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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> Problem shower wastes https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1396614263 Message started by Caterham888 on Apr 4^th, 2014, 1:24pm

Title: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 4^th, 2014, 1:24pm

I have recently converted a barn in which there are 3 shower rooms all professionally installed each shower is walk in based over a weedi? Board tray
Problem is that we are now experiencing smells coming up through the shower drain. If you put your hand over the waste you can feel air.
The builder has sent back his plumber who has fitted larger air admittance valves ( don't really know what these are) but the smells remain.
The only way we can stop them is to cover the waste when the showers are not in use.
I presume that the waste traps are not working properly but imagine that to cure the problem would mean digging up the shower base.
Also we are connected to a septic tank
Any help or advice appreciated

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by woodsmith on Apr 4^th, 2014, 7:01pm

Do you know the make of the waste?

Most, if not all, modern shower wastes are designed to be worked on from above, that way you can clean out any trapped hair and debris. So you shouldn't need to dig up the base.

Some traps seal better than others, I have a Matki high flow trap and it is particularly poor in this respect; perhaps you have the same or a similar trap.

With these the cover should easily fit off revealing a shallow well. This has a tight fitting cup in it which holds water and forms the seal. This can be lifted out to clean it because it takes very little in the way of hair in its slots to slow the water flow down dramatically.

This cup should be pushed firmly down into the trap and the cover replaced. The cover should seat, turn it slowly until you hear it click as it drops down a couple of millimetres. Then run the shower to fill the trap and create the seal.

On mine, if the cover doesn't drop down by those couple of millimetres, I have exactly the same problems as you, with air and smells whistling out of the trap.

I hope this helps.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by thescruff on Apr 4^th, 2014, 11:14pm

Hi,

Can you post as pic of the trap and a shetch showing the pipe runs.

Is there a vent pipe to atmosphere in addition to the AAAV.

Next time you get the smell, dip the trap to check check the water level.

Have you checked the inspection chambers for a blockage.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 4^th, 2014, 11:32pm

Thanks for the advice, will try and post a picture of the waste tomorrow, I am assuming it's not down to a blockage as the smells started within a week of us starting to use the house. There is an outside vent pipe as well but not sure how much of the total system is served by it. will try and find out what make the waste is as well
Thanks again

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 11^th, 2014, 3:42pm

Struggling to figure out how to post image from iPad sorry
When you click the image box it doesn't bring up a browsing screen to attach image will keep working on it

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by woodsmith on Apr 11^th, 2014, 5:03pm

If you look at the top of the forum there are instructions on how to post pictures. It must be relatively easy because even I can do it :)

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Lectrician on Apr 11^th, 2014, 9:34pm

Looks like managed to upload a photo, just not post it?

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by thescruff on Apr 11^th, 2014, 10:52pm

What the hecks that, it looks like a bits missing in the center.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 18^th, 2014, 1:13pm

I haven't changed anything or removed any parts this is exactly as fitted
Only other bit is a stainless steel flat grille over the top of this

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Apr 18^th, 2014, 4:08pm

Looks a bit like a TSG1, McAlpine trap,(ones I like to fit in a tiled shower) without the top chrome grid, but some 'erbert has whipped away the removable centre which forms the trap....

wallies!!! (being polite here...)

and a link to a TSG1 if needed...

http://www.mcalpineplumbing.com/tsg1-t150ss.html

and without being nasty, just honest, if they were professionally installed, and recently, I'd have the builder back, and the tiler, and get them to install the tiles correctly to start with.... I would sack either myself or my tiler if I left a job looking like that!!

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by thescruff on Apr 18^th, 2014, 11:55pm

As above there should be a bit that goes in the hole to form the trap, check one of the others if they are all the same fitting.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 20^th, 2014, 4:15pm

Two of the traps are identical I.e. As in the picture
Neither has a centre section, and the removable grille is square ( very sharp cornered)

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by thescruff on Apr 22^nd, 2014, 2:58pm

Is the 1/3rd one the same trap and does it have the missing piece.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on Apr 23^rd, 2014, 8:43am

3rd one is a different trap, has a black plastic disk that has holes in it under the outer cover
( guess that is a hair trap)
I have asked the builder to let me know exactly which traps were used, which hopefully will give you a better idea if something is missing
Many thanks

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Natedog on Apr 28^th, 2014, 9:45pm

if you look at the link to the mcalpine trap posted above, click the 2nd picture that comes up for it (the tech drawing) and you can see the insert piece more or less in the centre.

and i wouldn't be asking the builder what he fitted so you can rectify it, i'd be telling him to come back and sort it NOW

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by CWatters on Apr 30^th, 2014, 7:30am

I wonder if someone has removed the centre part in order to try and improve the flow rate? That centre part is essential as it performs the U bend function.

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by Caterham888 on May 1^st, 2014, 1:55pm

To everyone who has contributed to this topic could I please extend a massive thank you!
Having suggested to the building company that there may well be an essential part of the trap missing the guy who was the site foreman ( a really top bloke by the way) turned up with the missing parts today and fitted them, also found that similar part from the 3rd trap(different design )
Was missing and got one of them as well.
Interesting that the contract plumber was no where to be seen
Anyway no smell job done and once again massive thanks

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by thescruff on May 1^st, 2014, 2:57pm

Thanks for the update, always good to know we haven't lost our marbles just yet. ;D

Title: Re: Problem shower wastes
Post by woodsmith on May 1^st, 2014, 3:43pm

Yes, thanks for letting us know how you got on.