Metal cover in bathroom floor - ventilation?

Lukas wrote on Sat Jan 8, 2022 8:44pm:

Maybe a very stupid question but there is some sort of ventilation shaft under a metal cover in both our bathrooms. At first, I thought it's drainage for water on the floor but then I noticed it's screwed in tight. So I went to unscrew it and investigate :) Inside is a hole and a bit of water aro...

 

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...und it. It smells a little bit.

What is the purpose of this? Since it's covered and sealed, it's not really doing anything. However, when opened, there seemed to be a draft. There is one in each bathroom and then one in the "technical room" (where boiler, washing machine etc. are). The one in the technical room smells. Is it OK to pour some cleaning chemicals in there? Or at least boiling water?

tebo53 wrote on Sat Jan 8, 2022 8:52pm:

Is there a pipe joint beneath the cover?

Steve 

Mickymouse wrote on Sat Jan 8, 2022 9:28pm:

Definitely  part of the drain system , easy way to prove is take the cover off  and open the sink or shower tap a LITTLE bit and you should see the water pass through.

 It is supposed to act as a trap for the smells etc

Lukas wrote on Sat Jan 8, 2022 9:36pm:

Ha! Indeed water flows through. Cheers for the help.

So it should be safe to clean it with chemicals designed for plastic pipes, right?

Barry Young wrote on Mon Jan 10, 2022 5:41pm:

I have them in my villa and was told that they are there if you flood the bathroom. You unscrew the screw and let the water drain away.

I hope this is useful.

Stevec2x wrote on Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:26pm:

Sorry Barry, but I don't believe this for a minute! It's for access to blocked drains. Would you rather disconnect your toilet/basin if your drain was blocked?

Cheers 

 

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Steve