Help Please! Sewer gas

[lambpie]

For 5-6 weeks we have had a horrific smell of sever gas coming from the hallway and under the stairs. House it a 1950's ex council Semi with single bathroom upstairs above the hall. Waste vent pipe is boxed in and runs down the corner of the hall. There is a Manhole right on front of the house where ours and next door (attached) enter the drain along with houses further up the street. This is clear. There is no sign of water damage anywhere. Loo flushes OK as and bath drains properly.

The smell is very intermittent and also affects next door but not at the same time as us. It seems worse in the evening. It is worse from where the skirting board is on the bottom of the stairs.

1st thought was the vent pipe was blocked causing a vacuum which empties the P trap and sucked the gasses in. As when I empty the bath v v slowly it does not smell but if I put a lot of water down it is worse.

The vent pipe goes out trough the roof. I have been up there and got a rod to the bottom with a rod but did not try and force it into the sewer. I also put down some acid. The pipe seemed completely clear? I put the jet wash down as well just to make sure. The water came out the bottom but not that fast.

When in the manhole cover of next door flushes the loo the water comes down with huge speed in next doors pipe only. When we flush the loo or run the bath it comes down much slower but in both pipes?? We do have one of those reduced water loo's but I can’t understand why it would come down next doors and ours?

We contacted the insurance company who instructed someone to put up a camera but he did it from the wrong manhole cover and would not do it from the one where the vent drains into he did it from the 1 down in the gain and when into this chamber. I guess he was not allowed to do anymore because he left to write a report?

Yesterday after I looked at the vent the smell was gone but I still don’t think I have fixed it because this morning it was back although not very strong.

Any ideas would be most welcome as I can really do without an expensive bill at the moment and with a newborn baby I don’t need a house that smells of sewage.

Cheers

Chris

 

[Winston]

Its going to be a bit difficult them writing a report if they have put the cam down the wrong drain. I would think that the pipe has collapsed. If this is the case it can be repaired with little disruption by contracters who have equipment to line the pipe work. Wait for the report from your insurance company but also explain that the wrong drain has been inspected.

 

[Puddle]

Sounds like a joint has come away or the drain pipework has cracked maybe due to a bit of movement, you could lift a floor board were soil pipe goes below ground However you first task is to ring the insurance company up again, explain as you have here, that the camera man did not check the right drain work, maybe he was given the wrong information and told there was a possible communal blockage
Anyway explain again, do not go into next door drains to much as they seem ok and it may confuse matters, but do make the point that you have a baby in the house and the health visitor is very concerned about the situation and believe there could be a major health problem with the drain below your property and request a camera to be run through this section

 

[lambpie]

Thanks or your help.

I will phone the insurance company (churchill) again and find out what is going on. I suspect I will end up arguing with them as when I 1st called he said that I would be covered for any damage outside the house but not in it and not for anything that is under the footings of the house?

I find this very strange you would think it would be the other way around if anything. I have searched thier terms and conditions and find only

Items covered: Water or oil escaping from any fixed water or heating
installation, including underground drains and pipes, or from
any domestic appliance.

The other thing I find strange is that it can leak into next doors pipe? I would have thought it would be seperate?​

 

[Winston]

That part of your terms and conditions would in my opinion imply you are covered for internal damage. The specialist contracts can actually repair often without digging up floors and so on.

They basicall have a system very much like a large inner tube which they place into the drain and fill with compressed air. They then pump in a resin which over a period of 30 minutes forms round the external side of the inner tube creating a sleeve. they then deflate the inner tube and remove and you in effect have a pipe without the crack/damage.

You should also as advised on get in contact with your insurance company as the fumes are not healthy for any one let alone a new baby whos immune system is still developing.

 

[Bernie2]

Hmm!

What a puzzle?

To check its your drains, try a bit of fluorescent drain dye down your loo and watch where it comes out in the access chamber. Also scent test with anything smelly, drop in manhole and smell in house. Smoke test if not plastic drains. Light smoke bomb block drain outlet then investigate.

May help you understand a bit more about where the leak is likely to be and a lot cheaper than a camera.

 

[Winston]

Please accept my apologies bobpage if I have mis informed someone I didnt realise it would cause offence 🙄