Gas smell - Not GAS!!

evansmummy

Hello,

We've been having a smell of gas in our cellar for the past few weeks which comes and goes on a daily basis.
The gas board have been out and although they have been getting readings they say they have tested it and it's not their gas. They have advised us to contact environmental health as it's sewer gas!
The council are trying to pass the buck too.
I've also contacted the water board and he said contact the gas board. :eek:
I'm totally getting to the end of my tether with this whole thing.

Could anyone shed any light on whether they've come across something similar?

HappyMJ

evansmummy wrote: »

Hello,

We've been having a smell of gas in our cellar for the past few weeks which comes and goes on a daily basis.
The gas board have been out and although they have been getting readings they say they have tested it and it's not their gas. They have advised us to contact environmental health as it's sewer gas!
The council are trying to pass the buck too.
I've also contacted the water board and he said contact the gas board. :eek:
I'm totally getting to the end of my tether with this whole thing.

Could anyone shed any light on whether they've come across something similar?

Have you written a letter or spoken with environmental health at the council? They will help. If it's sewer gas which is likely then you need to figure out who is responsible for it and get them to fix it or you fix it yourself.

macman

It's methane from the drain or soil stack. If it's from your own drain then it's your problem, nothing to do with your water utility (the 'water board' has not existed since the 1980's). If it's coming back from the main sewer then the water utility need to be informed-tell them it is not from the mains gas supply. It may be getting back due to a fault in your own drains though.
Since methane is lighter than air, it's likely not falling into your cellar, but rising up into it possibly.

Canucklehead

evansmummy wrote: »

Hello,

We've been having a smell of gas in our cellar for the past few weeks which comes and goes on a daily basis.



The gas board have been out and although they have been getting readings they say they have tested it and it's not their gas. They have advised us to contact environmental health as it's sewer gas!
The council are trying to pass the buck too.
I've also contacted the water board and he said contact the gas board. :eek:
I'm totally getting to the end of my tether with this whole thing.

Could anyone shed any light on whether they've come across something similar?

The chemical Mercaptan is added to natural gas to make a detectable smell.

Given that methane is odourless, how did you smell it?

Therefore I would suggest it is a gas leak, but possibly from the main in the street and it's permeating through the ground into your cellar.

Do any neighbours have this smell?

Do you have any drains (gully) in the cellar?

Do you know where the drains run from your house?

Smoke bomb test to your drains might reveal something.

GSR.