Terrible smell - any ideas

[Charlotte55]

We have an awful smell coming from an en suite bathroom and now into the bedroom it is not a sewage smell or toilet smell
It is more like a gas - mouldy / chemical ??? but its horrid and getting worse? - hard to describe, we have had some really good guys trying to find out the cause ......they have done what they thought might help but it has just got worse, they are perplexed as well ! they are good guys, just posting in case on the off chance that anyone else come across this problem here or anywhere ! ...........as everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful in their own fields might be able to suggest something
TIA
C

[Geoff1131]

It could be a whole host of things. But a few to check. If you have a window and usually have it open, is there a drain stench pipe anywhere near the window? If there is, just keep the window closed for a few days to see if the smell goes away. If it does then get someone to extend the stench pipe away from the window. Another common fault here is the 'p' traps used on wash basins. Most of them are the plastic extendable types and have not been fitted with an adequate water seal. Shower drains could also allow smells back into a room if not properly fitted. Once i had a problem with a W/C pan which had an 's' trap outlet within the toilet base. There was a smell in the room and eventually i took the toilet pan out and there was no seal between the pan and the drain, just the spigot of the pan fitted into the drain pipe so no leak when the toilet was flushed but smells coming into the room from the drains.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I assume you’ve pulled out the bath panel and had a look under there? Might be a dead rodent or something?
Bathroom and water might be a red herring and make you immediately put all your focus on drains etc

[thornaby]

If its a bathroom its nearly always drains. My main bathroom had a regular bad smell caused by the usual bad workmanship on the plumbing of the drain of the toilet. A house of quality the contract said, what utter rubbish. Problem resolved by me, smell gone! Do check the rubber grommet where the flexible drain pipe goes into the wall, these do fail and allowed smells to come back into the room . These just pull ot of the fitting in the wall and are readily available the yapi stores!

[sophie]

Totally agree re the flexible drain rubber grommet They are b====y useless, We had to have two before one actually fitted tightly enough to stop the smell. When we did, the smell stopped over night. Also agree re the stench pipe. We had awful problem in an upstairs bathroom. All we did was extend it upwards another three foot and bingo......smell went immediately. So simple to cure but useless builders.

[Asia111]

Would you describe the smell as bad eggs/sulpher?

Sometimes you can get this type of smell if the drain trap has no water in it. If you haven’t used the bath or sink recently just keep flushing with water.

A good home remedy for cleaning drains whether it be sinks, baths or wc - put half a cup of bicarbonate of soda and half a cup of vinegar or lemon tuz in a very large jug. Pour hot water (not quite boiling) into the jug. Take care as it will fizz a lot and rise up and over the jug and spill. (Do this very slowly and ideally whilst you are standing over the drain or wc so that any overspill goes into the drain. Pour all the contents into the drain and leave for at least 1 hour or overnight. Repeat if necessary. This will unblock and keep you drains sanitised and hopefully smelly a bit fresher.

Worst scenario - septic tank might want emptying

[Soner]

Sometimes toilet waste pipe goes down into ground, and if not sealed properly can be difficult to get to it for resealing. Quick fix that worked for me was to silicone around base of toilet.

[Charlotte55]

Thank you for your replies very helpful and so kind of you all
Will post result just trying all different things as suggested 1at a time!
Charlotte

[thornaby]

Charlotte55, one last thought, it could be my dogs feet they do smell. Anyway all this talk of drains and smells in bathrooms I am sure caused the leaking loo in my bathroom today, sorted now, now outside enjoying a well deserved beer with my other dog that does not have smelly feet!

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Will post result just trying all different things as suggested 1at a time!
Charlotte

Yes don't leave us hanging!

[JoandJelly]

Also check out your light fittings. We had a dreadful smell and it turned out to be an electrical fault that made the fitting bufn. The smell was awful.

[susiesusie]

Exactly the same problem here.
To try and pin point the smell I put a plug in the bathroom sink and blocked the overflow hole with paper. Smell now gone. Therefore I changed the flexi plastic drain pipe which I got from the yapi market along with a new rubber bit for the hole in the wall. Made sure I made a u bend to stop the smell.
All smells of gas etc gone. 15tl .

[Charlotte55]

Tried everything suggested now ......... windows and door been open for two weeks smell no longer going into bedroom but still in en suite
Any one recommend an English plumber please
C

[thornaby]

Charlotte55, I would definitely remove the toilet and see what is happening where if connects to the drain, if you or yours can't do this a plumber is the only answer, this should not be difficult to resolve, best of luck!

[Charlotte55]

Thanks Thornaby

[ardstrawray]

Charlotte55, I would definitely remove the toilet and see what is happening where if connects to the drain, if you or yours can't do this a plumber is the only answer, this should not be difficult to resolve, best of luck!

Recommend Ersem trading for any work in North Cyprus, used them many times, great around tradesmen.

[sophie]

Crikey, a thought just struck me. Years ago, we had a worse smell than I mentioned earlier in this thread. Having tried everything we called builder in, as I was sure it was something serious. They pulled the loo away from the floor only to discover that although the contents flowed outside it had gradually over months built up into a hard sludge between the outside of the house and the pipework between the house and outside tank . Liquid was passing but nothing else because of some broken concrete or whatever. Not sure if I've made myself clear, but it is worth a thought. Hope you're not eating your tea??

[thornaby]

Sophie, as i said earlier in my comment about a quality build. Standards here are generally rubbish. Good practices and regulations that you would find elsewhere do not exist here. In my experience most problems go back to the original build, so we pay again to hopefully rectify the problem. Still, let's not forget that we are lucky to live in a fantastic place with wonderful people!

[Charlotte55]

Thank you Sophie

We had a man coming to do this with the toilet but now lockdown he said he will be round as soon as possible

[sophie]

In the last lockdown, as they allowed Yapi markets to be open, a plumber/builder only had to say there was an emergency in a house and they were allowed. Perhaps your guy is figuring out how to come legally/healthily?

[Charlotte55]

Thanks everyone for your help .... think the problem is resolved ....Thornaby & Sophie especially, just praying its okay now
you were right ..... got the toilet out, horrid underneath !... but no seal at all !
C

[thornaby]

No seal, not surprising, I've remove two shower trays neither of which had the trap connected to the drains! Glad its sorted.