Fosse Venting Probs

[Colandhelinfrance]

Hi, We've had our fosse installed for a couple of years now, its only used occasionally (holiday home at the mo) After a day or two of us being at our house, a horrible smell occurs. The renovation was completed about six months ago, but we have a problem.

It seems to be originating from our kitchen downstairs. we have a utility room with a waste for a washing machine, some of the smell was coming from there, until we filled the trap up with water. We just cant locate exactly where the smell is coming from.

Our vent pipe is not too far from the middle floors balcony, and we actually smelt the same type of smell coming from it one day. the strange thing is that the smell is downstairs & the vent pipe is upstairs.

we have been recommended to fit a  whirly thing that goes on top of the vent pipe, to help suck the smell away, has any good person any ideas please.

 

[Quillan]

Could it be from the Fosse?

[Colandhelinfrance]

Yes, It is the Fosse, thats not the problem, the problem is how and where is it comming from in the house

[Eslier]

Check the little white cup under the expansion valve of your chauffe eau (assuming you have one). This is another waste trap and will dry out leaving an open pipe to your fosse. (Just like your washing machine trap only smaller.) Turn the tap above it and release some water into the trap.

[Quillan]

It's probably coming in from outside, like through vents and/or windows, under doors etc. We have a simular problem and after 3 years and some serious investigation have never been able to come up with a good solution. There are sachets of stuff you can buy from big supermarkets that help keep the smell to a minimum, you put them down the toilet. They don't make the smell go away completely but it does help. I was told the more the smell the better it's working. This may be true but I don't fancy walking around with a gas mask on all summer.

[Colandhelinfrance]

Thanks for those couple of pieces of info, especially the one regarding the hot water tank, this confirms what a friend told me, his suggestion was to put an in-line trap on that very pipe. 

[Val_2]

There is an article in this months French Property News about bad smells and vent pipes. The writer found a charcoal filter solution in the UK and gives details - get a copy and read for yourself.