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ivorheadache  
#1 Posted : 13 February 2015 09:26:10(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ivorheadache

Hi everyone. Happy Friday.

Just a quick question. Branch (office) staff complaining of a bad sewer smell. We've checked everything nothing amiss in the branch itself. Have complained to the landlord and he can't get anyone to look at it for another 2 weeks. Meanwhile staff are saying they feel ill. Even customers walking out. My question is, is there anything serious that you could catch just from the smells. I know sewers themselves are dangerous, but this is just only the smell.

Any opinions pretty much appreciated
RayRapp  
#2 Posted : 13 February 2015 09:47:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

I don't think you can catch anything from the smell itself, however the smell is an indicator that something is not right. Instead of waiting for 2 weeks why don't you agree with your landlord to get a drains company to check it out immediately and for your landlord to reimburse your company.
Alfasev  
#3 Posted : 13 February 2015 10:08:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Alfasev

It is unlikely that sewer smells in this situation will be dangerous. However waiting two week for the landlord to act is unacceptable and I would check you lease agreement. The lease agreements I have seen do have a mechanism to resolve matters like this. I would also let the landlord know that you are going to contact the Environmental Health department at your local council. They have wide ranging duties and if required will serve an improvement notice on the landlord.

If you have an internal toilet the stack may vent internally. These vents after a while stick open hence the smell. Changing the vent may resolve the smell issue.
ivorheadache  
#4 Posted : 13 February 2015 10:15:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ivorheadache

Thanks Guys. Agree that we should lean on the landlord a lot harder. perhaps a threat of getting the drains unblocked ourselves and charging them may speed them up. Just wanted to be re-assured that there was no immediate danger to staff. Really appreciate this.
ivorheadache  
#5 Posted : 13 February 2015 10:29:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ivorheadache

Result. Landlords contractors have turned up :)
Flashman  
#6 Posted : 13 February 2015 10:36:30(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Flashman

The smell will probably not coming into the building via any u-bend that has water in it. (Toilet pan etc.) It will be more likely to be a rotted seal in a pipe linkage between the toilet basin and the waste pipe and the liquid leaking under the floor itself..

I would not try and 'unblock' it using the high-pleasure' kits in DIY shops in case you do more harm than good.

Flashman  
#7 Posted : 13 February 2015 10:37:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Flashman

I need to write faster :-) Let us know what happens next.
aland76  
#8 Posted : 13 February 2015 11:07:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
aland76

Flashman wrote:

I would not try and 'unblock' it using the high-pleasure' kits in DIY shops in case you do more harm than good.



where can I get hold of these 'high-pleasure' kits? they sound fun :)
Alan Haynes  
#9 Posted : 13 February 2015 15:37:22(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Alan Haynes

AlanD76 wrote:
Flashman wrote:

I would not try and 'unblock' it using the high-pleasure' kits in DIY shops in case you do more harm than good.



where can I get hold of these 'high-pleasure' kits? they sound fun :)


I believe that you can only get them in 50 shades of grey
Flashman  
#10 Posted : 13 February 2015 16:02:10(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Flashman

You can do it if you B&Q it (apparently) You can imaging the smile on the face of Mrs Flashman who was sitting in the downstairs WC at the time of the experiment (if that is the correct spelling - think about it).

On the other hand I'm not sure if it was a smile as she's not spoken to me for the last six months, but the toilet is ok now)
colinreeves  
#11 Posted : 14 February 2015 20:46:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
colinreeves

Bit late to this thread, but it can be a killer:
http://www.independent.c...-for-deaths-1539967.html
Wayne Bayman  
#12 Posted : 16 February 2015 09:54:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Wayne Bayman

Hydrogen sulphide smells like rotten eggs and is the main culprit when it comes to sewer smells.

https://www.osha.gov/SLT...ogensulfide/hazards.html

The other gas is methane. You should be able to detect whether the smells pose a risk by using a multi-gas detector fitted with a H2S and LEL sensors.

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