Any ideas what could be causing the bad smell from our electric shower?

Question

We've got an electric shower that is at least 5 years old. About 4 months ago we changed the hose attachment on it and the new hose is a bit longer than the old one. In the last 2-3 weeks, a really bad smell has been coming from the shower for the first 10 seconds or so that it's turned on, the smell then completely disappears.

I've read things on the internet about fishy smells from showers meaning that the cables could be melting, but I wouldn't describe this smell as fishy, it smells more like babie's nappy's or something!

We thought it might be water collecting in the longer hose and stagnating so we shook all the water out of the hose each time we used it the last couple of days, but we're still getting the smell.

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this smell and how we might go about getting rid of it??

Answer 1

sorry i haven't a Clue i suggest you buy a new shower better safe than sorry

Answer 2

if the hose is fine, then try checking where it connects to the shower unit, or even look in side the unit.

Answer 3

Obviously the hose is the problem,Take it off and soak it in water and bleach overnight then replace it.

Answer 4

If you mean you changed the drain hose? The drain hose should have a "U" bend in it, this is a sewer gas trap. It lets some water stay in the lower U part to form a water trap that keeps bad smelling odors from traveling up the drain pipe. The reason it quits is because you run water in the shower and it blocks the gas - well it blocks it until you turn off the water.

Check your new drain hose and make sure it has this U bend in it. If not try to configure it so it does, use nylon zip ties to hold it so the U bend works.

Answer 5

The use of the longer hose for the time before you first emptied it has allowed fungus to form within the hose.Now each time you empty it,the fungus growth remains and reinfects any new moisture.Despite emptying the hose,if you are replacing it then droplets will immediately gravitate to the lowest point(probably where the fungus is).

Clean the hose with bleach or antifungal solution or simply replace the hose and reorganise your shower hose.

Answer 6

Sure it is not coming from the drain?