COMMUNITY FORUM

mrsjrm

05:50AM | 09/04/03
Member Since: 09/03/03
1 lifetime posts
Bvplumbing
We recently purchased a co-op in a small building (4 Units total). We replaced the sink faucet in one of the bathrooms about a month ago. About a week or two ago we started smelling a bad odor in the bathroom. We assumed it was coming from the toilet since we had a similar problem in a previous apartment. We had a plumber come in and decided to replace the bowl, as there was some other problems with it. The bathroom still smells. My husband thought that maybe the wax seal wasn't installed properly when the new bowl was installed so we re-installed it. It seems the smell may be coming from the sink but when I called the plumber again he said it was unlikely and thought maybe the smell was coming from our downstairs neighbor via the exhaust vent. Does this seem feasible? If not what else can it be? I'm at a loss and cannot bear the odor anymore!

gsongwriter

09:50AM | 05/12/07
Member Since: 05/11/07
1 lifetime posts
I had the same problem and as it turns out the smell was sewage gas coming in from my bathroom exhaust fan duct. There are two plumbing vents within a foot or so on my roof next to the exhaust vent duct and the damper on my exhaust vent had stuck open allowing the sewage gas to come down through my exhaust vent ducting into my bathroom.

Sylvan

08:24AM | 05/13/07
Member Since: 01/24/06
1342 lifetime posts
Me_office1
Since it is a small apartment complex of 4 units have the plumber do an oil of peppermint test as this test is non invasive and totally nondestructive.

This test will confirm if there is a broken or damaged or improper vent or trap seal loss from a floor drain or other fixture.

Sewer fumes are not to be taken lightly as it can be quite dangerous and highly carcinogenic.
9176-tieger_plumbing

Sylvan

08:29AM | 05/13/07
Member Since: 01/24/06
1342 lifetime posts
Me_office1
If the vent terminal fumes did come down your bathroom vent you have a serious problem as the vent pipe should not be located near any inlet to allow this condition.

The vent in the bathroom PULLS air out,it is not supposed to pull air down the vent from the sewerage system.

Possibly the fan motor is 220 V and someone reversed polarity so the exhaust is now pulling air in not discharging


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