Smell of sewage in cold weather??

[FiBe]

Hi - Last Autumn I had an old outside toilet knocked through and reconnected. I live in a 1920's house in an area with a high water table. There is water under both my house and the neighbours (we are a terrace of 4). This is apparently common in our area.

Over the winter both myself and my neighbours have had a smell of sewage in our houses but ONLY when it is cold - i.e. not on warmer, wet days. I have had the drains at the front of the house checked by the water company.
We recently had a blockage at the rear which was cleared by a private drain man which was caused by a build up of limescale and the dreaded baby wipes and was accepted as being a general problem and not specific to one house.
The drain man confirmed that my toilet appeared to flush through to the main drain.My neighbours are convinced that the problem is on my property as I recently had work done but I am at a loss as to what the problem could be if my toilet is not backed up and it only smells when it is cold!
As a single mother without much DIY knowledge I am hoping some-one here can help or at least have some idea as to why a smell can come and go with the weather!

Thanks. Fi

 

[moliver34]

Can you tell me if your outside drain is the last in the run before it goes out into the road?

Has the manhole [drain in your garden] be checked and is it clear?

Where in Hampshire are you?

 

[FiBe]

I am the second to last in the run. The last in the run was clear as of last week when the blockage at the junction to the main run was cleared.

I don't have a manhole in my garden - they are in every other property.

I'm in Fareham.

 

[moliver34]

Just a curious thought; why do your neibours then think its your fault that the drains are blocked up. If you dont have a manhole in your garden and your not the last on the sewer run.

Is the drain smell affecting you?

I would summise that the fault lies in the last manhole before the main drain in the road; it should be down to that householder to ensure that the drain is kept clear, but in most cases everyone that shares the community drain would have to 'chip in' for maintenance.

Why it should only smell when its cold is a mystery; on older drains there are normally vents; are these all unblocked.

 

[FiBe]

Good question! The neighbours think it is my fault because it has happened since I had the toilet reconnected and are assuming that either it wasn't done properly or some damage was done during the building work. Also I was the first to mention the smell - although they then agreed that they had it too. As I mentioned the last manhole was cleared last week but the smell has returned! I don't know if the vents are clear and have to admit to having no idea how to check! It doesn't smell outside the properties - only inside. By the way - thanks for your input, it is much appreciated.

 

[moliver34]

No problem;

I operate my own plumbing and heating business in Southampton; but must admit I dont have much experience with drains; not the most pleasant of jobs to do and when they do get blocked its best that a company that just deals with drains does the job, they have specialist equipment to deal with most problems.

This 'smell' ! Does every one smell it in each of their properties?

 

[FiBe]

The neighbour to the right seems to have it as much as I do. - They are the ones at the bottom of the run. The neighbours to the left have had it, but not as much and not this last week. We stopped using the downstairs toilet on Friday in order to see if the smell went. I am just waiting for a cold, windless day to see if that has worked!

 

[Bahco]

the dreaded baby wipes

You need to cease that as they do not dissolve in water. Tell the neighbours too.

That will be the cause of your blockage and you should get the pros in to clear it.