Fish smelling shower

deece1

Hi forum members,

I am really getting worried about my shower (the only toilet/shower in my 2 bed flat). A couple of days ago I noticed a fishy smell coming from the shower waste, so I cleaned it out (there was lots of hair) but the smell only got worst. I then made the mistake of putting a small amount of bleach in the shower drain (I later read you shouldn’t put bleach in the shower drain!!!) in and it hasn’t got any better.

I bought the property this year. It is a Victorian house split into flats and was completely renovated five years ago.

I don’t know what trade person I should call out or if I should try to fix this on my own? I am really worried this could turn out to be very costly and I am a single mum on a tight budget.

I would appreciate any help.

Many thanks.

Deece1

Alnat1

Drains don't usually smell fishy but I guess that depends what's stuck down there.

Is this an electric shower? I remember in a previous house when the bathroom smelled fishy. It was the wiring in the box for the shower's on/off switch. This one was on the ceiling with a pull cord, Could this be your problem?

Alnat1

If it it definitely the drain, try some of that unblocker liquid, we used the Lidl one on bathroom sink and it did the job.

diystarter7

cold it be the U bend/trap not holding enough water at times and leaving a gap a smell travelling through the gap/vent?
Does anyone have a car in the building as they could be allowing it to pee in the shower and you are getting the smells if trap/u bending is leaving little gaps after you have showered?

I feel for you and as i post i feel like throwing up.

bbat

I've used those long brushes to get hair out and unblockers left to soak for a while the  rinsed through with boiling water. As Alnat1 has said, if shower is electric and the smell is happening when shower in use its possible its electrics. I kept wondering what a fish smell was in my kitchen for ages. Turned out one of the sockets was a problem. 

Emmia

diystarter7 said:

Does anyone have a car in the building as they could be allowing it to pee in the shower and you are getting the smells if trap/u bending is leaving little gaps after you have showered?

I feel for you and as i post i feel like throwing up.

Do you mean a cat?

Megaross

Soda crystals down the drain and see where you get to

chrisw

deece1 said:

I then made the mistake of putting a small amount of bleach in the shower drain (I later read you shouldn’t put bleach in the shower drain!!!) in and it hasn’t got any better.

? There's no problem putting bleach down the shower drain, unless maybe you're on a septic tank.

diystarter7

Sorry, I did mean a cat.

mandy47

Plumber in our family says there's no problem with putting bleach in a shower drain. He says mix half a bottle of bleach in half a bucket of hot water. Pour it down last thing at night and leave it. Hopefully the bleach will do it's work all along the pipe. Works with baths, sinks  and outside drains as well.    

ryan7

As someone mentioned, if its an electric shower check the wiring.

You should not be getting a fish type smell from the drain. Gassy, unpleasant - Yes. Not fishy. 

What type of shower do you have?