Ensuite smell - 3 plumbers cannot diagnose/fix..Please help

[seanmac30]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, I may need both to explain my problem. Ill try to be brief...
Moved into nice new house in February
Noticed stale smell from ensuite
Called plumber 1 ...could not diagnose problem and could not find mahole..suggested a drain survey
Called surveyor...cctv survey done...manhole found under extension (ouch!!) but drain was clear!
Called plumber 2....suggested that traps in shower/washbasin were being blown due to siphon action. Antivac trap and HepVa valve fitted respectively...no longer drain smell from either

However, smell remained in ensuite....it was coming straight from the toilet pan. Covering toilet pan with cling film confirmed this!
Called plumber 3....removed ensuite toilet to look for blockages....no blockages found. Toilet trap not compromised. AAV worked when toilets flushed. Que a lot of head-scratching.

Here is the general layout of the waste drain in the ensuite and adjacent main bathroom

Untitled

• seanmac30
• 30 Aug 2011
• 1

Click here if above does not work

Just to summarise....waste smell coming from toilet pan only (honest!)...no blockages of waste pipes...adjacent bathroom does not smell....no leaks or mould....AAV seems to be working when either toilet is flushed.....toilet traps seem ok

Here's a long shot......has anyone got any ideas on what I can do next (apart from selling the house) Happy to clarify anything.

Johnny

 

[Gasop]

If the cistern overflow does not discharge internally into the pan then
how is it connected?

I have come across o/flows connected directly into soil and waste pipes.

 

[seanmac30]

If the cistern overflow does not discharge internally into the pan then
how is it connected?

I have come across o/flows connected directly into soil and waste pipes.

The cistern overflow is connected to the pan and not to the soil pipe. The smell actually comes up into the cistern from the pan!

 

[holty]

The cistern overflow is connected to the pan and not to the soil pipe. The smell actually comes up into the cistern from the pan!

that dont make any sense from your description. there's different styles of toilets, various overflow arrangements etc. maybe a few pictures. might be clearer.

 

[transam]

Is it a syphonic type wc which had or have a double trap ?

 

[Nige F]

It`s the aav - if the pipe was vented to open air it would work

 

[doitall]

Pans cracked internally.

 

[seanmac30]

The cistern overflow is connected to the pan and not to the soil pipe. The smell actually comes up into the cistern from the pan!

that dont make any sense from your description. there's different styles of toilets, various overflow arrangements etc. maybe a few pictures. might be clearer.

Hope these make it clearer

Main Bathroom toilet and AAV

Untitled

• seanmac30
• 30 Aug 2011
• 1

Ensuite Bathroom toilet (above)

Untitled

• seanmac30
• 30 Aug 2011
• 1

Ensuite toilet cistern

Untitled

• seanmac30
• 30 Aug 2011
• 1

Ensuite toilet (side)

Untitled

• seanmac30
• 30 Aug 2011
• 1

 

[seanmac30]

It`s the aav - if the pipe was vented to open air it would work

This was my next thought but I want to be sure that is it before going putting a whole in my roof. As we don't use the main bathroom very often, I wonder could I test the idea by venting into the bathroom with the window open (window is right beside the loo and AAV). I know it won't be the same as venting to the outside but could it work??

 

[transam]

Well it is not a syphonic pan any way , clue was probably in the OP

eg nice new house

 

[doitall]

Does it still do it with the AAAV exposed.

 

[doitall]

Well it is not a syphonic pan any way , clue was probably in the OP

eg nice new house

Definitely not a new house Transam.

I would say least 20 years old.

 

[seanmac30]

Does it still do it with the AAAV exposed.

Not tried this. Should the AAV screw off. House is pre-war and extension was done 20 years ago....Spot on!

 

[doitall]

Does it still do it with the AAAV exposed.

Not tried this. Should the AAV screw off. House is pre-war and extension was done 20 years ago....Spot on!

No I meant the lid on the box.

The AAAV need air to work. although it's quite old, any problem with it I would have expected the smell to be in the same room.

 

[seanmac30]

Does it still do it with the AAAV exposed.

Not tried this. Should the AAV screw off. House is pre-war and extension was done 20 years ago....Spot on!

No I meant the lid on the box.

The AAAV need air to work. although it's quite old, any problem with it I would have expected the smell to be in the same room.

Ill try it without the lid but lid has not been sealed for a few weeks now and it has not made a difference. After that I might just vent into main bathroom
and see how that goes. Thanks for the input