Sewer smell from underneath the floorboards (a mystery challenge of sorts)

[Hackneyed]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I have a slightly unusual problem that I wanted to see if anyone else had ever experienced (or had any ideas about).

I live in (and own) a top floor flat in a 5-story block that was built in 2008. Ever since I moved in (I was the first one in) there's been an intermittent suspicious smell (usually a stale, slightly 'sour' smell but sometimes sulphurous too - sewery I guess) emanating from somewhere that I haven't been able to determine. I am sure it's not coming from the kitchen sink or the bathroom though (the obvious ones to check). Lately the smell has become even stronger, and yesterday, as I was hoovering, I seemed to move through 'pillars' of the stuff as I was moving through the living room.

The only thing I can imagine it being is my own (and possibly the next door neighbour's) sewage pipes, which I presume run beneath the floor boards. This would indicate that the joints between the pipes aren't sealing properly and sewer is leaking.

The construction method used is a modern concrete frame, thus the floor is solid concrete with laminate flooring on top. It should also be noted that even if the smell seems to rise from the floor in random places I can't be sure of where the sewer pipes run (without ripping up the floor).

Has anyone come across this type of problem before? And if so, is there anything to do about it short of tearing up the whole floor and dismantling the sewage system?


I'd be very grateful for any input from you guys!

Thomas

 

[Dotty]

I was going to suggest that you have a corpse, mouse or rat, but if the floor is a concrete slab it rules that out.

Have you had a chat with the neighbour immediately below you?

If there's a break in any pipework there could be damp in similar spots on their ceilings.

 

[Hackneyed]

Hey, thanks for responding.

I haven't had a chat with the neighbour below, but I will in the new year (thanks). In the meantime I'll flush through some One-shot (might be futile but might make it a little better for the moment).

Cheers!

 

[Dotty]

NO! DON'T!

If you do have a leak the very last thing you want is acid sloshing around everywhere!

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I'd be surprised to find any drainage run in concrete flooring or bisons, it should be vertical stacks running straight up the building then terminating through the roof.
You might have a stuck Air Admittance Valve at the end of a drainage run somwhere? If there was a break in the drainage someone below would have been banging on the door by now i reckon.

 

[Hackneyed]

AT:croppie - thanks for the heads up, will refrain. :/

AT:IDCHAPPY - Thanks for your input. I know what you mean, that would have made a lot more sense from a construction pov. but since it seems like there's a smell rising from what appears to be in the middle of the floor, it's the best I can think of. And if corpses would have been put in the concrete by the builders, I would have imagined they'd be dry (and smell free) by now.

The case continues.

 

[Hackneyed]

Bump!

 

[zzzjim]

On windy days , one of my traps looses its water
( can then hear noises -thru offending trap - of rest of plumbing )
Long term - re plumb - short term ... pour 1/2 pint of water in bath/where-ever + plug in !

 

[Hackneyed]

Test to see if still blocked

 

[t_plumb]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I have a slightly unusual problem that I wanted to see if anyone else had ever experienced (or had any ideas about).

I live in (and own) a top floor flat in a 5-story block that was built in 2008. Ever since I moved in (I was the first one in) there's been an intermittent suspicious smell (usually a stale, slightly 'sour' smell but sometimes sulphurous too - sewery I guess) emanating from somewhere that I haven't been able to determine. I am sure it's not coming from the kitchen sink or the bathroom though (the obvious ones to check). Lately the smell has become even stronger, and yesterday, as I was hoovering, I seemed to move through 'pillars' of the stuff as I was moving through the living room.

The only thing I can imagine it being is my own (and possibly the next door neighbour's) sewage pipes, which I presume run beneath the floor boards. This would indicate that the joints between the pipes aren't sealing properly and sewer is leaking.

The construction method used is a modern concrete frame, thus the floor is solid concrete with laminate flooring on top. It should also be noted that even if the smell seems to rise from the floor in random places I can't be sure of where the sewer pipes run (without ripping up the floor).

Has anyone come across this type of problem before? And if so, is there anything to do about it short of tearing up the whole floor and dismantling the sewage system?
Y

I'd be very grateful for any input from you guys!

Thomas

hi I have recently been called to a similar job. A stale sewer smell coming from somewhere in the bathroom, I managed to get the shower tray up finding that the shower waste was just poking into a 4" pipe, not terminated properly with a boss, letting stale smells escape. A simple fix, bought a proper boss and terminated the shower waste into it stopping and smell leaking out. Also make sure your traps on either the shower/ bath or basin haven't been left to Dry out. Another thing could be you have soil stacks that are boxed in in your flat, if so chances are you have an air admittance valve. This could be faulty letting sewer smells escape. I would say you haven't got a leak, you would of seen by now. Must be something simple.
Tom

 

[zzzjim]

Test to see if still blocked

For my 1/2 pint ..250ml remedy was for filling any sink / drain traps /ubends

Do you suspect a partial blockage ?
If something is slow draining needs sorting ,
As blocakges are great at preventing normal ventialtion ..pushing stinky gas back up when water is poured down , normally with a gurgle unless small cracks/holes present on top .

 

[brisbaneplumber]

There will be an open pipe below the floor acting as a vent. Need to find it and fit an AAV (studor)