured and it’s died under the vanity unit. Is there any way you can Prise off the skirting first the unit?

No cats, just a little dog who doesn't catch mice!

I did worry they hadn't installed it correctly but I really hoped I was wrong...

Have you tried any of the really obvious stuff like using Mr Muscle drain unblocker that you pour down the sink? Sometimes sinks etc do get really stinky and it sorts it out.

Yeah unfortunately I did try that the other day and no joy :( Still stinky

Has anyone had experience of calling out a plumber for this? Any idea of call-out charges or do they really vary?

Depends where you live. There are a lot of plumbers round here who don't have a call out charge. Do you have a local Facebook page where you can ask for recommendations?

we had a nasty smell, and it was damp under the lino flooring, due to a leaky shower.
It was the damp causing the smell. Even when the lino was back so it could dry, they smell was better.

So, I would say if you are worried about the cost, try removing the boxing in yoursleves and see if it is damp behind.

You need a plumber, they're not that expensive but a problem left will likely cost you a lot more bitter experience

If you can, get a recommendation. Then phone up and talk to them.

Could be that your waste pipe is blocked, if so call the house insurance first as a lot of policies have unblocking services covered so you don’t have to pay or just a small excess.

Thanks all. Upon closer sniffing inspection, the smell ALSO seems to be coming from under the bath :( are we just absolutely riddled with damp?!

I've put a request up on checkatrade for quotes and facebook is also a good shout.

@Rainbowshine thanks for the info on house insurance if it's a blocked waste - I'll deffo check that out!

Do you have an inspection chamber outside? if so, lift the cover and see if the drain's blocked.

Agree it's likely to do with the boxing-in BUT for belt and braces, clear all the overflows and traps, sometimes the water in a trap evaporates and lets the smell come through.

Fill the sink with bleachy water and let it flow down the hole near the taps. Pour bleachy water down the one in the bath and pour 2 pints of water down the bath and shower plugholes.
If that stops it, just keep those topped up with water once a week.

No inspection chamber that I can see (at least not for the bathroom). I will definitely try the bleach trick though, thank you!

I'd steer away from check a trade they pay to have reviews etc on there. @PigletJohn maybe able to assist with some expert wisdom 😬

I was going to say the same about check a trade and PJ!

@pinkearedcow great minds

post some photos of the recent work please, including the waste pipe under the basin, and how it connects to the rest of the plumbing. Look for any signs of the old basin pipe having been cut.

Look for how the overflow of the basin is connected to the waste.

The boxing-in might need to be pulled off if the fault is inside.

Go outside and look for a soil pipe rising above the le4vel of the highest windows in the house, usually it will be more or less above the bathroom, and coming through the roof or fixed to the wall of the house.

How old is the house?

Meanwhile, ask around local friends and neighbours for recommendations of a well-established local plumber. A wrinkly old person will be able to do it. You do not need a gasman or heating engineer.

is there any sign of damp on the ceiling of the room below?

is the bathroom original to the house, or a later addition?