Kitchen Gully - should it have gravel in it?

The_Governor

Our gully outside the kitchen (which takes water from the sink and dishwasher) had been a bit smelly recently.

I took the grate off and found that the tube which goes directly downard is chock full of gravel, so much that it's like someone has done it deliberately?

Is it likely that gravel would be used in a gully, because I'm thinking of scooping it all out in case it is blocking the flow of water away to the drains and then causing the smell?

Also, at the top of the neck of the gully pipe there is a hole with a rubber stopper in it, which was not in place, I'm guessing that is some sort of overflow protection?

andrew-b

Shouldn't have gravel in it and could explain the smell.. Put some gloves on (disposable latex ones useful for such jobs) and fish it all out. Make sure you scrub your hands/arms thoroughly after as all sorts of germs may be lurking down your drain.

Andy

wallbash

Question is ... how did it get there??

As Andy said , wear gloves , hold your nose and hope for a windy day.

The_Governor

Thnaks guys, it does reek (I lifted some out already) but there's got to be a whole carrier bag full of gravel down there I reckon, which made me think it was deliberate.

Like you I couldn't work out how so much had gotten down there by accident!

andrew-b

Is it big gravel or the small pea shingle chippings? Reason i ask is that when a drain is laid it is usually buried in pea shingle. Could it have come through the hole that takes the rubber stopper (not sure what that's for!)?

Andy

Ebe_Scrooge

As to how it got there - in my last house we had a similar thing. The guttering / downpipe was from a flat roof, and all the little stone chippings from the roof were forever washing into the drain. I ended up putting a bit of fine wire mesh over the top of the downpipe - but then had to regularly clear the stones off that ! But at least it was easier than grubbing around up to my elbows in smelly drains.

westy23

I have caught next doors kids putting gravel down the drains,
little angels are,nt they.
well i was