Stench

[AlwaysConfused]

Hi, I've recently moved into a new house (5/6 weeks ago),and am getting an unbearable whiff of rotten eggs from the bathroom every now and then(It's a downstairs loo btw). On boxing day I did an SOS call to my father who came out with drain rods as the toilet either overflowed or would not fill with water. OH is convinced it is cats coming in overnight spraying. Im washing mats and towels daily to no avail..but am convinced there is a further problem with the sewage...Anyone any ideas? I'm gonna use the compost bin for a toilet soon...it smells slightly better!

[eleanor2]

Morning, few ideas here ..
https://m.youtube.com/results?search_query=Rotten+egg+smell+from+bathroom

[ummmm]

Is it worse at certain times?

[AlwaysConfused]

Thanks for that Eleanor..I'll try a few of those tips on there. Unfortunately my father is back to shielding so do not want to and will not be bothering him! (he's an expert but it will encourage him to come out and save the day) Ummmm, no it's sporadic. May be worse late morning, early afternoon. I just get my appetite back and the smell come back and I can't eat for days.

[eleanor2]

I like the tip on ' smell coming from shower/ cleaning tip .. to use a paint roller dipped in cleaning solution!

[david small]

Any outside drain covers you could lift up for inspection?
Jeyes fluid should help as well.

[satprof]

When you say 'new house', is this a brand new, recently built house? If it is, I'd bet that your main drain is partially blocked by builder's rubble. Try to get them to clear it if you can.

[johnk]

I found the smell in our downstairs loo was from the soil pipe, the big one that goes down into the drains, so I boxed it off and completely sealed it and the smell went. It comes back sometimes but only when the drains are blocked. If you have manhole covers lift them and check yours.

[malagabob]

If toilets, but mainly basins, shower tray traps have properly working traps you shouldn’t get smells coming back from the sewer. If you half fill the basin with water. Pull the plug, does the outlet make a gurgling sound when the last of water disappears. Could indicate a water trap in the basin being pulled away, allowing smells through.

[malagabob]

With toilets make sure there is a good trap of water after flushing. Check regularly. An item trapped on the soil stack side of the toilet outlet might be drawing the water away due to capillary actions. Breaking the water seal.

[Khandro]

I have a shower in one bathroom with a waste which isn't very deep for ease of cleaning not like the traditional U-bend waste as you get under a sink or bath tub. If it isn't used for several days in winter the central heating evaporates the water level in the trap, in which case the air is in direct connection with the drains & we get a bad smell in that room.

The simple remedy is to pour some water into the waste to top up the level ( or have a shower, of course ).

Making sure there is always water in the waste may apply to your set-up.

[The Builder]

Two common causes.
One, as per Khandro's post, is that any bath/shower/basin traps can lose their water seal through evaporation. Just need topping up.

The other one is something that does result in a really strong sewage smell. You may possibly have an "air admittance valve" in the corner of the room, usually to the side of the WC.
This allows air to get into the drains to avoid syphonage.
These can get stuck open, resulting in drain odours.
Do you have a, approx. 6"x6", boxed-in soil pipe in the corner?
If so, does it go right up to the ceiling, or stop halfway up?

[ummmm]

I get it sometimes but it's only in the morning so I assume it's just the water. It's better since my nephew moved in. His bedroom is downstairs so that toilet gets used much more often.