I got my bathroom renovated and had the bath replaced with a shower. Im delighted with the results except for one thing: Over night a smell develops in the bathroom. Its coming from the shower. It smells like wet grass decomposing - vile. My bathroom is upstairs and I think it might be something to do with that. I don't think there is any drop on the pipe that takes the water away so some gets lodged and stays there going rancid until the next shower. The shower is used every morning and most evenings but not all. Has anyone got a solution for this, please? Something I could pour into the drain or something. Thanks.
2007-02-28 11:53:31 · 14 answers · asked by Rachel Maria 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I have to leave this to the voters to select best answer. Truly, the answers are too technical for me to understand. Thanks a million to all of you who answered my question. You are all very good.
2007-03-01 13:00:08 · update #1
Sounds like shower height problem. Sometimes the waste pipe enters the waste stack above floorboard height and showers can be fitted too low so draining can be a problem. I've just been to quote the same job for a guy and his shower is 6 inch off the floor. He wants a new shower fitted to the floor. Because he's on the same estate I told him not to because of the above point.
2007-02-28 12:23:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should be an "S" type valve in line when the the water goes down the shower drain, this prevents any smell coming back into the room, this is much like the valve you have under a sink, it always contains some water at the bottom that's why they are designed that way. It sounds to me like you need to contact the people who put the drainage in and ask them to correct it. There might be a blockage but you would know about that because water would be backing up into your shower recess. The plumber may have connected your shower waste pipe to the sewerage waste pipe from your toilet without putting a proper pipe in and this would also allow the smell of sewer gas to be coming into your bathroom. It really is something you need to get a plumber to look at, unless you can do the work yourself..Good luck
2007-03-07 06:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by Dr Paul D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that your drain wasn't vented. Plumbing has drains that all tie together and drains water,waste,etc... to your main sewer .It also has venting system that goes through your roof to get rid of gasses created by the sewage.If your shower was not tied into the vent sewer gas will come up through the drain, as it needs somewhere to go.Kind of smells of rotten eggs.If thats the case do not pour any chemicals as it will only make it worse.I had the same problem and found out the hard way.If you had a contractor do the plumbing I would ask them about and pray for honesty. If not maybe call a plumber to be on the safe side. Hope this helps.
2007-02-28 20:22:34 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel W 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have seen this before. remove the chrome cover from the shower drain and see if the inside of the drain is coated with black, scummy stuff. If so then use some bleach, not much, and a small toilet style brush and clean it off as far as you can reach into the trap. Run some water to rinse it out and see if it still smells in the morning.
2007-02-28 20:19:07 · answer #4 · answered by Tony G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there should be a u bend trap at the drain, the u bend has water in it that sould stop any smell coming back up through the drain, if there isn't a vent in the system when you run a tap or flush the toilet the pressure could pull water from the shower trap leaving a air space allowing smells to come back up.hope you understand my explaination of this.
2007-03-01 18:12:29 · answer #5 · answered by Kenny M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the shower drain could have p plugged vent pipe or mite not even have one what is happening is when you flush the toilet or run the sink the drain is sucking the water out of the shower drain
you either need to open the vent or have a plumber install one the quick fix is to have a air admittance valve installed this would solve your problem
2007-03-07 19:07:12 · answer #6 · answered by Norman K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should have a water trap fitted under the shower tray to stop the smell returning back up the waist pipe ,have a plumber check it out for you .
2007-03-07 14:31:03 · answer #7 · answered by Mick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
funny you should say that since we had our new kitchen fitted the sink gives off a smell never had it untill the new sink and taps were fitted!
we have tryed everything and some times it happens when you leave the tap running the smell just comes up we have add someone in to look at it but they couldnt find anything!
so we are still trying things like bleach its not as bad as it was thank god but it will be interesting to see what other answers you get as this will help me aswell
2007-02-28 20:03:42 · answer #8 · answered by mangospassion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cover drain tightly to see if smell stops. Drain should have trap below floor to stop sewer gas. It should be accessible beneath the floor from down stairs ceiling. If smell goes away call people who put it in to fix there job it is there problem to correct the the job they goofed. You can't put solutions in the drain the rest of your life.
2007-02-28 20:18:59 · answer #9 · answered by HLB 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it's an electric shower make sure that the ceiling switch is a good quality one. I had your problem and the smell turned out to be the switch burning.
2007-03-08 10:33:38 · answer #10 · answered by willie 57 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋