Discussion
We've got a blocked drain, but I'm unsure of it's purpose. It just a grate in the floor in the drive, in front of the garage so it only collects rain water. Would this be a soakaway, or is there any easy way to tell?
Thames Water don't hold any drainage plans and weren't a lot of use
. Who is likely to hold drain or sewerage plans for the property - house builder (if so how do we find out who the builder was?), Land Registry, County Council or other?
I tried pouring down some caustic soda and giving it a mix up with a pole, but after poking through ~2 feet of thick black stinky stuff it goes solid and feels like the bottom rather than a blockage.
Thames Water don't hold any drainage plans and weren't a lot of use
. Who is likely to hold drain or sewerage plans for the property - house builder (if so how do we find out who the builder was?), Land Registry, County Council or other?I tried pouring down some caustic soda and giving it a mix up with a pole, but after poking through ~2 feet of thick black stinky stuff it goes solid and feels like the bottom rather than a blockage.
there will probably be a u bend at the bottom.
I've cleared one this afternoon. two buckets of well rotted leaves.
In the past we had one of these jetting firms out but other than spray filth all over the area they didnt do much. I ended up using thick rubber gloves and heaving it out by hand.
Might sound stupid but play safe. People drown while clearing drains by slipping and getting themselves in a position where they cant get leverage to get out again.
I've cleared one this afternoon. two buckets of well rotted leaves.
In the past we had one of these jetting firms out but other than spray filth all over the area they didnt do much. I ended up using thick rubber gloves and heaving it out by hand.
Might sound stupid but play safe. People drown while clearing drains by slipping and getting themselves in a position where they cant get leverage to get out again.
Progress - I got it to clear and all the standing water has now gone. Using a bit of wood I stirred it up and it just drained away. I can feel a hole in the side of the drain, it it maybe 12" from the bottom. I chucked a few buckets of water down it and it went straight away. But the thick black sludge remains, and it has some water sitting on top of this. But the level of water is just above the hole I can feel in the side, I guess this is the natural level it sits at rather than there being a blockage elsewhere down the pipe.
There is no way I could get to the bottom of it so won't even try, I'll have to find some other way of clearing it all out.
I guess the drain hole in the side isn't at the bottom so that stones etc don't go down it - but surely there will always be a foot of water sat there, stinking away?
There is no way I could get to the bottom of it so won't even try, I'll have to find some other way of clearing it all out.
I guess the drain hole in the side isn't at the bottom so that stones etc don't go down it - but surely there will always be a foot of water sat there, stinking away?
Thames only hold records for drainage they own, which means they probably don't own it - it sounds like its your private connection or a soakaway. I'm not sure which - I know plenty about Thames drains, but private surface water lines I know little about - though it sounds more like a connection out onto the main surface water line than a soakaway from what you've described. Is there a rodding eye from what you can see/feel?
I'd personally just get someone out to clear it, chances are it'll be a very quick job.
I'd personally just get someone out to clear it, chances are it'll be a very quick job.
It'll be a storm drain, to help protect against the garage from being flooded in heavy rain.
Does your driveway slope down towards your garage?
And do you have a lawn, tree or plants close by?
I have the same problem with mine you have to clear up all the grass cuttings otherwise when it rains they all wash into the drain and very quickly clog it up. (same for leaves etc)
Does your driveway slope down towards your garage?
And do you have a lawn, tree or plants close by?
I have the same problem with mine you have to clear up all the grass cuttings otherwise when it rains they all wash into the drain and very quickly clog it up. (same for leaves etc)
Depending on the age of your house there might not be too many plans anywhere, try water jetting it, running a hosepipe down or rodding it. If you`re interested in drains and there`s a manhole in the vicinity lower down in the road see if you can take the manhole off, if its a busy road be careful ( and watch out for turds, you might have combined storm and sewer ) put dye down the blocked/partially blocked drain, as it runs away see if the dye comes past the manhole you`re looking into, if it does you know where your drain runs.
Pobolycwm said:
Depending on the age of your house there might not be too many plans anywhere, try water jetting it, running a hosepipe down or rodding it. If you`re interested in drains and there`s a manhole in the vicinity lower down in the road see if you can take the manhole off, if its a busy road be careful ( and watch out for turds, you might have combined storm and sewer ) put dye down the blocked/partially blocked drain, as it runs away see if the dye comes past the manhole you`re looking into, if it does you know where your drain runs.
If you do that be bloody careful though, unless its a new estate the manhole will be owned by whoever provides your sewage services and as such you shouldn't open it - if you drop the cover in there or do something to damage it you could be liable for a big bill.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff