Don’t understand want this hole is in my wall the flute above is from My boiler

[Simchlo]

I have had multiple contractors round to fix drains stack pipes and yesterday found condensate pipe under sink had small crack and they thought this was causing the smell. Since then smell is now worse under sink and behind cupboard were the internal stack is . I have only recently noticed the open hole outside my kitchen windows and can see small overflow pipe above hole all other flats areas are bricked up with pipe coming out of the same area I was wondering is this maybe the root cause of the problem as has been ongoing for 5 years now .

 

[23vc]

Looks like an old overflow from a toilet cistern, at that height. It wouldn’t be causing foul smells.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

That's not an overflow, it's huge. It's probably a vent from an old floorstanding boiler, so it will go right through to the inside.

Mice or birds may be living in it.

It's ladder height, any brickie with a ladder should be able to sort that. Much better to get the partial bricks removed and well matched bricks used, i.e. not like the flat above had done.

 

[23vc]

Sorry, I was talking about the upstairs bit. Overflow to left of bricked up bit. Missed the downstairs part

 

[JohnD]

The pipe seems to be under the boiler so it might be PRV. Hopefully it is not condensate.

The large square is where the balanced flue for an old boiler was removed. Very shoddy work.

From the original post, I don't know which part he means. There are red lines at the upper and lower floors.

 

[Simchlo]

Sorry the open hole is behind my kitchen wall and the overflow pipe is just above the hole small white pipe and the circle above is another flat showing there area has been bricked up with overflow pipe sticking out this picture shows the other flats bricked up in same area mine has open hole if that makes sense

 

[JohnD]

If you have the rectangular hole open, that is very shoddy. It should be bricked up and the cavity filled with insulation. You might get rain or birds in it. On the ground floor you might get rodents.

I suppose you might screw a board over it until it is properly fixed.

 

[Simchlo]

Older photos on google maps show when it has system in place but still other flats area was bricked up already ?

 

[JohnD]

I suppose you might screw a board over it until it is properly fixed.

Something weatherproof.

But I think the smell is probably coming from a plumbing fault such as a crack or leak.

 

[Simchlo]

I would stick board over it but pipe is hanging out of top of hole not sure why or what it’s for

 

[JohnD]

Follow it back to see where it goes. I think it will probably be coming from your boiler. I hope nothing ever drips or runs out if it.

 

[Simchlo]

 

[Simchlo]

If it does drip then would definitely be going inside the hole

 

[JohnD]

That would be very, very undesirable.

 

[Simchlo]

Would this maybe be causing the smell as I’ve notice it’s much worse when it rains