New build house smell

[gmartine]

If all three houses suffer from the same problem it seems likely it'll relate to the pumping station. Flush some septic tank treatment down the toilet (preferably when nearer empty than full) and see if it delays the stink some.

 

[Dobson]

If all three houses suffer from the same problem it seems likely it'll relate to the pumping station. Flush some septic tank treatment down the toilet (preferably when nearer empty than full) and see if it delays the stink some.

Thank you for your reply. All 3 houses have same problem to a degree but we are worse effected. We are the highest property. The pumping station pumps to main drain so should I still put septic tank treatment down? Should the 'holding' tank be ventilated? Had a look and there is no ventilation at all. A tank in the ground and next to it a green metal box which has a hole in the top but nothing attached to the hole, looked into the hole and there is no vent. I really appreciate your knowledge and help, thanks.

 

[exedon2]

Has any of the 3 properties got a vent pipe properly terminated (ie 800mm above any opening window) on it ?
.

 

[king of pipes]

OK, good idea. You say its a short term fix, does that mean they cant stay on and do I need one for each sink/bath/mashing machine/etc?

They can stay but it far better to have em fitted from the start put one one the outlet from kitchen sink waste to start with if you're DIY handy there nothing to difficult , I'm just saying try it the easiest way which will be on the outlet pipe to the drain

 

[Dobson]

Has any of the 3 properties got a vent pipe properly terminated (ie 800mm above any opening window) on it ?
.

Thanks for reply. No, none of us have an external vent of any sort. We all just have AAV's sited behind the family bath panel. The plumber originally changed ours thinking it must be faulty but it made no difference to the smell. We did think it would have been a coincidence that all three had faulty AAV's.

 

[exedon2]

That's main cause of problem what sort of a idiot would do that?
Against building regs as well at least one property has to have drains vented.
Probably saved £100 per dwelling and caused endless problems!

 

[Dobson]

That's main cause of problem what sort of a idiot would do that?
Against building regs as well at least one property has to have drains vented.
Probably saved £100 per dwelling and caused endless problems!

Thank you! We have been trying to get info on the drainage but its impossible from the builder. We are also trying to get info from the Agent who on behalf of the building control at the council did (?) the final checks. So far this hasn't happened. We dont know about these things but always felt there should be a vent somewhere. Should this be on the holding tank at the pump station to the main drain. We have never lived in a house without an outside soil stack. Are AAV's not enough?

 

[exedon2]

AAV'S are exactly what they say air admittance valves .
Drains need venting to clear any dangerous buildups of gasses if nothing else.
Methane,carbon monoxide , hydrogen sulphide are just some of possible nasties.
I've worked on pumped sewage systems each manufacturer has it's own instructions.
I still do a certain amount of new build so know somebody has issued a final certificate .Private building inspector seem to be favoured route of many small developers.

 

[hometech]

Experienced this for 4 years in a house that was a self build. Finnaly plucked up the courage to investigate fearing the worse and began dismantlement boxed-in pipes. There was an internal stack with an external vent. Replaced with durgo..smell fixed. Must have been a self certifying plumber as building control would never have allowed it

 

[hometech]

AAV'S are exactly what they say air admittance valves .
Drains need venting to clear any dangerous buildups of gasses if nothing else.
Methane,carbon monoxide , hydrogen sulphide are just some of possible nasties.
I've worked on pumped sewage systems each manufacturer has it's own instructions.
I still do a certain amount of new build so know somebody has issued a final certificate .Private building inspector seem to be favoured route of many small developers.

hydrogen sulphide gas onto copper cold inside a warm underfloor area = blacked pipes...DHW pipes were uneffected.

 

[Dobson]

AAV'S are exactly what they say air admittance valves .
Drains need venting to clear any dangerous buildups of gasses if nothing else.
Methane,carbon monoxide , hydrogen sulphide are just some of possible nasties.
I've worked on pumped sewage systems each manufacturer has it's own instructions.
I still do a certain amount of new build so know somebody has issued a final certificate .Private building inspector seem to be favoured route of many small developers.

That all sounds like it could be our answer, thank you so much. So do you think a vent on the tank or a vent on the house is the best answer?

AAV'S are exactly what they say air admittance valves .
Drains need venting to clear any dangerous buildups of gasses if nothing else.
Methane,carbon monoxide , hydrogen sulphide are just some of possible nasties.
I've worked on pumped sewage systems each manufacturer has it's own instructions.
I still do a certain amount of new build so know somebody has issued a final certificate .Private building inspector seem to be favoured route of many small developers.

 

[exedon2]

I've been involved with building drainage for over 50 years (also where my higher qualifications are) the drains should be vented at there highest point . A combined soil and vent pipe is perfectly acceptable.
As this problem affects all the properties I would suggest you get together to put pressure on builder to get it sorted.

 

[Dobson]

I've been involved with building drainage for over 50 years (also where my higher qualifications are) the drains should be vented at there highest point . A combined soil and vent pipe is perfectly acceptable.
As this problem affects all the properties I would suggest you get together to put pressure on builder to get it sorted.

Thanks for your input. We will get together with our neighbours. We are the highest property so I am assuming thats why we have the most smell.

 

[king of pipes]

Thanks for your input. We will get together with our neighbours. We are the highest property so I am assuming thats why we have the most smell.

And the most likely suitable position for a vent

 

[Ric2013]

We dont know about these things but always felt there should be a vent somewhere. Should this be on the holding tank at the pump station to the main drain. We have never lived in a house without an outside soil stack. Are AAV's not enough?

Back in the old days, each and every house had a soil and vent pipe open to atmosphere. The vast majority of these systems are still giving good service and need no attention as there . I can, however, see a slight disadvantage in having such a system in that each house will have an inside pipe that becomes an outside pipe with associated thermal bridging, whether the stack runs externally or whether it runs internally and up through the roof.

Nowadays, it is common to have fewer open vents than houses. Those houses that do not have an open vent will have a 'durgo' or AAV at the top of the soil and vent pipe. This works until the valve fails and a smell comes up through the faulty valve. Provided there is easy access to replace the valve, and people don't do idiotic things such as box the valve in where you cannot see it, this is not a problem. But the system relies on the fact that at least one house (or more if required at design stage) has an open vent, and some people just don't understand this.

Part of the problem is the (probably unavoidable) grey area between what work really needs a dedicated plumber and what does not. Obviously a general builder could construct a perfectly functional drainage system, but this relies on a fit for purpose building control system, which the UK currently lacks. As others have noted, private building control inspections often lack substance.