House smells like sewer!! Help!

[redcherrie]

The last few days this smell has been building up. It's definitely coming from the two bathrooms in the house- one upstairs and one downstairs.

We have checked the drains outside but no blockages.

What could it be!? The smell is so distinct and odd!

No blockages in the house, dishwasher etc all fine!

Get the sewerage company for your area to check the public sewer in the street. Don't use a private company, as they aren't allowed to lift the public sewer manholes. Sometimes the smell is the first indication of a blockage starting and the plughole is where the smell vents.

Call the water company it’s free.

Southern water are usually quite good at update their website for issues and there's nothing on there!

I even got my husband to check the loft for dead rats as it stinks so bad in here, that's before we noticed it was from the bathrooms!

We were told to run the taps showers and flush loos all at the sMe time.

came on to say it’s rats … dead rats … they absolutely stink. They explode which is the worst stink and then it gradually gets better. We were convinced we had sewage / downstairs toilet issues but it was rats dying in the crawl space under our kitchen 🤢🤢🤢 do you have anywhere rats could hide out?

We had this and it turned out to be the trap in the shower wasn't clicked in correctly
Once we did that the smell went

A couple of capfuls of Milton down each drain is a good short-term solution before you can get the drainage company out.

We have had a problem over winter re rats! And funnily enough they've gone quiet.... nothing in the loft though as we just checked that. Could be in the crawl space!?

But the toilets stink though... so unsure

Where would I find such a thing!? I'm useless at this and husband is out!

We have had this on and off. Dynorod said it was an issue with the drains outside so water company attended and got several bags of earth & other crap out the drains - there had been some houses built 15 ish years before so I wondered if it was from then. It happened a couple of times afterwards with more bags of stuff pulled out the drains which seemed somewhat strange. After further investigation it turns out there's a collapsed drain nearby which needs to be repaired. Contact the water board and get them to investigate.

Will call Southern Water and report it but they are pretty useless!

The smell is 100% coming from both the toilet bowls.

Did you get pest control in OP?
We had rats, pest control were BRILLIANT. They told me they reproduce every 21 days, it's v v hard to get rid of them without proper pest control ( ie, using Amazon bought traps and peanut butter type bait).

Oh, just seen your update, definitely coming from toilets bowls.
Still, rats can get into pipes and sewers...

@redcherrie are both bathrooms on the same floor and is the smell constant? Are they flushing at normal speed?

google ai says…

A sewer smell coming from your toilet bowl usually indicates a problem with the toilet seal, a clogged vent pipe, a partially blocked drain, or a full septic tank, which allows sewer gases to escape due to a broken seal or improper ventilation.

is the drain near hoist and could your husband open it when home and then going can see if anything at that end? Doubt it though as I’d expect any smells or issues in the drain system to also impact sinks.

🫠🫠🫠

We did yes, we are renting currently. The problem is, we are in a terrace! The pest man did lots of poison etc.

They have gone quiet lately but he did say once spring arrives they don't tend to stay indoors!

On further smelling, I think it's actually just the downstairs toilet that stinks!

Fill the sinks with water so it floods down the overflows, in case the smell is coming from them.
We get a smell periodically when an unused bathroom dries out, so I fill everything up with water and let it run and that clears it.

Would that smell be coming from the toilet though? All sinks smell fine.

The sinks will have the u bend which is full of water which keeps the smell at bay to some extent.
Ring the water company and get them out.
(I used to work for one ).

The toilet ubend should prevent smells. Ime however it is difficult to pinpoint the source and the most likely is the back of a sink.
Is there a space behind the toilet where something could have crawled in?
Failing that if you think it is the toilet, ie the water in the toilet, take some out, into a different room and see if the smell is actually the water.

Have you tried those little sticks you can put down the plughole to clear it?

I occasionally notice a strange smell round the loo and dishwasher and sinks. It's very specific and usually means the drains are starting to block up.

On further inspection I'm now worried about a dead rat as I think the smell is coming from a hole behind the toilet 😭

Just an update... smell is now horrific and my mum has stated it is 100% a dead animal 😭 the smell is awful!! What can we do?? We rent? Should I text landlord? There's been an on going issue with the rats since we moved in, in the loft and crawl space.

Yes, contact the landlord in the first instance asking them to deal with it. If, whatever, they do isn't sufficient, ask if it's ok that you check out yourself - I'm thinking get pest control and/or a plumber to check. If it turns out it's a dead rat(s) and there's any signs of ongoing problems (ie fresh droppings) then ask if the landlord or you can fit a trap in the sewer - it stops/reduces rats and flood water entering the property but allows waste through the other way.