Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dr. Buck · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Morning Clam

This is a question of the horrid smell that reeks from the bathroom pipes. It seems that the recent cold weather makes the smell stronger and more potent; as if the cold air concentrates the wafts of ass-death-rot-muck up from the plumbing.

JongnoGuru, this qustion is especially noted towards you. I remember once in a post you mentioned Korean plumbing and you said something to the effect of "you don't want to know where the smell comes from." Since you have some construction experience in Korea, I would be more than happy to hear your stories about plumbing, pipes and what goes on in the guts of the buildings we live and work in.

Anyone else seem to notice this at this time of year?

Last winter, when I moved into my apartment, the odor in the bathroom was horrific. With the blade of an old kitchen knife, I removed the shower drain and scraped the insides. I pulled out about ten years of rotting human hair and it looked like a partially decomposed rat. I had to catch my gag reflex a few times by clenching my stomach muscles.

Removing the hair rat took care of the problem, along with various fluids dumped down the drain. Yet a faint smell lingered, and then spring came and it was gone. Now winter is back and so is that slight hint of evil odor.

But this isn't the first time I've noticed the winter stench. It's easy to note, curse, and then quickly forget about . . . but it is everywhere in the cold public bathroons, icey school toilets, and frozen restrooms in various buildings.

Any comments? Any thoughts by former plumbers that later became Korean ESL teachers?

Prince Frog · Joined: 03 Oct 2005

deessell · Joined: 08 Jun 2005

Kimchi.....its cures everthing except odour.

hack · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Could be a variety of things.

http://www.askthebuilder.com/587_Shower_Drain_Odor.shtml

But, knowing a thing or two about plumbing (Korean and otherwise), I'd say it's because a drain trap wasn't built in your pipes. A drain trap is an 'S' shaped curve that traps water, thus preventing odors from coming all the way through.