Hi all,
I have been having a similar problem. I have bought a flat that has been built by total cowboys. I regularly come across things that are faulty or just not acceptable. When I hire builders to solve the problems they comment on how badly constructed the items are.
This time it appears to be my Durgo Valve. I have looked all over my bathroom for the source of the bad smells. It wasn't until I took the top of the valve and the top of the pipe apart that I realised what was going on. With the aid of a torch I could see there was a lot of sludge/waste in the (still attached) bend and a lot of crust on the inside of the pipe. I cleaned the waste from the inside of the pipe and put it back together. The valve seemed to be mobile and free from restriction. I have also been doing some research on line and noticed the the Durgo Valve is below the waterline of the cistern which is not recommended.
There is a flat above me that extends into the eaves so going through the roof isn't and option I want to entertain and the bathroom/toilet is has no external walls so venting through a wall isn't an option either.
Will extending the pipe to above the floodline and perhaps a new valve eliminate the problem or have I got a much bigger/scarier problem on my hands?
Are there better options on valves out there? I suspect the valve I have in place is the cheapest option!
Thanks in advance.