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Anyone know about drains?

5 replies

prideandprejudice · 27/12/2008 17:40

Long rambling post, sorry!

I am being driven mad by a foul smell of drains coming up from under the floorboards in our house. I thought at first a mouse or something had died under there, but it's got gradually more 'cabbagy' which makes me think it must be drains. It started on 23rd Dec and has got gradually worse over Xmas. ( Lovely!)

I have been round and sniffed all the sinks and loos etc, and it's not coming from them. There aren't any blockages - everything seems to be working perfectly, touch wood.I bleached them all just in case, and cleared and bleached the two drain holes I could find outside, plus made sure ventilation bricks etc were clear. We can't lift the floorboards because we have solid wood floor laid over underfloor heating, but when you put your nose to the skirting boards it's definitely coming up from underneath the floor! I know the main soil pipe runs under the sitting room and out to the back - could it be broken or something? Never had any problems before. I would have a look down the manhole but unfortunately the inspection chamber is difficult to get to as it's under decking...

The only thing that's weird is that the people in the flat next door have had lots of plumbers rodding and powerflushing for a blocked loo and fixing a leaking rising main over the past few months, and they've been away for Xmas and left a tap running in their bathroom ( we can hear it in the garden) while they've been away. Could that have anything to do with it?

Going to call Dynorod on Monday if it doesn't clear up but if there are any plumbers out there with any ideas I'd be very grateful - not sure what's worse, the smell of drains or the horrible vanilla plug -in I am using to try and cover it!

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 27/12/2008 22:30

The soil pipe could be leaking but generally that would be more apparent at one end (ie in the bathroom or on the outside wall where it exits the building).

The fact that your neighbours have a problem could be the source - how do you know their flat isn't six inches deep in sewerage? The smell does travel.

When are they back - could you discreetly ask them?

Open windows and put on jumpers btw - much more effective than plug in crappy air fresheners.

prideandprejudice · 27/12/2008 23:22

Thanks - will definitely be checking with the neighbours when they are back! It's rented but the agency's closed til Tues, otherwise I'd try and get the agent to go in and have a look in the meantime.

My mum has since been round and said she is absolutely sure it's a dead mouse in the wall or under the floorboards. (In fact as soon as she got a whiff she said 'Dead mouse!' without me saying anything.) She lives in a very old house in the middle of nowhere and says this happens to her a lot - apparently we've just got to wait it out til the thing decays as they're almost impossible to find without tearing the house apart. Going to wait a few days and see what happens. Yuck...

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lalalonglegs · 28/12/2008 09:02

Cabbagey usually mean drains; dead mice smell more musty (and don't last for several days unless there's a whole colony of them perishing down there). Agree that the neighbours would be in the frame if it were my flat.

prideandprejudice · 28/12/2008 23:10

Thanks Lala...still a bit of a mystery. Checked with neighbours as they came back tonight - upstairs flat ( not downstairs) overflow was causing the sound of running water - it's flooded the back garden next door so downstairs pretty cheesed off but apparently no other damage caused. Upstairs tenants seem not to care but they will when they get their water bill... Meanwhile the great stink is receding a bit so we're hopeful that if it was drains connected with the flood the worst is over, and if it was a colony of mice their little bodies are desiccating fast.

We've got friends coming over for lunch on Tuesday so if they stagger back and vomit in the bushes by the front door when I open it I'll know we've still got a problem...

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missykeljo · 21/01/2014 15:31

I know this post is old but I too have the same issue...strangely enough occured at the same time of year (Christmas) and water companies reluctant to help.. we rent also but they seem to be unwilling to investigate... we had a backed up loo on xmas day but did drain away slowly. . Hubby too loo out and we bought some acid stuff to stick down the soil pipe but smell is still there.. again it's a Victorian house and the smell is coming from under floor boards and hanging around kitchen and bathroom. ..anyone know who I need to pressure to sort out problem

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