The Bathroom Stink

[Eric F]

OK folks, I really need your help. I'm starting to get sick from this sewage odor eminating from my bathroom on cold nights. I live on the top (3rd) floor of a garden type apartment building/condo- there is a crawlspace/attic above me. I just had my batroom remodeled, but the smell existed before. It just seems to be getting worse. My downstairs neighbors claim they don't smell anything. I already had my toilet seal redone to no avail. Any chance it could be the pipe venting? Since I live on the top floor I'm thinking when they installed roof fans a few years back they screwed it up. The fans they put in are those useless bubble fan things. I don't know what else to do.

[Tom Baker]

Check the plumbing vent. Is it sealed through the attic and roof? Does it go above the roof? Is it close to a fan or other point of unintended intake? TB

[Speedy Jim]

I'll bet they disturbed the venting system inside the attic space. Strongly suggest you not go up there by yourself to investigate; get management to go with you or hire someone. If you do go up, bring a digicam.

Jim

[George C. Fahrlender]

You could have a blocked vent pipe or missing a "p" trap to seal out the sewer gases

[Eric F]

I really took a smell around my bathroom, putting my nose everywhere. The source seems to be coming from around my sink, in the corner between the sink and the wall for my water-heater closet. It's definitely not coming from the drain. I opened the water-heater closet and there's absolutely no smell in there at all. As I said before, I had my whole b-room remodeled and the smell was there before, although now it's worse. Is that any help?

[Terry]

Other suggestions. Leak therefore mouldiness within the wall? Condensation on cold water pipe/s within wall therefore mould? Wrong time of year I know but condensation of warm steamy bathroom air within wall structuire?

[Eric F]

I spoke to other residents in my building and it appears the plumbing backed up a few weeks ago. I have finally connected the odor with the ongoing backups in my building. Spoke to my Condo Mgt, they said they'd "look into it". Not good enough. I'm having the Health Dept come over tommorow. The scattered toilet paper on the outside of the building speaks volumes. Thanks for the help.