Smells from sink and shower.

[Jaybee 45]

Hi,

Our house was built in 2000 in a plot between properties built about 40 years ago. There was no other drainage just waste and we had to have permission for all drainage to discharge into the sewerage pipes like all other properties.
The fall is excellent as we are on sloping ground and we have had no problems with blockages.

The only problem is that we do occasionally get smells in the en-suite and bathroom. This is more obvious when it is windy and we end up having to keep the plugs in and taping up the overflow holes.

There is a cloakroom on the same floor and this also used to be affected until we had the cistern overflow altered to discharge into the toilet which has done the trick.

The smells seem to be coming more often now and I wonder if there is some sort of valve that could be fitted at the soil pipe which exits the house and carries all water and waste discharge.
All the pipework is accessable under the house in the cellar and there is a soil stack going up through the roof.

All suggestions gratefully received.

 

[Richard C]

Ideally you should always have separate stack connections for each appliance or you will draw the traps when the loo is flushed, bath/shower is used; if a foul drain system is not properly installed you will get problems with siphoning & smells, how are yours been connected?

Solutions include fitting an automatic air inlet valve to prevent siphoning, fitting anti siphon traps or HepVo valves;
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/hepv0-self-sealing-waste-0-4274

 

[Jaybee 45]

Don't understand how they are all connected, but there are three floors and the problem is on the middle floor. There is a shower room on the top floor but that is not affected even though they all discharge into the same soil pipe eventually.

As it only seems to occur when it is windy, do you think this has anything to do with it? We are in an elevated spot and do get quite strong winds although I can't really see how the wind can enter the soil pipes.

Is it a big job to fit the vavles you suggested?