Vent problems

[northernlights]

I had a vent stack fitted in November (at a price!). I also keep the door to the dining room open and use lots of plug in air fresheners, burn scented candles and run an air purifier.

The plumber who came said the odour was from the drainage pipe and the vent stack should solve the problem. He did not think there was "sewage seeping under the house"

It is still a little whiffy in the utility area. We had a fair bit of rain last night (the rain water and washing machine drain into the main drain under the house and lower down must be joined by bathroom waste water under the dining area) and I noticed this particularly this morning. It cannot be the traps as I leave the sink half full of water with the plug in.

I do not think the drainage pipe is very deep - but runs the length of the house. Any ideas or advice welcome....

 

[TicklyT]

......... It cannot be the traps as I leave the sink half full of water with the plug in.....

.

Leaving the plug in or filling the sink won't make a lot of difference to the trap. It could still be syphoned and smells allowed out by air flow through the overflow.

 

[northernlights]

Ok - an update. Experts' views welcome.

Just had a contractor in because the dining room smell is sour, foul, horrid and I need to leave windows open.

He poked a screwdriver through the plasterboard where the extension meets the house at a corresponding point inside to where the sewage waste pipe runs down the outside wall from the upstairs bathroom and asked us to check for smells.

He wants to:

- lift cover outside (very difficult because it is concrete and there are no handles). Says it may crack the patio but would like to check for blockages.
- make a bigger hole in the wall to inspect
- lift the carpet and make an inspection hatch in the dining room to see the state of the pipe running beneath (horror - sewage leaking beneath house..???)

He inspected for airbricks. I have two for a large area (wooden floor, crawlspace). Asked if I had put rat poison down.No.

I am now very worried. Over £700 for the vent stack through the roof and goodness knows what now.

I have also asked original vent stack plumber back saying his solution has not helped much.

I would like a range of reasonable quotes. Who do I ask? A builder? A plumber?

What do I need to say to them (or the original plumber) to make sure the job is done properly?

I've only been in the house since September and did have a survey done - nothing like this was mentioned.

What costs am I looking at now?

Help!

 

[northernlights]

To all - in case this may be of help - or a salutory warning...

One of the original plumbers came today and cut a whole through the dining room floor.... to discover - another layer of floor.

Cut through this to find - under a stone - an open drain (which must have been outside the house before the extension was built).

So another source of sewer gases venting into the house!

Extension built over 10 years ago. Beats me how the previous owner could have lived lwith these smells for so long!

Plumber is going to plug the drain. Fingers crossed that this may solve the problem and that I may be able to use my dining room at last!

DIyers take note.