Shower smells and gurgles when tap is running

[tamepalar]

In our ensuite, we have been getting issues periodically with the shower drain gurgling when the tap is running. This is then followed by a strong drain/sewage smell which seems to disappear if you run the shower for a few minutes.

This seems to happen every few weeks. We'll go a while with no smell or gurgling and then one day you'll hear a faint gurgle when running the sink tap which progresses to the smell and a louder noise.

It's a 'new' build house (2019) and all of the shower plumbing/pipes etc is not visible.

I did stick one of those cheap cameras/endoscope down the shower drain and there was no blockages or debris within the part I could get it down

 

[Scally-Ho]

Have you tried a good power pump on the shower waste fitting? A good blast with one more often than not clears the pipe out.

Draper Drain Blaster

A quick and easy way to clear blocked drains. With the Draper Drain Blaster, you can inject water at high pressure to dislodge the blockage. Supplied with a 70mm diameter cup suitable for sinks and baths – for recessed wastes only.• Effective – clears drains with a high-pressure water injection•...

www.toolstation.com

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Suspect some sort of restriction further down the run, it's allowing the discharge from the basin to siphon the shower trap out, and thus let foul air back into the room. Can you trace the waste pipe from the shower to where it discharges?

 

[tamepalar]

Have you tried a good power pump on the shower waste fitting? A good blast with one more often than not clears the pipe out.

Draper Drain Blaster

A quick and easy way to clear blocked drains. With the Draper Drain Blaster, you can inject water at high pressure to dislodge the blockage. Supplied with a 70mm diameter cup suitable for sinks and baths – for recessed wastes only.• Effective – clears drains with a high-pressure water injection•...

www.toolstation.com

Would this work on one like this?

 

[Scally-Ho]

Remove the innards of the trap first and then give it a blast to clear the pipework of any buildup.

 

[tamepalar]

Suspect some sort of restriction further down the run, it's allowing the discharge from the basin to siphon the shower trap out, and thus let foul air back into the room. Can you trace the waste pipe from the shower to where it discharges?

So all the pipework is concealed. We do have 2 manholes on the front of the property which seem to be flowing/discharging when water from the house is running. Is it worth blasting some water up through the manholes to see if anything dislodges?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

No harm in trying, but bear in mind if using a Drain Jetting attachment for a pressure washer or similar, you may be heading for a WC Pan.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We do have 2 manholes on the front of the property which seem to be flowing/discharging when water from the house is running.

Is the flow almost instant through the manhole, and stops quickly, after the toilet is flushed?

Do you have a vent pipe poking up above the roof level, or an internal vent valve in the loft. That valve, might be sticking.