What could be causing bad drain smells outside the house?
Over the last couple of weeks we have had a bad (rotten egg type) smell start up around the outside of the house.
It is particularly noticeable if you get down close to where the surface (rain) water downpipes go into the ground at the front of the house.
Our next door neighbours on both sides have also noticed it on their own properties.
There is no obvious sign of any blockage – ie. do drains that I am aware of have been overflowing.
My own conclusion is that somewhere near to my property there is perhaps a broken drain underground which is leaking.
Does anyone have any ideas on what further steps I could take before calling out a (possibly costly) professional…?
Thanks.
(When I spoke to the water board they did say that a rotten egg-type smell is more likely to be related to surface water drainage than sewerage – I hope this is true!!??)
Where I live, the city is responsible for the sewer system. If I were you I would check to see who is in charge of the sewer system, and see if they can come check it out. But if all they said was surface water then I wouldn’t worry.Unless you have septic tank then that’s another story……
I suggest you contact the waterboard again, they should be able to tell who’s responsible for the drains.
If it’s you, ask your neighbours if they’d be willing to share the cost and call out a professional.
The rotten egg smell is sulpherated hydrogen and is normally associated with stagnant water. Have you tried to take a water pipe and filling the drain with fresh water.
It sounds like all the drains are backing up from the main drain. contact you’re water board to clean the main drain this will not cost you.
This is expected, if you have never given your drains a good flush with domestos. Make a good mix in a bucket, brush around your sinks, then pour the remainder down the drain, I think this will solve your problem. Nothing to worry about, give them a flush every couple of weeks