Gas is driven into my home by the neighbours, primarily in the bathroom and kitchen. What do they have in dcoomon? Pipes, drains and heating.
On several occasions, I have smelt distinct bathroom products, such as shampoos, conditioners and shower gels - none of which I use. These can only have come from adjoining properties.
Given that when I am in the bathroom, the perps are there causing some percussive noise and then whoosh, in comes the gas. This gas comes through the taps and the overflow pipes, but also up from the drain below. See my previous posts on gassing.
I asked ChatGPT whether there were common pipes between houses which could account for smells travelling from one house to another.
It seems that historicla retrofit installations could indeed enable the outflow from one house to travel to the adjoining house, particularly if driven to do so via electromagnetism
Here’s what ChatGPT told me:
In terraced houses built around 1900, which have central heating, are there any pipes which adjoining houses have in common, such that alterations done to one house can affect another adjoining house?
Terraced houses built around 1900 that have had central heating installed, it is generally uncommon for these systems to have shared pipes between adjoining houses. Each house typically has its own independent central heating system with its own boiler, radiators, and pipework. However, there are some considerations and potential exceptions:
Water Supply Pipes: While central heating systems are usually independent, the main water supply pipes entering the houses might be shared or run closely together. Alterations to the main water supply in one house could potentially affect the water pressure or supply to the neighboring house.
Shared Walls: Pipes (both water and heating) often run through the walls that are shared with neighboring houses. Any work involving these pipes might inadvertently affect the structural integrity or the heating systems of the adjoining house if not done carefully.
Drainage and Sewage Pipes: These can sometimes be shared between terraced houses. Work on drainage or sewage pipes in one property can affect neighboring properties if they are interconnected or if the work causes blockages or leaks.
Gas Supply: If the houses have a shared gas supply line, modifications to the gas supply in one house might impact the other. However, it's more common for each house to have its own independent gas supply.
Historical Installations: In some cases, especially in older properties, previous installations or retrofits might not follow modern standards, and there could be shared elements due to the convenience of the original installation.
When planning alterations, it's crucial to have a professional survey done to understand the layout and connections of the plumbing and heating systems. This will help identify any shared elements and prevent disruptions to neighboring properties. Consulting with a qualified plumber or heating engineer can provide more specific guidance based on the particular characteristics of the terraced houses in question.
Regarding historical retrofit installations, what parts could possibly be shared?
ChatGPT
In historical retrofit installations of terraced houses built around 1900, there are a few parts of the plumbing and heating systems that might potentially be shared or interconnected, primarily due to the original construction practices and later modifications. These include:
Main Water Supply Pipes: In some older properties, the main water supply might have been shared between houses, with a single pipe feeding multiple homes. This could still be the case if the system hasn't been updated to modern standards where each house has its own independent supply.
Drainage and Sewage Systems: It is quite common for older terraced houses to share drainage and sewage systems. The main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses might be shared, with individual houses connecting to it via their own branch pipes. Any work on these systems in one house could potentially affect the others.
Rainwater Gutters and Downpipes: Terraced houses often have shared guttering systems. The downpipes that carry rainwater from the roof to the ground might be shared, particularly if the houses were built with a common drainage strategy.
Gas Supply Lines: While each house typically has its own gas meter and internal gas supply, the main gas supply line entering the block of terraces might be shared. Any work on the main gas line could impact the gas supply to neighboring houses.
Party Walls and Chimneys: Shared walls (known as party walls) and chimneys could contain old pipework or flues that were installed when the houses were first built. While not typically part of a modern central heating system, any old heating systems that used shared chimneys or vents could still have remnants that affect the other houses.
Electrical Wiring: In some cases, especially in older properties, the electrical supply might have been shared or interconnected in some way. However, modern standards require each house to have its own independent electrical system.
Boiler Flues: If central heating systems were retrofitted into houses that originally did not have them, the placement of boiler flues (exhaust outlets) might be close to or even shared with neighboring properties, depending on the layout and constraints of the buildings.
For any retrofitting or major alterations, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection and consultation with professionals to understand these potential shared elements and plan the work accordingly to avoid disrupting neighboring properties.
If the scent of bathroom products can be smelled in an adjoining house, well away from the bathroom, might this be coming from the main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses?
ChatGPT
Yes, it is possible that the scent of bathroom products being smelled in an adjoining house could be coming from the main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses. This can happen due to several reasons related to the plumbing and sewage system:
Shared Sewer Lines: In older terraced houses, it is common for the properties to share a main sewer line. If there are any leaks, cracks, or improper seals in this shared sewer line, odors can travel between houses.
Dry Traps: Plumbing fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, and toilets have traps (U-shaped pipes) that hold water to prevent sewer gases from coming back into the house. If these traps dry out, sewer gases can enter the living spaces. If this happens in one house, the odors could potentially travel to adjoining houses through shared plumbing lines.
Ventilation Issues: Plumbing systems have vent pipes that allow sewer gases to escape outside the house. If these vents are blocked or not functioning properly, sewer gases can build up and find their way into houses through various openings and shared spaces.
Leaks or Improper Seals: Leaks or improper seals in the plumbing system, particularly in the joints and connections of the main sewer line, can allow odors to escape and travel between houses.
Cross-Contamination Through Walls: In terraced houses, the walls between properties often contain plumbing lines. If there are any breaches or openings in these walls, odors can migrate from one house to another.
Backdrafting: Negative air pressure inside one house can cause air (and odors) to be pulled from the neighboring house through any gaps or shared plumbing lines.
To address this issue, it would be advisable to:
Inspect the Plumbing System: A thorough inspection of the plumbing system in both houses can help identify any leaks, dry traps, or improperly sealed connections.
Check Vent Pipes: Ensure that all vent pipes are clear and functioning correctly.
Seal Openings: Any gaps or openings in the walls between the houses should be sealed to prevent odors from traveling between properties.
Consult a Professional Plumber: A professional plumber can provide a detailed assessment and recommend specific solutions to resolve the issue.
By identifying and addressing the source of the odors, you can mitigate the problem and improve the air quality in both houses.
ChatGPT
In terraced houses built around 1900 that have had central heating installed, it is generally uncommon for these systems to have shared pipes between adjoining houses. Each house typically has its own independent central heating system with its own boiler, radiators, and pipework. However, there are some considerations and potential exceptions:
Water Supply Pipes: While central heating systems are usually independent, the main water supply pipes entering the houses might be shared or run closely together. Alterations to the main water supply in one house could potentially affect the water pressure or supply to the neighboring house.
Shared Walls: Pipes (both water and heating) often run through the walls that are shared with neighboring houses. Any work involving these pipes might inadvertently affect the structural integrity or the heating systems of the adjoining house if not done carefully.
Drainage and Sewage Pipes: These can sometimes be shared between terraced houses. Work on drainage or sewage pipes in one property can affect neighboring properties if they are interconnected or if the work causes blockages or leaks.
Gas Supply: If the houses have a shared gas supply line, modifications to the gas supply in one house might impact the other. However, it's more common for each house to have its own independent gas supply.
Historical Installations: In some cases, especially in older properties, previous installations or retrofits might not follow modern standards, and there could be shared elements due to the convenience of the original installation.
When planning alterations, it's crucial to have a professional survey done to understand the layout and connections of the plumbing and heating systems. This will help identify any shared elements and prevent disruptions to neighboring properties. Consulting with a qualified plumber or heating engineer can provide more specific guidance based on the particular characteristics of the terraced houses in question.
Regarding historical retrofit installations, what parts could possibly be shared?
ChatGPT
In historical retrofit installations of terraced houses built around 1900, there are a few parts of the plumbing and heating systems that might potentially be shared or interconnected, primarily due to the original construction practices and later modifications. These include:
Main Water Supply Pipes: In some older properties, the main water supply might have been shared between houses, with a single pipe feeding multiple homes. This could still be the case if the system hasn't been updated to modern standards where each house has its own independent supply.
Drainage and Sewage Systems: It is quite common for older terraced houses to share drainage and sewage systems. The main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses might be shared, with individual houses connecting to it via their own branch pipes. Any work on these systems in one house could potentially affect the others.
Rainwater Gutters and Downpipes: Terraced houses often have shared guttering systems. The downpipes that carry rainwater from the roof to the ground might be shared, particularly if the houses were built with a common drainage strategy.
Gas Supply Lines: While each house typically has its own gas meter and internal gas supply, the main gas supply line entering the block of terraces might be shared. Any work on the main gas line could impact the gas supply to neighboring houses.
Party Walls and Chimneys: Shared walls (known as party walls) and chimneys could contain old pipework or flues that were installed when the houses were first built. While not typically part of a modern central heating system, any old heating systems that used shared chimneys or vents could still have remnants that affect the other houses.
Electrical Wiring: In some cases, especially in older properties, the electrical supply might have been shared or interconnected in some way. However, modern standards require each house to have its own independent electrical system.
Boiler Flues: If central heating systems were retrofitted into houses that originally did not have them, the placement of boiler flues (exhaust outlets) might be close to or even shared with neighboring properties, depending on the layout and constraints of the buildings.
For any retrofitting or major alterations, it is essential to conduct a thorough inspection and consultation with professionals to understand these potential shared elements and plan the work accordingly to avoid disrupting neighboring properties.
If the scent of bathroom products can be smelled in an adjoining house, well away from the bathroom, might this be coming from the main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses?
ChatGPT
Yes, it is possible that the scent of bathroom products being smelled in an adjoining house could be coming from the main sewer line that takes wastewater away from the houses. This can happen due to several reasons related to the plumbing and sewage system:
Shared Sewer Lines: In older terraced houses, it is common for the properties to share a main sewer line. If there are any leaks, cracks, or improper seals in this shared sewer line, odors can travel between houses.
Dry Traps: Plumbing fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, and toilets have traps (U-shaped pipes) that hold water to prevent sewer gases from coming back into the house. If these traps dry out, sewer gases can enter the living spaces. If this happens in one house, the odors could potentially travel to adjoining houses through shared plumbing lines.
Ventilation Issues: Plumbing systems have vent pipes that allow sewer gases to escape outside the house. If these vents are blocked or not functioning properly, sewer gases can build up and find their way into houses through various openings and shared spaces.
Leaks or Improper Seals: Leaks or improper seals in the plumbing system, particularly in the joints and connections of the main sewer line, can allow odors to escape and travel between houses.
Cross-Contamination Through Walls: In terraced houses, the walls between properties often contain plumbing lines. If there are any breaches or openings in these walls, odors can migrate from one house to another.
Backdrafting: Negative air pressure inside one house can cause air (and odors) to be pulled from the neighboring house through any gaps or shared plumbing lines.
To address this issue, it would be advisable to:
Inspect the Plumbing System: A thorough inspection of the plumbing system in both houses can help identify any leaks, dry traps, or improperly sealed connections.
Check Vent Pipes: Ensure that all vent pipes are clear and functioning correctly.
Seal Openings: Any gaps or openings in the walls between the houses should be sealed to prevent odors from traveling between properties.
Consult a Professional Plumber: A professional plumber can provide a detailed assessment and recommend specific solutions to resolve the issue.
By identifying and addressing the source of the odors, you can mitigate the problem and improve the air quality in both houses.