Can anyone please tell me what would be likely to be causing a disgustingly rancid, vomit-like smell to come from a cavity wall in the kitchen? We have only been in the house for a couple of months and the smell has only recently reared its ugly (or should I say "stinky"?) head!
Initially I thought it was the kitchen sink but I have done all the recommended checks re pipes, u-bends, gunge, disconnect outside waste pipes etc and they are all (now!) spick and span. BUT the smell is still there. I HAVE to get rid of this smell, even my two year old son is commenting on how stinky the kitchen is.
PLEASE, can you help??

Pam, January 2008

assuming you have eliminated all the other possibilities, you could use a cavity wall endoscope available to hire from a good hire shop, follow the hire firms recomended use and see for youself, be advised if your cavity has any form of insulation this may couse frustration. hope this helps.

john, January 2008

Cavity wall smells are usually caused by a small dead creature - mouse, bird etc - having got in there and perished. The problem is how to get it out.....no comments here! Sniff around one of the outside air bricks to see if there is any pong there. The cavity wall is of course sealed on the inside above floor level, unless your sink drain pipe goes through a hole which is larger than need be. Maybe lifting a convenient floor board would help you to trace the culprit? Maybe its the under floor cavity that holds the secret - it could even be a split waste pipe down there.

John, January 2008