Smelly Cloakroom !!!!!!

[nondrip]

Can anyone help please ?

We moved into our house 8 weeks ago and for the last 4 or 5 weeks we have noticed an unpleasant smell in the downstairs loo. It is not there all the time and it soon clears once the window is opened. The loo is flushing OK so there doesn't appear to be a blockage. I've tried strong cleaners but it's still the same. The house is only 5 years old but I don't know how to find the main drain ( there are 4 or 5 small round drain covers dotted around the garden - could it be one of them?).
Can anyone suggest anything before I have to call in a specialist?

Many thanks.

 

[Bahco]

Could it be your pan is cracked underneath, check for any wet patches around your loo.

 

[kevplumb]

could be an air admittance valve stuck

 

[nondrip]

Thanks for your replies.


kevplumb,
What is an 'air admittance valve' and where would I find it?


BAHCO,
I had already checked for damp patches so I don't think it's cracked or leaking. The smell is more 'eau de faint sewer' than damp anyway!

 

[kevplumb]

aav is fitted on soil stack it draws air from room instead of being vented outside have been known to stick open and give your problem

it will be above the highesr inlet

 

[nondrip]

Thanks again, Kev.

Just a couple more questions as i am a complete novice at this stuff.

I had a few minutes yesterday so I opened all the drain covers in the garden and they looked clean to the naked eye. At the weekend I intend to check the flow through them by flushing toilets etc. Also I will be able to get up the ladder and check the 'aav' except...... will I definitely have one? From the ground the soil stack appears to have a dome grill cover on the top which is about 2 feet above the en-suite outlet. Will the aav be under this grill or would that alone have been sufficient for UK building regs in 1998?

Thanks again.

 

[kevplumb]

if your stack is outside you wont have a valve on it
you may need an antisyphon trap on your basin
i assume you have a basin

 

[kevplumb]

are you sure its not operational inaccuracies

 

[PEDANTICVINDICTIVEMAN]

Could be a stub stack boxed in next to the toilet with an aav valve fitted which could be stuck, came across this once before.

 

[nondrip]

operational inaccuracies!!!!!!!

Mr Nondrip knows I would rub his nose it if that happened!!!!!!!

No, I don't think it is a major problem and now I have looked at the drains and listened to your advice I'm confident we will solve it.
Thanks again.