Sewage smell from kitchen sink (Ed.)

[DIY67]

I have (an) issue with sewage smell coming from downstairs kitchen sink when upstairs bathroom tap is used, but NOT when toilet flushed. Even more strange is it's intermittent. The concrete collar round the soil pipe where it meets the ground is cracked and needs pointing. Could it be that ?

 

[amfisted]

Only speaking from my own experience, but are the walls of your gulley sound? I had an issue a couple of years back with a smell outside the kitchen door: flummoxed me at first till after some investigation I noticed that a gap had opened up inside the gulley, above the water level, and waste water was getting through into a void underneath the driveway each time the sink was emptied. The smell was working its way up through cracks in the driveway into the open air.

 

[Stuart981]

In my experience kitchen smells that are difficult to track down often originate from a washing machine drum or from the evaporator on a fridge or freezer.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

The concrete collar round the soil pipe where it meets the ground is cracked and needs pointing. Could it be that ?

I'd dig down and expose this joint, quite possible the soil pipe and drain have parted ways, and you've water/waste getting under the house. Might be more noticeable when a tap is run as there is less weight of water to push the flow round into the drain.

 

[DIY67]

I'd dig down and expose this joint, quite possible the soil pipe and drain have parted ways, and you've water/waste getting under the house. Might be more noticeable when a tap is run as there is less weight of water to push the flow round into the drain.

Thanks. Is that a job I can easily fix if it's the cause of the issue ?

 

[amfisted]

Thanks. Is that a job I can easily fix if it's the cause of the issue ?

You can. I had similar problems in my previous house: not with smells but with flooding above ground caused by collapsed and broken drains underground. I'd never done any underground drainage work in my life, but I read lots of stuff online, asked questions here and then tackled the job with, I think a fair degree of success. This site is great for advice, YouTube too, and there's a site called Paving Expert where I found lots of information on drainage also.

I won't tell you how to do the job because there are more expert folks here who can do that, but if you're good at taking good advice and putting it to practical use in a methodical way, you'll crack this one ( not literally, of course).

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Thanks. Is that a job I can easily fix if it's the cause of the issue ?

Usually, yes. If you're able to use an Angle Grinder and have a bit of common sense about you, it's not too difficult. You're just replacing what is there with the modern equivalent, biggest issue is often finding a decent section of drain to couple onto.

 

[DIY67]

Thanks again. I haven't looked into it beyond the cracked /broken cement collar but I'm hoping it's just that which is causing it which is easy to repair (when the rain stops) it's just odd the smell doesn't occur when the toilet is flushed, only the sink tap run.

 

[DIY67]

Ok, this is the soil pipe situation. Some of the mortar has gone with just soil. I have smelled it coming from here. Any advice on a mortar repair would be appreciated. The house was built 1883 and the pipe is aspestos .

Thanks

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

That doesn't look too bad in the grand scheme of things, it's what lies underneath that I'd be worrying about....

 

[DIY67]

I'm just hoping it's a case of new mortar and some chicken wire to make a frame.

 

[DIY67]

The gases should be escaping from the vent surely ?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Odours/gases will yes, but if sewage is leaking lower down, it may be this you can smell.

Why do People come onto a DIY Forum ask for help from those with experience, get offered advice, then start questioning the advice given?

 

[DIY67]

Odours/gases will yes, but if sewage is leaking lower down, it may be this you can smell.

Why do People come onto a DIY Forum ask for help from those with experience, get offered advice, then start questioning the advice given?

I'm not questioning as I haven't investigated further yet, I just asking about the vent. I'm just hoping it's a cracked mortar issue.

 

[DIY67]

On closer inspection there is a hairline crack and a root going into it from the climbing Hydrangea. Here is also an image of the pipe in context to the surroundings. As you can see space is tight.