Hi, we have a problem with the soil pipe that we first noticed because of smells in the upstairs toilet. We recently began redecorating the kitchen, which is located below and to one side the toilet, and seem to have unleashed a similar smell (but quite a bit more potent). The housing which boxes the large diameter soil pipe off (underneath the kitchen worktop), was bodged up with some parcel tape, which we removed to paint. The smell is quite bad and similar to that present in the waste inspection hatch outside.
The water appears to be draining running freely - there does not appear to be any blockages. I originally thought that the stench pipe might have somehow been blocked, as it has no mesh cover. But I presume that because it is draining fast that is probably not the problem.
Now further torch investigation where the soil pipe goes down below the level of the kitchen floor, has revealed a brownish looking gunc, accumulating (I think it is at the point where the pipe does a 90degree bend and runs outside to the sewer). It is hard to tell as it is in a hard to get at area.
I will try to get some photos on. Can you help? Am I missing something in my diagnosis? Could it be simply a case of cleaning it all up and patching up? Or is it likely more major?
Many thanks in advance.
