New build house smell

[Dobson]

Hi, we just moved to a new build. There is a dreadful 'sewer' smell in the house. No outside soil stack. AAV is sited behind bath panel in family bathroom upstairs. Had this replaced as plumber thought may be faulty, no change in smell. We are one of three houses and there is a joint pump station to the main sewer. There doesn't appear to be a vent on the pumping station, should there be? I have read advice and put all the plugs in downstairs sinks and covered with water to form a seal. This does seem to have stopped smell but obviously not answer to problem. Can't get builder to take notice! PLEASE can anyone advise what the problem could be.

 

[Dobson]

Drains are indeed smellier when not all houses have an open soil and vent pipe, and where lots of houses use them, but the point is that if the traps are there and working and all pipework is airtight then the foul air in the pipework should not be able to escape into the building.

30ft away and you are still blaming the sink? You must have a large house! But speaking seriously, if it's that far away, I'd be more inclined to suspect a leaking joint in the waste pipework somewhere (perhaps under the floor?) rather than a trap at 30' distance. Would recommend a plumber be called to carry out a pressure test (it's not a high pressure, but it'll tell you if there is a duff joint somewhere) of your waste plumbing (which you'd have hoped would have been done already seeing as it's a newbuild).

How would they find the pipe if there was a duff one? We have under floor heating and ceramic tiles. His has been very helpful thanks.

 

[king of pipes]

You can smoke test drains have a look on you tube . Kop

 

[Dobson]

You can smoke test drains have a look on you tube . Kop

Thanks, will do

 

[cjg]

off the point iknow, but a socket under sink is a no no for me, if you ever get a leak. (puff)

 

[Dobson]

off the point iknow, but a socket under sink is a no no for me, if you ever get a leak. (puff)

Thanks for the thought, will bring it up with builder....if EVER we see him. Unplugged sink and let water out after 3 days of no smell...and its back. It starts with an edgy light smell turning to intermittant disgusting one. It's so frustrating, we are not plumbers or builders and bought a new build to avoid problems. I have researched so much but feel I am going in circles. Thanks for your input.

 

[cjg]

grey pipe on lhs in photo, waste pipe from ? its not stale water in it thats the cause ? just a thought.

 

[Chester]

Thanks for the thought, will bring it up with builder....if EVER we see him. Unplugged sink and let water out after 3 days of no smell...and its back. It starts with an edgy light smell turning to intermittant disgusting one. It's so frustrating, we are not plumbers or builders and bought a new build to avoid problems. I have researched so much but feel I am going in circles. Thanks for your input.

Stand by the kitchem sink and get somebody to let a full bath water run out or flush the toilet and run the basin, use the upstairs appliances, you should be able to hear if you listen to the plug hole of the kitchen sink gurgling or bubbling. New builds shouldn't have the need for anti vac traps, it's obviously badly designed.

 

[Dobson]

grey pipe on lhs in photo, waste pipe from ? its not stale water in it thats the cause ? just a thought.

Thanks for reply. The grey flexvpipe is the dishwasher, regularly used. Is the pipe not correct? The smell is so awful, don't think it could be just stale water but am willing to think of anything. Next door (also new built at same time) has similar problem but in main bathroom.

 

[Dobson]

Stand by the kitchem sink and get somebody to let a full bath water run out or flush the toilet and run the basin, use the upstairs appliances, you should be able to hear if you listen to the plug hole of the kitchen sink gurgling or bubbling. New builds shouldn't have the need for anti vac traps, it's obviously badly designed.

Thanks, will try that. So if we hear gurgling in kitchen sink, does that mean that air is being drawn out of that trap? Sorry to be thick but This is so confusing....

 

[Dobson]

Thanks, will try that. So if we hear gurgling in kitchen sink, does that mean that air is being drawn out of that trap? Sorry to be thick but This is so confusing.***

I meant water drawn out.

 

[Dobson]

off the point iknow, but a socket under sink is a no no for me, if you ever get a leak. (puff)

Will bring that up with the plumber.....if I ever see him!! Thanks

 

[Dobson]

You can smoke test drains have a look on you tube . Kop

So, filled bath & sink, pulled plugs and flushed toilet at same time. No gurgling from kitchen sink but a VERY loud gurgling from bath overflow, is that normal?

 

[Dobson]

grey pipe on lhs in photo, waste pipe from ? its not stale water in it thats the cause ? just a thought.

We have just heard through the grapevine that the builder intends to 'vent' the pump station tank. Do you think that is the problem?

 

[Dobson]

Might be a design fault where the water is being sucked out of a trap somewhere,
Block overflow and put plug in one item at a time to try and isolate which it may be.

We think its coming from the kitchen sink, we did as you suggested and when unplugged kitchen sink the smell came back but its intermittent but its disgusting smell. We now have heard through the grapevine that the builder intends to put a vent onto holding tank next door. Apparently it was suggested by the Building control inspector (agent from the local council) that this may be the problem. What do you think? Any suggestion will be welcome, its really getting us down!

 

[king of pipes]

Fit a additional hepvo trap for the short term that way your sealing off from the drains worth a try. Regards kop

 

[Basher]

We have just heard through the grapevine that the builder intends to 'vent' the pump station tank. Do you think that is the problem?

It's possible that an open vent will help. Building regs say that a foul drainage system should have an open vent to atmosphere (as in soil stack) somewhere to relieve positive pressure.

AAV's only deal with allowing air into the system to avoid water in traps being sucked out. They don't help in the event of a higher pressure in the drain system (possibly created by the pumping station) that could push foul air through a shallow trap.

 

[Dobson]

Fit a additional hepvo trap for the short term that way your sealing off from the drains worth a try. Regards kop

Sorry to sound daft but what is that and how would that help? I do appreciate the help.

 

[king of pipes]

Not really what they are designed for but would solve your problem short term if this is getting you down ?? Kop

 

[Scott_D]

What about employing a 3rd party plumber or new build snagging company to investigate.

 

[Dobson]

What about employing a 3rd party plumber or new build snagging company to investigate.

Thanks for reply. Do you think that would negate our builder guarantee, we are concerned not to upset him! Silly maybe but we still have things need doing.