Move/Remove Sewer Vent

iharding

There is a metal vent, standing about 20cm above ground level, in line with the side wall of my front garden. The wall is built around the vent. I've been told this is a sewer vent, and judging by the position of an inspection cover in the adjacent shared driveway and similar vents in other front gardens this makes sense.

I want to demolish the wall between shared drive and garden so it's possible to park in front of the house on the garden. But this would leave the sewer vent right in the way, and it's too high to drive the car over.

The water companies make it clear that homeowners are responsible for all pipes within their boundaries - which this most certainly is - but does this mean I own it and can make changes, or only that I have to fix any leaks that occur?

Can I just get a builder/plumber in to relocate the vent to a more convenient location, is there an official process that must be followed, or am I just out of luck and it can't be moved?

Thanks,
Ian

karl-123

yes you can move the vent but its going to cost you,
it lets air in and out of the sewer to stabilise the flow in the pipe,
i have not done any work on one but i remember them being part of my,
city and guilds 603-1/2
have you looked into why its there...... ? are the sewer pipes small, inadequate fall, ect,
" maguires rule " states 1 in 40 inches ( fall ) for a four inch pipe,

anotherbaldrick

A slight mis-definition, not a sewer vent but a fresh air intake to the drainage system to your property. It will connect to the final manhole of your drainge system before it exits to the sewer . You must have an old property because the vent indicates the presence of an interceptor trap in this final manhole. In the old days all connections used to have them but about 1950 these went out of fashion and modern houses have no interceptor trap or vent. They used to have a mica hinged flap in the grill but most have long since dissapeared.
This vent is your property and if you wish to relocate it a short distance to one side you are free to do so.

Oldsoak

Not sure of the legal position, you would have to phone the water board. However, it may be that they would move it for you. If they wont, but say that you can, then it is easy enough to get it done. If, as you say, there are a lot of them on your street, then you should be able to cap it if it is a vent (you only need one in the street not (usually) one per house. If it isn't a vent, it might be an inspection/rodding point, in which cas it could still be moved but it would be unwise to cap it.
1st point of call should be the water company for clarification and legal responsibilty.
Good luck.

karl-123

why cant he fit a stack on the house,and join to the existing branch ?
or like the previous poster suggested block it off,if there are loads of them,
only problem there is if you do, it so will everyone.
ps. i just remembered they are air inlets, just like a durgo valve,

anotherbaldrick

Oldsoak wrote: »

Not sure of the legal position, you would have to phone the water board. However, it may be that they would move it for you. If they wont, but say that you can, then it is easy enough to get it done. If, as you say, there are a lot of them on your street, then you should be able to cap it if it is a vent (you only need one in the street not (usually) one per house. If it isn't a vent, it might be an inspection/rodding point, in which cas it could still be moved but it would be unwise to cap it.
1st point of call should be the water company for clarification and legal responsibilty.
Good luck.

Oldsoak , you are talking about the wrong thing ! this is not the 6"sewer vent standards like lamp posts but the short stubby thing at low level which a lot of houses ,mainly in city properties used to have fitted.

anotherbaldrick

Oldsoak wrote: »

Not sure of the legal position, you would have to phone the water board. However, it may be that they would move it for you. If they wont, but say that you can, then it is easy enough to get it done. If, as you say, there are a lot of them on your street, then you should be able to cap it if it is a vent (you only need one in the street not (usually) one per house. If it isn't a vent, it might be an inspection/rodding point, in which cas it could still be moved but it would be unwise to cap it.
1st point of call should be the water company for clarification and legal responsibilty.
Good luck.

DO NOT CAP IT OFF. As I mentioned, it's presence indicates an intercepting trap in the final manhole. If you cap it will cause air to be locked in the system by the trap and problems in not draining away freely

ormus

modify it to summat like this one.




or just drill a few holes in the existing manhole cover.

ormus

karl-123

manholes are allready vented ......... and have twin sealed rims
and if its cast iron ......... you will have a job on to drill it.....

a short stack on the house with a durgo valve is the best sugestion so far " by me "

ariba10

We live in a terrace of older houses and most of them have move the drainage vent pipes, to suit various building projects that have been done.