Shoddy, Smelly Shower! HELP!

[jimjim999]

Hi All!

I'm no plumber or skilled DIYer really, but just wondering what to do. Here's the situation in the ensuite bathroom on my house that I bought recently:

1) Very smelly! [xx(][xx(][xx(]
2) Poor tiling and suspected botch-job.
3) Suspect shower is source of smells!

The bathroom itself is a small narrow room, the width of a shower. So, open door and shower on your left, in front of you the hand basin, and on your right the toilet and window. That's it.

...so, I had a quick look on the internet and found that a shower should have a trap of some kind. I read that you should be able to shine a torch down the shower plug hole and see the water in there (i.e. the water acting as a plug in the trap). I can't see anything in there, but the pipe seems to go down vertically, then just slopes off horizontally toward the front of the shower! I thought I'd better have a look under the shower via the front 'panel' as you step into the shower. Unfortunately, i think that botch-job man seems to have installed the shower tray in sideways, so that the front panel (which I thought would be useful for access under there!) is actually a 'fixed' side panel and seems to be part of the tray itself. So the whole lot seems to have been just sealed into place, and then tiled around!!! Yikes! So basically I can't get under the shower tray to look or even fit a shower trap if it needs one!

I am going to rip out the whole suite anyway because it's

a) a grey suite with pink tiles (!)
b) the show doesn't seem to have a 'cut off' switch anywhere that I can see [:0]
c) doesn't have any ventilation at all
d) stinks (see above)

...but before I do that (I can't afford it yet which is why the posting on here) I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me on this - does my diagnosis of the shower not having a trap seem sensible if I can't see any water when I look straight down with a torch? Am I right in the fact that the shower is installed incorrectly? Also, there should be a cut off thing for the electric too, right?!

I have no DIY experience, and all the above 'knowledge' is gleaned from the internet!
Please help me, my plubming friends!!! [^]

[LazyPup]

You didnt mention the age of the structure but the Gray and pink decor is reminiscent of the 50's era. Although they are no longer code approved it was commonplace, and even code standard in some localities in those days to install barrel traps under tubs and showers.

When barrel traps were installed the drain line dropped down to the level of the horizontal waste line, then the line made a 90deg.turn in the direction of the waste line and entered the barrel trap. The barrel trap looks like a brass canister about 6" across and 4 to 6" deep with a screw in plug on top to permit cleaning. The is a second line on the discharge side of the barrel trap that connects to the waste line.

Shower pans and tubs may have a service access from the basement or room below, or in some cases may come through the wall from an adjacent room but there is no removable panels on the shower pan.

The current plumbing codes require a P-trap and if the trap and waste connections are the typical slip joint type there must be a service access panel either from below or through the wall which must be a minimum of 12" x 12". In those instances where a service access panel cannot be installed all the fittings under the tub or shower MUST BE GLUE IN fittings.

Althought you did not state it, I get the feeling that the shower in question is a spare bathroom and is not being used. If that is the case in all probability the water in the trap has evaporated and leaves the trap open to allow sewer gasses to enter the house. This is also a common problem with basement floor drains.

There is a simple remedy for this problem which is quick, easy, cheap and most of all, enviromentally friendly. First pour a half gallon or so of water in the drain to insure the trap is refilled, then pour about one cup of liquid cooking oil into the drain. The cooking oil will float on top of the water and basically seal it to retard evaporation, while still keeping the drain fully open and operational.

[jimjim999]

Thanks for you help! The shower was installed in the 70s I believe (I'm in the UK too by the way), and I am hoping that there is a trap or something under there, even though I can't see one!

As described, I don't seem to have any access to under the shower tray at all, so I'll do the water-oil thing you recommended and see how that fairs. [8D]

On the electrical side, should there also be a cut off do you know?

In the meantime...I'll get ready to price up a new suite and installation, and start saving the pennies!

Many thanks for your help LazyPup!

[jimjim999]

...just tried the water thing, and yes! Now I put loads of water down there I can see with the torch (straight down the plug hole) some water staying there. So, I just put a cup of oil on top...

...Hopefully, the water will stay there now - what I am afraid of is that when I flush the toilet it might suck the water out of the shower trap part. I'll keep an eye on it with the torch over the next few days...

[LazyPup]

IF your vents are open and working properly the water should stay in the trap just fine.

[jimjim999]

Thanks LazyPup. Yes, I checked this morning after the ensuite toilet had been flushed a few times over the last few days. The oil is still visible in the shower trap!

The smell is still in there though, but nowhere near as strong. I have reluctantly opened the window a bit (it's really cold in the UK right now) so I'll see how that goes. Perhaps it just needs a good airing now!

If the smell still remains though, what else could it be? There's definately water in the sink trap because I can see it, and also the toilet isn't leaking or anything.

Sorry I should have confimed earlier - yes this ensuite shower isn't used regularly at all, whereas the toilet and sink is.

[jimjim999]

Hi everybody! ... Hmm, it's been a few days now, oil still there in shower trap, but still the smell remains! I don't know what to do now - could there be a vent or something under the floorboards that shouldn't be there! Uuurrgh! [xx(]