DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi, I have quite a shallow fall on the waste pipes from my shower and bath and when the bath empties it smells a bit. I was considering using caustic soda to hopefully shift any hair and give the pipes a clean, but as there isn't actually a blockage will the caustic soda solution just run straight out without doing much use?

Also I'm not sure if caustic soda is safe to use on an enamel bath and on a "stone resin" shower tray.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I would not recommend using caustic soda on bathroom sanitryware. Not sure what it would do to the bath or tray, but the chrome waste would be damaged by a chemical reaction to the caustic.

Generally, shower traps can be disassembled from above to allow cleaning.

Strong odours usually indicate problems with the waste plumbing particularly if accompanied by a gurgling from the shower tarp when the bath or basin is emptied.

This is a trap issue.

You need to make sure all your traps seals are ok.

Nothing you put down there will stop the smell.

You can replace the traps with new ones or take the old ones off and give them a good clean.