House advice

shoebp12

Hi dont know if anyone can help me, recently my drains were playing water would drain slowly, so i thought id try vinegar baking soda i never told my mrs so she put bleach or just general cleaning products(CIF etc) since then 3/4 weeks back when we go in their we start coughing, theirs a really wierd smell ive had the window open since 4 weeks, tried draining water through but still smell hasnt gone away and i start coughing in their. any advice what I can do to sort it out. Thanks

oddman

shoebp12 wrote: »

Hi dont know if anyone can help me, recently my drains were playing water would drain slowly, so i thought id try vinegar baking soda i never told my mrs so she put bleach or just general cleaning products(CIF etc) since then 3/4 weeks back when we go in their we start coughing, theirs a really wierd smell ive had the window open since 4 weeks, tried draining water through but still smell hasnt gone away and i start coughing in their. any advice what I can do to sort it out. Thanks

Anything that makes you cough isnt gonna be good for you - in this case you're inhaling Chlorine which definately isnt good for you!

Firstly I would flush copious amounts of water down it (which it sounds like you've tried). If that doesnt work it's likely that your drain is still blocked. since you've said the plural 'drains', its seems likely that the blockage is not local to a particular fitting (i.e. bath, sink) but is further down the drain. If that's the case there are a few options:
1) chemical unblocker but given what has gone in there already I wouldnt attempt to DIY anything else.
2) it's a long shot but try a plunger...and as you do it fill the sink/bath with a a bit of water so you can create a vacuum.
3) get a flexible rod down there (you can buy special plumbers ones or try to fashion one yourself) to clear the blockage.

How easy number 3 is really depends on where the blockage is and your pipes set up....e.g. there may be access points fitted that can be opened up.

Obviously during any of the above, you need to make sure you're not inhaling lethal doses of some nasty chlorine compound...gas mask perhaps?

foreign_correspondent

I'd use boiling water and something to poke at the blockage... with all the windows open! ..mixing household cleaning products (eg ammonia plus bleach) can create dangerous gases!

mazza111

Sounds like you have a definite blockage, and no can't get near it because it's giving off chlorine gas because of the mixing of bleach with other products. Plenty of ventilation and tackle the drains with a snake or something similar.

When you say the drain, is it beyond the sinks? Couldn't just be a blocked trap?

gibson123

it may be obvious but wear a mask and gloves when doing this.

shoebp12

Hi all ive tried the boiling water down bthroom sink and bathroom, who would i call to sort this out any suggestions and rough costs. the smell is still there and as soon as i go in bathroomi start coughing Thanks

DevCoder

Any drain unblocking company

Costs would be about £50-100 in my experience

As well as gloves and mask also wear eye protection, I've seen the results of chemical drain cleaner getting into eyes before. Not pretty.