Drain Smell

[cameliaheartfelt]

Our downstairs loo has been smelling of drains since last night, i think it's coming from the sink. It rained really heavily last night, we haven't been at home much in the past 2 weeks and the sink hasn't been used much in that time.
I ran the water quite fast today and the water in the toilet bowl was bubbling as i did this. What does this mean? Ive looked outside, no sign of drains overflowing or flooding.

[bhg481]

Have you taken the covers off the outside drains and had a proper look? The last time we had those symptoms it was a blocked drain in our neighbour's garden.

[gingejbee]

I agree with bhg...there doesn't need to be visible overflowing or flooding. You need to lift a chamber cover and look inside...you may find that the chamber is half full because of a blockage on it's outlet.

[cameliaheartfelt]

Im not capable of lifting it, should i call the water board in case rain has caused a blockage?

[diddlydo]

Don't call the water board unless you're prepared for a large bill. Can't you get a friend or neighbour to lift the manhole cover for you?

[Garaman]

It sounds like the trap, or U'bend on your sink is partially blocked. This is normally quite easy to remove and clean, but if it isn't you could try using a plunger to clear it.

The trap doesn't need to be fully blocked to cause a smell, once you have anything like an accumulation of hair reaching the top of the water in the trap it will pass smells into the room.

[bhg481]

That doesn't explain the toilet bowl bubbling.

[Garaman]

Yes, sorry, I didn't absorb that second para properly, my mistake.

The drain outside can't cause smells from your sink though, or from your toilet, if there is water in the traps.

[bhg481]

and if the drain is blocked and you flush the toilet you'll have 2 gallons of water all over the floor.

[bhg481]

Garaman - yes it can. The rotting matter in the drain produces methane which bubbles up through the U-bends.

[Garaman]

Then I stand corrected.

[cameliaheartfelt]

Im on my lonesome til Wednesday and don't know anyone to help. The downstairs loo is at the front of the house, no drain cover on front garden. There is one on the garden belonging to the apartments adjoining and a big one in the road outside my house. I gave a sink plunger somewhere in the garage i think. Toilet is flushing ok and the sink is emptying ok, it was just when i ran tge tap really fast that the water bubbled and burped in the bowl.

[bhg481]

We're the last of three houses which drain into the road ie, we're the one furthest away from the road. On the two occasions we've had problems there has been something not completely blocking the drain but just preventing water running away as quickly as usual (we suspected nappies on one occasion). This resulted in water collecting in the drain rather than running away immediately, so we had the bubbling and the smell. It did drain slowly, so no overflowing; if you can minimise your water usage until Wednesday you will probably be OK - quick showers, only flush solids and every third wee etc.
I've never called out "professionals", so I can't help with costs of Water Board/Dyno Rod etc.

[Islay]

get some bicarb of soda and some white vinegar, pour the bicarb down the sink pushing it down as far as it will go, pour half a bottle of vinegar down it and leave for 30 mins. Then pour some boiling water down it to rinse it out and see if it helps.

[bhg481]

Have you managed to sort out your problem?