Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zai]

has penetrated my bathroom. UGH. it's coming from that damn drain and its driving me crazy.

anyone know what i can use to plug it up? i figure i can use those rubber mat things that you see people cover up the storm drains on the street, but i don't know where to score one of those (i also don't need one that big, just a small square)

or what do you people use? also is there something i can buy to pour down the drain to help battle the smell? i figure i just buy a bottle of frebreeze and pour the whole thing down...

[articulate_ink]

Yeah, I've had some Korea Plumbing Smell (KPS) issues lately too. It's worse after rain. Short of nuclear sterilization of the entire peninsula, I'm not sure much will help. I keep a scented candle burning in my bathroom when I'm at home, and I'll keep the windows open until mosquito season gets underway. Incense is another worthy option. So's moving to another country.

[ernie]

i think the problem is that korean plumbing (in the floors, at least) doesn't utilize u-shaped drains like we do in the west... the u drains use water to prevent the air below from coming into your bathroom... in korea, the stanky air is free to flow right into your bathroom! a lovely aroma first thing in the morning...

having said that, i'm not sure there's anything you can do to actually SOLVE the problem... you can use deodorizers, but that's just covering up the rotten air, not stopping it!

[ciccone_youth]

yesss, the lovely aroma first thing in the morning!

"eau de sewer"

[Davew125]

I had this problem at my house. i just bought a small bin for the bathroom, everytime i left the room i put it over the plug hole. It wasnt perfect but it certainly helped....this is asuming you have the whole 'shower straight on to the floor' thing in your bathroom.

the bathroom in my new apartment, which is also on the ground floor, doesnt smell at all. We have some sort of drainage blocking thing down the plug hole and it works pefectly. I couldnt tell you what it is or what its called but i know they're out there. Ask one of your korean teachers or try HOmeplus/harware store etc.

[davyteacher]

I pour bleach down my drain. You get a swimming pool smell from the drain but its better than the sh!t smell

[orosee]

In addition to the smell from below I also have the pleasure to participate in the smell from above, i.e. my next floor neighbour's (I can hear the strained sounds) personal aroma when he takes his weekly dump.

One morning I was taking a shower and the smell was so bad, I found myself on my knees trying to figure out whether these gases are heavier or lighter than air (note to self: it is the neighbour ABOVE! these gases SINK!).

Hmmm, that makes me think: Why do we have TWO nose holes? Ears and eyes I get, but can we really determine whether a smell comes more from the left or right? Shouldn't the nose(s) not be on the sides of the head then?

[Looking East]

[WBINC]

Had these installed last week. Two in the bathroom, one in the kitchen, one in the laundry room...Absolute magic, not a whiff since. They will send a truck out quick and it was W30,000 a drain.

Check out: magictrap.kr

[mrsquirrel]

[buster brown]

I've been pretty successful in blocking sewer gas at my apartment. I put plugs in the kitchen and bathroom sink drains. For the floor drain, I lay a wet doubled-up cleaning rag over it. There have been a few days when I've forgotten to slide the rag back into place after taking a shower, but when it's in place there's not much getting through. Give it a try.

[orosee]

[orosee]

One of my theories (I have too much spare time) is that we may have two nostrils because we have two pinkies (or index fingers, if you have small hands). So there's a place for each of them.

[Stormy]

[raketbaler]

Who are you weirdos!?!