Sudden whiff from 1/2 bowl centre sink ?

[Jethro_uk]

For the past couple of weeks, every morning there has been a "drainy" whiff in the kitchen. We have sink with a main bowl and a smaller centre bowl.

Careful inspection revealed that the outlet from the plug was weeping slightly - it must have been moved over a few years of having the plastic recycling box there. I emptied everything, tightened the connection and ensured it was bone dry for a couple of days left it all open to dry - with a dehumidifier for good measure - and thought "job well done".

However, the smell has either returned, or never went and seems to be coming from the centre plug. Which I have confirmed by putting the plug in and covering with water to find no smell in the morning.

On the basis I have poured bleach, disinfectant and caustic soda down the whole what has happened to cause this *now* ?

The output from the sink goes into a drain with a good air gap, so nothing is being pushed in from the drains.

[Andy Burns]

something nasty growing in a flexi sink overflow pipe connected to the trap

[Jethro_uk]

Ah, no overflow on the sink (it's a stainless steel jobbie). Just the two centre plugholes.

[DerbyBorn]

Jethro_uk <jethro [e-mail] wrote in news:qedkqm$1jg$ [e-mail]:

We had one where gungs would grow under a flange where the trap was pulled up to the bottom of the sink

[John Rumm]

Are you sure the trap is not leaking a bit and drying out?

[The Other Mike]

Probably a biofilm on the part of the system that isn't being reached by the poured bleach / disinfectant / caustic soda because that only really treats the fully wetted part of any waste trap, and rapidly washes over the lower half or less of pipework and really does nothing to the rest of the system.

A stripdown, with the parts fully immersed in a bucket, and treated with a series of appropriate chemicals, which may be as you have previously used is a possible solution.

--

[Brian Gaff]

Some foreign bodies decomposing in the pipework? Having said that I have a similar issue in the washing machine drain, and you cannot block this up either end and its just a vertical plastic pipe, then a 90 deg bend at a slight slope to the bit that goes through the wall with an end hovering over the drain. The drain outside does not smell. I have a feeling it might be some kind of algal growth in the pipe end maybe only repeated treatment will kill it and flush it through. I do not fancy taking up the floor and disconnecting the joins and scraping out any detritus myself!

Brian

[Brian Gaff]

I often think that modern cleaning stuff is in reality a way to culture some alien life form. Just remove the tray from any wasting machine even if its only used for softener to see the gunky slime that grows there. Brian

[Jethro_uk]

Interestingly, in a bid to be thorough, I dissembled the cabinets to the side of the sink to get to the dishwasher outlet I fitted years ago.

Ever have one of those brief moments of satisfaction when you see what a great job you did ? :)

Anyway, I checked the outlet flexi pipe that goes into the pipework that leads to the outside. It all seemed OK, but I was intrigued that a splash of disinfectant into it seemed to permeate the whole kitchen ?

That said, keeping the centre hole covered has stopped the smell, so I think it's isolated. I'm leaning towards the suggestion the flexi-pipe has built up some unreachable slime ...

[Jethro_uk]

I'm tending towards that POV too ... Oh, joy !

[Roger Hayter]

Could you put a bung in the outlet at the gulley and fill the whole pipe up with bleach?

[Jethro_uk]

It crossed my mind as the bodge job :)

But since I have to live with it, may as well do it properly - so will need a time when (a) we don't need the kitchen sink and (b) the bathroom sink is free ...

[Jeff Layman]

Wait until you've got a cold and your nose is bunged up! Actually, I had to do what you have to do about a month ago. But in my case the outflow from the washing machine overflowed (it was an upside-down "U" hanging into an auxiliary upright waste pipe) into the cupboard under the sink! The pipe going to the drain outside was blocked by gunge, but it was easy to push it through (it was above the drain). A horrible, smelly job,to unblock it and clean out and dry the cupboard but The Management is happy now.

[Jethro_uk]

And the winner is :) !

Just removed the offending piece - wished I hadn't, and removed the 5mm layer of unspeakable slime from the inside then soaked in bleach and refitted.

One thing that I had forgotten was it has a direction marked on the outside because there is some sort of unidirectional insert made of silicone inside it.

[PeterC]

If possible I just won't use flexi-pipe - it's not good on a washing machine; bad on a sink and v. bad on a dish washer. A few years ago I bought a washing machine, JL branded but AEG really, and the outlet is flexi that's quite stiff with a former that's flimsy. For 500 quid I expect better. For the other outlets I use push-fit (for versatility and access) with waterless traps. I dismantled the outlet from a disused dish washer, didn't manage to stop the boing-fuckit due to awkward access (and me!) - the gunge went on to the floor except where my sandaled feet were.

[Thomas Prufer]

OK, sorted, then.

I'll still post an unusual but sometimes effective bodge: fill the drain tubes up with shaving foam -- the stuff inna can-- perhaps using a bit of tubing.

The foam sits in place for a lot longer than bleach, disiinfectant, etc., and sometimes shifts the film without disassembly.

Thomas Prufer