Drains Smelling

Looking for information or help in the field of DIY and home improvement. Post your questions, suggestions and comments here.
User avatar
costakid
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 5754
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:55 am
Location: malaga este

Drains Smelling

Postby costakid » Sun Oct 29, 2017 7:45 am

We have just returned after 3 weeks in the UK. Our main bathroom drain is really smelly. I have tried pouring bleach down the plug holes in the bath, Bday and sink but it is lingering. We have had this before when the 1st rains have arrived while we were away. The kitchen, utility and 2nd bathroom are fine. Any clues on what to pour down there to clear the odour?

BENIDORM
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 3982
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:15 pm
Location: Granada Province

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby BENIDORM » Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:08 am

Good Morning Costakid,
Smelly drains always seem to have been a problem in Spain,but there are many products available to help, Mercadona have a good range.
However we have found that the best method is to continue using bleach, the 'thick bleach' seems to work best and use a good quality air freshener and or joss sticks ( incense sticks), until it has cleared.

If you live in an apartment it does seem to take longer to deal with....

And may I wish you a happy and fragrant day... :wave:
Regards,
Gordon...

wollie
Resident
Posts: 1031
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:53 pm

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby wollie » Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:30 am

It will likely disappear in a day or two, there is a utype bend (not unlike what we have under the sink but larger) outside each property.
This pipe is full of water under normal circumstances so therefore the smells cannot get back up the pipe. When a property is not being used the pipe dried out, this may be your problem.

northandsouth
Resident
Posts: 458
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:00 pm
Location: Casares

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby northandsouth » Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:23 am

Remember to check the bota sifonica in the bathroom, under a circular stainless cap. This is the water trap in between the grey water pipes from basins, bath, shower, bidet and the main soil pipe. If this dries out smells will travel back and indeed if it's windy outside smells can be forced back. It's there because normally u bends aren't fitted under baths and showers because there is no access to them for cleaning & maintenance. Check the rubber seals are good and clean use some petroleum jelly on them when reassembling. And make sure that the wc is sealed properly around it's base to the floor tiles, not unknown for smells to waft up from under there too particularly on windy days.

User avatar
spanish_lad
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 6218
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:13 pm
Location: Alhaurin el Grande since 99, cartama campo since 2022

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby spanish_lad » Fri Nov 03, 2017 2:27 pm

If you have a sceptic tank (pozo) don't ever use bleach...
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

ashtondav
Resident
Posts: 1776
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:10 pm
Location: Northampton Frigiliana/Nerja

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby ashtondav » Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:10 pm

Absolutely. Never use bleach if you have a septic tank. Mercadona sell a tube freshener. The problem is that in good old Spain u tubes try out and quite often there is no u tube so you get smells. Flush clean water down and a cleaner. BUT NO BLEACH for septic tanks. If you do have a septic tank and you get pongs use fosa septica from mercadona. It gets those little bacteria chewing the crud like nobody's business. Flush it down the loo and relax.

User avatar
Enrique
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 9488
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:47 am
Location: Mytchett/Alcala La Real

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby Enrique » Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:23 pm

Hi ashtondav,

"Flush it down the loo and relax."...........are you a Life Coach........ :?:
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

El Cid
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 16058
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada

Re: Drains Smelling

Postby El Cid » Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:46 pm

ashtondav wrote:Absolutely. Never use bleach if you have a septic tank.
From a septic tank advice site.

Chlorine bleach in moderate amounts isn’t as bad for a septic system as you may have heard. But even a little drain cleaner may be . One study found that it took nearly two gallons of liquid bleach but only about a teaspoon of chemical drain cleaner to kill the beneficial bacteria in a septic tank.

Moderation in all things but don’t use drain cleaner - dangerous stuff!

Sid


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests