Clogged up soakaway

connaught07

Hi

Just moved into a property that has a small drain in the driveway, which must go to a soakaway. However the water does not "soakaway" and instead just forms a nice big puddle. Talking to neighbours this has been the case for years, I did try to take the water out and then using my hands tried to investigate. It felt like some of the drain was broken and also appeared to be a u bend type connection down there.

This does cause a huge nuisance (wet shoes/socks when getting out of car), can someone please suggest what tools or tricks I need to investigate or try to tackles this further?


Thanks

Inch_High_2

Drain rods.

zaax

Its going to have to be re-dug. Don't forget to put porous sheeting over the crates - lot of people forget that and the soil just pours in at the next heavy rain fall.

connaught07

Was hoping/praying to not have to dig it up, as tarmac driveway and I guess will be costly and a nightmare.

Did attempt with rods but not getting very far due to the u bend I think.

anotherbaldrick

No such luck, get digging and when you get the bottom ensure ground is permeable and will drain . A soakaway in clay is a bummer.

greyteam1959

How do you know it is a soakaway ???
If you can get your hand down & feel something broken that will be where your problem is I think.
A soakaway would be several metres long not just an arms length.
Sounds to me like a broken pipe

connaught07

Mervyn1

How do you know it is a soakaway ??? Good question, it just looks like that is what has been set up.

Your commment may be on something, I certainly coul dnot feel anything long but that could just be the u bend getting in the way. Also there is definitely some damage to the pipe.

cyclonebri1

connaught07 wrote: »

Mervyn1

How do you know it is a soakaway ??? Good question, it just looks like that is what has been set up.

Your commment may be on something, I certainly could not feel anything long but that could just be the u bend getting in the way. Also there is definitely some damage to the pipe.

I's say leave the Ubend and replace from thereon, but if you can feel damage/broken pot, you simply have no alternative than to redo.

Look, all soakaways fill with s!!t! over time, 50 years is tops.
Come that time you need a big hole, bfilled with gravel or preferably drainage crates, min 5mtrs from your and NB properties and a feed from the roof..

The confusion sets in because for a soakaway you don't need a trap/swan neck, but for ease of construction many fitted them.