Smell from outside inspection drain

ormus

if there is a small blockage as above, then use a hose pipe together with the rods to clear it all away.
dont use the hose pipe if the chamber is full. you dont want to add any more water just yet.
wait till youve cleared the blockage. the clean it out with the clean water.

Jolaaled

ormus wrote: »

if there is a small blockage as above, then use a hose pipe together with the rods to clear it all away.
dont use the hose pipe if the chamber is full. you dont want to add any more water just yet.
wait till youve cleared the blockage. the clean it out with the clean water.

Thanks so much, Ormus. As usual, incredibly helpful.
I'll see if the rotting smell disappears over the next day or so, and then go down the loo with a hose first.
Will invest in rods next time I'm near a Wickes.

THANKS TO ALL

frugal_shopper_2

Jolaaled wrote: »

Will invest in rods next time I'm near a Wickes.

I would suggest you ignore the cheap sets of universal rods (around £7-£12 per set) & invest a little more in a set of lockfast rods (£30-40 per set), you will only need the basic attachments that will be included if you buy the rods as a set for most jobs (a 4" plunger to build water pressure & clear a blockage & a dropscraper in case you need to drag an obstruction back towards you so it can be removed manually). Lockfast rods are bolted together rather than screwfit & can be turned either clockwise or anticlockwise making it almost impossible to lose them down a drain, in the event you ever have major problems with your drains it is easier to find specialist attachments for lockfast rods (such as rod retrieval tools). I have wasted many hours of my life fishing out lost universal drain rods for people who purchased them but were not quite sure how to use them or tried using them for jobs beyond their capabilities. Drain clearance companies charge a lot for extracting rods people lose down drains.

Any decent builders/plumbers merchants will have lockfast rods for sale or you can buy them online if it's more convenient, diy chains may try to convince you the universal rods they tend to sell are the same thing because they won't know the difference themselves.
A set like this should be suitable for most peoples needs.
http://www.anthire.co.uk/productdetail.php?prodid=105&catid=262&level=0

Jolaaled

frugal_shopper wrote: »

I would suggest you ignore the cheap sets of universal rods (around £7-£12 per set) & invest a little more in a set of lockfast rods (£30-40 per set), you will only need the basic attachments that will be included if you buy the rods as a set for most jobs (a 4" plunger to build water pressure & clear a blockage & a dropscraper in case you need to drag an obstruction back towards you so it can be removed manually). Lockfast rods are bolted together rather than screwfit & can be turned either clockwise or anticlockwise making it almost impossible to lose them down a drain, in the event you ever have major problems with your drains it is easier to find specialist attachments for lockfast rods (such as rod retrieval tools). I have wasted many hours of my life fishing out lost universal drain rods for people who purchased them but were not quite sure how to use them or tried using them for jobs beyond their capabilities. Drain clearance companies charge a lot for extracting rods people lose down drains.

Any decent builders/plumbers merchants will have lockfast rods for sale or you can buy them online if it's more convenient, diy chains may try to convince you the universal rods they tend to sell are the same thing because they won't know the difference themselves.

Thank you, Frugal Shopper. I had no idea of the differnt types of rods. As usual, it's a matter of what I can afford, but it's very useful information indeed.
Have tried hosepipe down loo, but still no joy..so have put down heavy-duty drain cleaner, which is 'doing it's stuff' as we speak.
I'm not holding my breath for a clear loo tho..and i can still smell an odour emanating from the outside inspection drain.

Fingers crossed!

Ash_McCloud

Doesn't sound to me like you have a blockage.

The black sludge/water below the pipes needs clearing out from time to time to prevent the level rising above the inlets/outlets and causing a blockage. It's a messy job, gloves, trowel, shovel, or you can buy a proper scoop for it. If you haven't been clearing this out periodically it will be causing a smell, it's rotting matter.

It'll do no harm to buy draining rods and have a poke about down there every now and again, it'll clear blockages before they become a problem, and you can pull out any tree roots that might enter the pipes whilst they're still small.

Jolaaled

Ash_McCloud wrote: »

Doesn't sound to me like you have a blockage.

The black sludge/water below the pipes needs clearing out from time to time to prevent the level rising above the inlets/outlets and causing a blockage. It's a messy job, gloves, trowel, shovel, or you can buy a proper scoop for it. If you haven't been clearing this out periodically it will be causing a smell, it's rotting matter.

It'll do no harm to buy draining rods and have a poke about down there every now and again, it'll clear blockages before they become a problem, and you can pull out any tree roots that might enter the pipes whilst they're still small.

The inspection drain hole doesn't look blocked, as the water level is just below the inlet pipes..but I will clear it out, as it is giving off a smell..maybe the hot weather has made it all much smellier!
However, the loo is definitely not behaving...I pull the flush, then there is rather dramatic gurgling, over filling with water and water splashing up and out through the bath plughole, as the flush water makes it's way down. Am hoping that drain cleaner will work to cure this.
THanks!

ormus

have you checked the flow thro the chamber whilst someone else flushes the loo?
you may have a blockage between the loo and the chamber.


ps
try pouring some milk in the loo, itll act as a telltale sign, in the chamber.

Jolaaled

ormus wrote: »

have you checked the flow thro the chamber whilst someone else flushes the loo?
you may have a blockage between the loo and the chamber.


ps
try pouring some milk in the loo, itll act as a telltale sign, in the chamber.

Excellent idea...i'll let the drain cleaner sit in the loo for a bit long, then try your idea.

Gosh..if hte block is between the loo and chamber, will rods be able to go round all the drainpipe corners between the 2??

ormus

drain rods will only go around 90 degree bends, not sharp elbows. or traps.
you may need a drain wire for that job. or remove the loo.

you could try the old mop trick down the loo first.
or maybe the drain blaster gun?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001C7MYD6/ref=asc_df_B001C7MYD62755385?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&!!!!!googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001C7MYD6