Sewer smell from toilet.

googler

Put the plug in the basin, stuff a cloth into (or cover) the overflow on the basin, and cover the drain on the shower (make it airtight if you can).

Flush toilet. Any smell? If not, uncover shower drain, get close to it and have a good sniff at it. This will tell you if you've lost your water in the water trap there. If so -

Short-term, temporary fix is to keep a big jug of water close by. After flushing the toilet, pour enough water into the shower drain to refill the water trap.

adandem

When we had this problem there was a very small gap between the toilet and the seal into the sewer pipe.
We spent ages plunging plug holes etc.but as soon as we replaced the seal the smell disappeared.

shaun_from_Africa

There is a very simple test that you can do to confirm that cyclonebri1's theory is correct (and I'm sure that it is).


Totally dry off the area around the shower plug hole and put something like a pen or pencil on each side of the hole.
Place a piece of tissue on the pens so that it is resting just above the hole.
Then flush the toilet whilst watching the tissue.
If the water trap in the shower outlet pipe isn't adequate (or is totally non existent), the tissue will be sucked downwards by the waste flow from the toilet.

Rileybaby

Thank you cyclonebri1 & Shaun from Africa - if it is she shower trap what needs to be done?

Adandem - I may just replace the seal anyway that may well be the cheapest option first to rule out! Any tips??

southcoastrgi

Did you remove the pan from the connector when it was resealed to the floor ? If you did it will never reseal, whenever you remove a pan the multiquik/pan connector should be replaced, if you still get the smell I bet you have a durgo/air admittance valve on the soil stack which is prob faulty

kinger101

Who fitted this bathroom? Your other thread on the electrics and ceiling suggests a DIY or cowboy job.

Rileybaby

Kinger101 the biggest cowboy there was!! I've used a fair few trades man n the past few years, whilst some have done the job hey were paid well for the majority seem to have ripped me off the only reason I can see for this is being a single girl but that may be just be my thinking!!

kinger101

Did you complain? Have you paid? If they're done electrical work on the bathroom incorrectly, I'd notify trading standards.

Rileybaby

kinger101 wrote: »

Did you complain? Have you paid? If they're done electrical work on the bathroom incorrectly, I'd notify trading standards.

I paid as at the start all appeared fine! Unfortunately they have since ceased trading so no one to complain to. I've only realised this week that the lights are not bathroom compliant - looks like he used whatever he had in his van!

Rileybaby

Well - it appears that the smell was the shower trap. I bleached it and used some hair dissolver which appears to have done the trick! No more smell :-)

Thanks for all your help guys.