Hark, what yonder smell doth waft from ’neath the sink? ’Tis the festering stench of sewage. For the wind doth blow from the east and Juliet hired not a decent plumber. Yikes!
No matter how odor-free an apartment may seem in Beijing when we are hunting for a new home, once we move in, and there is a change in the direction of the prevailing winds, a peculiar funk begins to waft into my nasal cavities.
It appears that regardless of the building complex, there is trouble getting plumbing done properly in Beijing. I should explain that “by properly”, I mean that the water should flow down the drain and the sewage smell should not flow up the drain.
Even when a sink has decent pipes and a U-joint, often the connection to the floor pipe is not properly sealed. Consequently, as in our new kitchen, every time someone uses the sink in a flat above ours, we get a burst of less than fresh air – the gift that keeps on giving. And if the wind is blowing hard outside, woof, the whole place can reek.
So one key order of business in the next few days is to locate a plumber who can solve these piping problems, or I’ll be forced to take matters into my own hands.
In the master bath, I was able to institute a temporary measure by wrapping the pipe connection with duct-tape (I didn’t have packaging tape which actually works better) and placing a couple of quick ties around each pipe to ensure the tape stays sealed. By keeping the sink drain plug closed when not in use (and taping the overflow drain), the tide of foul air has been stemmed until the pipes can be properly fitted.
Unfortunately, the kitchen is going to take more drastic measures. It’s either that or we get a hotel room, as the smell really is unbearable. Then again, sometimes the bathroom drains in hotel rooms can smell bad too. Maybe it’s time we just went camping.
