Hope someone can help.

There is a bathroom drain (covered up) that runs under the house. I can smell a sour fetid smell - in the rooms where it runs, especially when the heating is on. No expert - but I think there is crawl space beneath the floor.

I suspect a leak but am concerned about costs, having the floor up (just bought the house and decorated and laid carpets).

A plumber recommended venting the pipe (done) but the smell persists.

How serious might this be? What can I do?

Without inspecting the crawl space it's impossible to answer that.
You say the pipe was vented. What about venting the crawling space itself properly?
Not only important in view of this smell, but also to release radon gas escaping from the inners of earth. (Many people decide to endanger their health by closing the vent holes in the crawling space). Have a look at that type of venting also!
Success!
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Please let me know (by clicking my handle and mailing me) if you want me to reply on any additional information and/or questions from your side here. I simply fail the time to inspect every previous question I answered for follow-up.
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:)

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There is a bathroom drain (covered up) that runs under the house. I can smell a sour fetid smell - in the rooms where it runs, especially when the heating is on. No expert - but I think there is crawl space beneath the floor.

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What room where what runs?? O you mean the tub? The tub drain line? What? Did the plumber check the crawl space for moisture ? Where's the smell the worst? At the tub drain or the crawl space? Back to you, Tom

I'll try and answer as best I can..

There is a drainage pipe which runs from the utility area under this room. This pipe was not vented in the utility before (washing machione drained into it and there was an open pipe which needed to be vented - now done).

There appears to be another pipe which joins this pipe at right angles from outisde the house. This seems to lead from an inspection chamber outside the house with a slab I cannot lift. Looking at old plans, drainage from kitchen and both bathrooms <I> seems </I> to lead through here to the pipe that runs under the room I mentioned...

Your question's still comfusing to me nut I may be able to clear up a mystery.

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inspection chamber outside the house with a slab I cannot lift

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This sounds like a old grease trap. Years back we used to install a grease trap on the kitchen and washer drain lines. These traps prevented grease fromgetting out in the drain field and clogging up the drain lines. As for the smell. Get down in the crawl space and check for moisture or broken pipes. Spread quick lime over any wet soil that you find. Good luck, Tom

Thanks everyone.

A contractor had a quick look today. We have two air bricks for quite a large area. He asked if I had laid poison for rats.

No!

We have redecorated, but there is no sign of damp on the walls.

The contractor suggested:

- lifting the slab in the patio outside to inspect for blockages
- poking a screwdriver through the wall inside at place corresponding to a place outside where the waste pipe carrying sewage from the upstais bathroom runs
- taking up the carpet and floor to create an inspection chamber so he can get down in the crwal space (the concrete wall of the old house forms a barrier and he can't get down into the crawl space otherwise)

I suspect a leaking pipe under the floor - thanks for the tip about lime.

Please do let me know if there is anything else I should ask contractors - I am a novice with these things, but beginning to think my foundations may be in jeoprady - (not to mention our health!).