Help regarding paved over inspection cover for drain!

keystone

af2909 wrote: »

They are 1930's maisonettes/semi detached properties I've seen that one the other side has one and there is a "new inspection cover" on the other side

So it may well be that you don't have one at all and that your drain joins (one of) your neighbours at the inspection chamber in their garden. Find out by lifting their cover (with their cooperation of course) and getting someone in your house to flush the loo whilst you stare meaningfully into the hole waiting for the rush. No joy at the first then try the second. If you strike lucky then you've found the route and also an entry point if youi are determined to have a CCTV survey done.

It's quite clear that they've paved over the inspection cover, hence the need for a CCTV survey to find where the inspection point is

Well sorry but not to me it isn't. This thread started off by sugegsting you might have one under your extension but seems to have crept out to the patio somehow with little evidence that such is the case. The former is much more likely to my mind that is if you've actually got one (see above).

Also - just to confirm when I put the branch in I have to replace above with plastic and therefore I cannot fit the branch over the cast iron downpipe (as thats what has been done upstairs)

Well no you don't have to but try an imagine how you intend to hold between 10 and 12 feet of 4" cast up (having cut a section out of course to make way for a branch) whilst you slip the new plastic branch in. It's bloody heavy!!!!! If the upstairs loo already has a plastic branch then presumably the vent above the branch is also plastic so in reality all you need is a single length of plastic to replace the already cut down cast which you will noew cut doewn again. Its a question of practicaility more than anything else.

Cheers

af2909_2

keystone wrote: »

So it may well be that you don't have one at all and that your drain joins (one of) your neighbours at the inspection chamber in their garden. Find out by lifting their cover (with their cooperation of course) and getting someone in your house to flush the loo whilst you stare meaningfully into the hole waiting for the rush. No joy at the first then try the second. If you strike lucky then you've found the route and also an entry point if youi are determined to have a CCTV survey done.

Well sorry but not to me it isn't. This thread started off by sugegsting you might have one under your extension but seems to have crept out to the patio somehow with little evidence that such is the case. The former is much more likely to my mind that is if you've actually got one (see above).

Well no you don't have to but try an imagine how you intend to hold between 10 and 12 feet of 4" cast up (having cut a section out of course to make way for a branch) whilst you slip the new plastic branch in. It's bloody heavy!!!!! If the upstairs loo already has a plastic branch then presumably the vent above the branch is also plastic so in reality all you need is a single length of plastic to replace the already cut down cast which you will noew cut doewn again. Its a question of practicaility more than anything else.

Cheers

I'll try the inspection cover next door, although I did leave the tap running and saw nothing come through - out of interest why would there be no inspection cover installed?

keystone

Because they are normally only needed where two or more drains join, the contents mingle together and carry on their travels as one. I have two inspection chambers in my garden. One where my down stairs loo and my upstairs loo join together and one further downstream where my neighbour's upstairs loo joins that. Neighbour doesn't have one on his property - he only has one loo.

Cheers

cyclonebri1

Ah the joys of not having a shared drain.:T:T:T:T

Sorry that's my joy;);)

af2909_2

Thanks again all

I am 99.99% certain that the drains run across the back of my garden and join the sewer at the back of my property (as I know my front drains are soakaway).

I'm still thinking though that it would be worthwhile to have an inspection chamber fitted, as in my head I suppose it's better to be safe rather than sorry in the unlikely event that our drains get blocked/damaged and given that upstairs will be liable for half.

Would I also be correct to assume that it could (rightly I suppose) spook future buyers as the surveyors report would point this out (even though ours didn't - but that's another discussion for another time )

Cheers again :beer:

af2909_2

keystone wrote: »

Well no you don't have to but try an imagine how you intend to hold between 10 and 12 feet of 4" cast up (having cut a section out of course to make way for a branch) whilst you slip the new plastic branch in. It's bloody heavy!!!!! If the upstairs loo already has a plastic branch then presumably the vent above the branch is also plastic so in reality all you need is a single length of plastic to replace the already cut down cast which you will noew cut doewn again. Its a question of practicaility more than anything else.

Cheers

Just to confirm, upstairs only put a plastic branch in, the rest of the pipe remains as cast iron. However as you say it would probably be a good idea to have a plastic length which connects to their branch and mine, without replacing the 3/4 feet length which is concreted in place at the bottom

:beer:

cyclonebri1

af2909 wrote: »

Thanks again all


Would I also be correct to assume that it could (rightly I suppose) spook future buyers as the surveyors report would point this out (even though ours didn't -
Cheers again :beer:

I think you know the answer to that;);), it has to bee the right thing to do to resolve this for the future and even just for your on peace of mind in the present time.

keystone

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ah the joys of not having a shared drain.:T:T:T:T

Sorry that's my joy;);)

Yes and your totally your output if it blocks too!

Cheers

keystone

af2909 wrote: »

I am 99.99% certain that the drains run across the back of my garden and join the sewer at the back of my property (as I know my front drains are soakaway).

You need to differentiate between fould drains and surface water drains though. As an aside if your surface water draiange is to soakaway then you can get a rebate on your water charges (having applied for it) for that element of the sewerage charge which covers surface water. It is automatically assumed unless claimed/shown otherwise that surface water is carried away for treatment and you are charges accordingly

I'm still thinking though that it would be worthwhile to have an inspection chamber fitted, as in my head I suppose it's better to be safe rather than sorry in the unlikely event that our drains get blocked/damaged and given that upstairs will be liable for half.

I'm sorry but I really don't see the point. If your drains are like the second terrace from the left in the diag I poster earlier you should find one where your private drain meets the sewer anyway. Why on earth would you need another?

Hang on a minute - what do you mean "upstairs would be liable for half"? Sorry to have to say it but it's a bit depressing when new information which might have been germane at the top of the thread is suddenly thrown out late on. In this case it doesn't matter that much though. Are you saying that this property has two maisonettes (ie built that way) or is it a conversion into two flats? If its only a single soil stack between two you don't need an inspection chamber where yours and upstairs join because that happens in the stack. The hace one where they join discussion is about horizontal separation not vertical?

Would I also be correct to assume that it could (rightly I suppose) spook future buyers as the surveyors report would point this out (even though ours didn't - but that's another discussion for another time )

No idea but you've now made me one slightly confused bunny thats for sure.

Cheers

keystone

af2909 wrote: »

Just to confirm, upstairs only put a plastic branch in, the rest of the pipe remains as cast iron. However as you say it would probably be a good idea to have a plastic length which connects to their branch and mine, without replacing the 3/4 feet length which is concreted in place at the bottom

Yes you don't need to replace that last bit. Actually you shouldn't because the moment you start digging and doing things underground you invite LABC in to inspect it before you fill the hole in again. That costs money of course.

But I'm still slightly baffled about the late breaking news that you have an upstairs neighbour. If the property only has one loo now and its upstairs and that belongs to the neighbour what do you use? Perhaps you shouldn't bother answering that this early on a Sunday.

Cheers