Drains .

S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
As many will know, I am a plumbing and heating engineer primarily, and like to play with the below ground stuff where we can, but it’s not our main thing. Below ground drainage is groundworkers responsibility and not the plumber in this country (usually). Got a good customer with a few barn conversions and the latest one is having a problem with the shower backing up after 10 mins or so. Appears to be the 4” being blocked below the slab . I can’t get to it from above as it reduces to 40mm in the PIR level and then comes up under low level shower tray. Not a problem you think…. Just inspect/rod/jet from chamber….
But no. It’s been piped up (all new about 12 months ago) as per drawing.
The chamber is constantly about 50mm deep so original groundworker must have had a dodgy level/bad eyesight.
I’m not going to be a dick about it, just needs sorting , but as far as I am aware everything should be accessible and ideally all running separately to a chamber. I assume that this installation doesn’t meet building regs? I’m going to have to remove a kitchen unit and bust up the screed to find the 4” and then add an access branch there or something. Did we mess up by not checking the pre installed 4” routes before we stated 1st fixing ? WC/Basin/Sink all working lovely, just the shower waste. My suspicion is that a rubble sack has been shoved down the pipe at some points and is allowing some water through but not full flow.
Going to be fun to sort. Holiday cottage is fully booked as well :-(
 

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6

6feetdown

Well-known member
Stroppymonkey said:
As many will know, I am a plumbing and heating engineer primarily, and like to play with the below ground stuff where we can, but it’s not our main thing. Below ground drainage is groundworkers responsibility and not the plumber in this country (usually). Got a good customer with a few barn conversions and the latest one is having a problem with the shower backing up after 10 mins or so. Appears to be the 4” being blocked below the slab . I can’t get to it from above as it reduces to 40mm in the PIR level and then comes up under low level shower tray. Not a problem you think…. Just inspect/rod/jet from chamber….
But no. It’s been piped up (all new about 12 months ago) as per drawing.
The chamber is constantly about 50mm deep so original groundworker must have had a dodgy level/bad eyesight.
I’m not going to be a dick about it, just needs sorting , but as far as I am aware everything should be accessible and ideally all running separately to a chamber. I assume that this installation doesn’t meet building regs? I’m going to have to remove a kitchen unit and bust up the screed to find the 4” and then add an access branch there or something. Did we mess up by not checking the pre installed 4” routes before we stated 1st fixing ? WC/Basin/Sink all working lovely, just the shower waste. My suspicion is that a rubble sack has been shoved down the pipe at some points and is allowing some water through but not full flow.
Going to be fun to sort. Holiday cottage is fully booked as well :-(
Click to expand...
We try not to use anything other than proper stop ends anymore or bag and duct tape if short. So easy for something to go down the by accident or other.
Can you get a camera down it ?
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
6feetdown said:
We try not to use anything other than proper stop ends anymore or bag and duct tape if short. So easy for something to go down the by accident or other.
Can you get a camera down it ?
Click to expand...
Not from the shower as 40mm waste with 90s. Will have to get under kitchen unit and bust up screed around the point where 4" comes out of the slab. Might start taking a much harder look at below ground pipework before connecting to it in future. Am I wrong in thinking that everything should be roddable from the chamber?
 
Gunners

Gunners

Well-known member
If its a bag you might have some luck with compressed air blowing it back to the manhole. But really I'd be getting it camera'd, then you know exactly where your issue is and hopefully what it is you are dealing with before you have to take drastic action and break up floors.
Well worth the money because if it turns out its something you can deal with without having to break up the floor then you've saved the customer a lot more than the camera survey. And worst case at least you will be breaking the floor exactly where you need to access to solve the issue.
 
TiltyShaun

TiltyShaun

Well-known member
Gunners said:
If its a bag you might have some luck with compressed air blowing it back to the manhole. But really I'd be getting it camera'd, then you know exactly where your issue is and hopefully what it is you are dealing with before you have to take drastic action and break up floors.
Well worth the money because if it turns out its something you can deal with without having to break up the floor then you've saved the customer a lot more than the camera survey. And worst case at least you will be breaking the floor exactly where you need to access to solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Agree with what he says!!! Don’t go in blind!!
 
6

6feetdown

Well-known member
Stroppymonkey said:
Not from the shower as 40mm waste with 90s. Will have to get under kitchen unit and bust up screed around the point where 4" comes out of the slab. Might start taking a much harder look at below ground pipework before connecting to it in future. Am I wrong in thinking that everything should be roddable from the chamber?
Click to expand...
If The 40mm was above grd level you'd be able to just strip it obviously and access the 110mm.
As gunners said maybe seal the other inlets and blow air down to try it.
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
was gonna be my suggestion too ... :giggle::giggle:
Gunners said:
If its a bag you might have some luck with compressed air blowing it back to the manhole. But really I'd be getting it camera'd, then you know exactly where your issue is and hopefully what it is you are dealing with before you have to take drastic action and break up floors.
Well worth the money because if it turns out its something you can deal with without having to break up the floor then you've saved the customer a lot more than the camera survey. And worst case at least you will be breaking the floor exactly where you need to access to solve the issue.
Click to expand...
WP_20230831_12_21_36_Pro.jpg WP_20230831_12_27_33_Pro.jpg WP_20250117_15_50_07_Pro.jpg
works a treat in Wales -- a good bolas of water in the line aids ejection :giggle:
WP_20230831_12_27_15_Pro.jpg WP_20250117_15_50_01_Pro.jpg WP_20250117_15_55_21_Pro.jpg
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
Gunners said:
If its a bag you might have some luck with compressed air blowing it back to the manhole. But really I'd be getting it camera'd, then you know exactly where your issue is and hopefully what it is you are dealing with before you have to take drastic action and break up floors.
Well worth the money because if it turns out its something you can deal with without having to break up the floor then you've saved the customer a lot more than the camera survey. And worst case at least you will be breaking the floor exactly where you need to access to solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Can you get a camera that will bend down around 40mm pipe and 90 degree knuckle bends? Not got one but always happy to buy new tools! We cant get up from the bottom as its teed off main line. We know EXACTLY where to dig as we have photos from installation.

1739815496369.png
1739815505548.png
 
JD450A

JD450A

Feral as Fk 🐾
Stroppymonkey said:
Not from the shower as 40mm waste with 90s. Will have to get under kitchen unit and bust up screed around the point where 4" comes out of the slab. Might start taking a much harder look at below ground pipework before connecting to it in future. Am I wrong in thinking that everything should be roddable from the chamber?
Click to expand...
Come borrow my camera.
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
Stroppymonkey said:
Can you get a camera that will bend down around 40mm pipe and 90 degree knuckle bends? Not got one but always happy to buy new tools! We cant get up from the bottom as its teed off main line. We know EXACTLY where to dig as we have photos from installation.

View attachment 69454View attachment 69455
Click to expand...
hmmm is that bonded into the rubber reducer grommet ? air could have consequences :oops:
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member
V8Druid said:
hmmm is that bonded into the rubber reducer grommet ? air could have consequences :oops:
Click to expand...
Yes all solvent glued joints. Not easy to get to it from top end either so breaking into as per photos is best option IMHO. Could replace with a 50mm tee with rodding access as its under the kitchen plinth. Push fit rubber joint below that. As you say - air could have consequences !
 
S

Stroppymonkey

Well-known member

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