Me Shower Drain Stinks.

[chiangrai]

I'm sure this ia a familiar problem on this forum.,

Nearly every room I've rented in Thailand has stale fumes coming up out of the shower drain hole

because there is no U-bend(P-trap in American English)installed.

I went to the hardware store and tried to get a U-bend to fit the size of the pipe that I can see outside on the other side of the wall(1.25 inches)but there was none to be found.

A guy told me that you can just make one out of ninety degree pipe connectors if you know what I mean.

So I want to go out and dig up the concrete,outside the bathroom,,get a 90 degree pvc bend and go down a bit.Then with to more 90degree pve bends,come up again.Then some where on the way up put another 90 degree bend and connect that to the original out pipe.There by making a home made U-bend

I hope you can understand that.There seems to be room because the ground slopes.My question is,are there any proportions involved.Do I have to go down a minimum length and is there a proportion of that length where I must turn horizontal on the way up.

I'm really sorry if this doesn't make sense to anyone but it;s the best I can do.

[Crossy]

Correct, it's not rocket science, just using 4 90^o bends linked by the shortest bits of pipe will do the trick. So long as some water stays in the U you're good to go.

If you're in a rental a plate or saucer placed upside down over the drain when you're not showering is a quick-and-dirty fix for foul pongs

[cmsally]

Do you have the drain unit which has like an up turned egg cup fixed to the top grill. These help cut down the smell. Itsfixed on the drain part and slots almost over the hole when grill in place.

[lopburi3]

Trap shower drains are available at any hardware store - they easily replace the top of current drain pipe if no drain cup currently in place (although often there is one but if shower is not used it dries out so you just need to add some water). Take your drain cover off and see if there is a metal cup attached to bottom and a rim around outside of drain where it fits in and should contain water preventing fumes from coming up into the room. Maybe not as good as a U bend but they do work and easy enough to keep clean and only takes a worker a few minutes to install if you just have an open drain as only about 2 inches deep..

Edit: Talking about what is mentioned about - tried to find a photo but no luck.

[utalkin2me]

It is interesting that we see Thais wearing masks around town, yet nobody puts these cheap units in.

[chiangrai]

The guy that installed it in the first place was an absolute monkey.

The hole where the water goes out of the floor is about 2 inches square,it is flush with the virtical wall.

You cannot fit a grill on top or ever a saucer.We have been stuffing a sponge down the hole untill now.

But the answer to the proportions question is make it as short as possible just make sure that I go down slightly more than I come back up,or is that even nesssery.

[utalkin2me]

The guy that installed it in the first place was an absolute monkey.

LMFAO!

[Crossy]

But the answer to the proportions question is make it as short as possible just make sure that I go down slightly more than I come back up,or is that even nesssery.

Just ensure that the bottom horizontal leg stays full (using elbows will pretty well ensure that anyway) and you'll be fine

[Naam]

It is interesting that we see Thais wearing masks around town, yet nobody puts these cheap units in.

"nobody" is a wild and unwarranted exaggeration.

[splitlid]

if you can find where the water drains into. drain/soakaway etc, then just lift the cover and do the u bend in there. no need to dig up concrete.

[chiangrai]

That is a very good idea Splitlid but I think we're getting fumes from the rooms "up pipe "of ours as well.

This has made me realize that the U-bend must go in before the T-junction with the shared pipe.

Which is going to be tight.

[thhMan]

I spent over an hour explaining to my previous landlord about the shower smell and how a simple u-bend will fix the problem. All to no avail and as it didnt make sense, she didnt let me do it myself.

Next rental... Same issue....

Does anyone know why such a basic thing as a u-bend is not installed ? Its not a buddha thing is it?

[kyrre]

I don't think Buddha has a saying in this, but maybe the man above Buddha.... Mr. Money...

[meatboy]

i clean mine once a month with costic soda from home-pro,cleans all that shit [soap] of the sides.make sure you mix it in a bucket and as soon as it heats up tip it down it also sends any cockroaches to hell,get out and close the door fumes are not to be inhaled.