Buying a house - what is this manhole?

Rain_Shadow

nanny_beach

Local authority searches, even searches with water companies, dont seem to be much help. You can run water down sinks, flush toilet, put a bit of food colouring in, so you can see its movement. Highly likely waste water. If you are going to put decking over it, make sure its easiliy removed. This summer my loo blocked up, Our drain cover is under a conservatory floor,Hubby laid laminate, you can get to it, but of course, it does mean removing the laminate, and of course there would be a huge amount of pressure. Discovered it was eminating from our immediate neighbours, they had had work done, there was a pice of rag and a lot of fat blocking it. 4 of our manholes go into one.They all swore blind they dont put any fat down they drain. Word of warning DONT, every frying pan, cake mixing bowl etc. is wiped out with kitchen paper, which is put in bin. We have concrete floors, so if you got a block in a pipe, it means digging up the kitchen or bathroom floor. We were lucky, in 2 respects, my neighbour couldnt get hold of a plumber, it was early morning, the local water board (waste) came out for free, and the neighbour the other side had a manhole on his drive.

cannyshopper_2

they often seem to be placed where there is a change of direction or where two channels join up. I have one in my back garden.

The local water company has plans of the drainage scheme in the area, and this drain is shared by several properties. This means its the responsibility of the water company (rather than me) to maintain it.

My only issue is that it provides the only access point for 3 of my neighbours, so if they report problems its MY garden that gets invaded by workmen.

As Apodemus says, the alternative would be for them to start digging - which might be problematic for a couple of them as they have built conservatories over their drains!

Doozergirl

Something like that is a good thing. And totally, ordinarily boring. Ours is right outside my back door.

It's only the bad landscaping that makes that one stand out. It can be disguised in nunerous ways.

marksoton

If it's an eyesore to you simply buy a recessed cover that's infilled with block paviors or similar.

JamesAbb

Hi guys,

Thanks you for all suggestions, great to know it is common.

What's best, that I've checked past properties for sale on that street and saw one with the same cover, so it's not just that house!

DaftyDuck

That's TWO portals to the netherworld. Where's Buffy when you most need her?

Shakin_Steve

I can't believe that you've never come across one of these before, they are everywhere.

Davesnave

DaftyDuck wrote: »

That's TWO portals to the netherworld. Where's Buffy when you most need her?

You jest, but at the bottom of my old garden was Chamber 59, the point at which three sewers met before passing over a sort of weir and disappearing into.....well, no one was 100% certain.

There were rungs in the brickwork, should anyone wish to climb down. Strangely enough, I never did.

When we first moved in, we were peturbed to see two men ambling down the garden with some sort of tools in their hands. These were the drain inspectors. That's what they did, all over the city. When they reached Chamber 59, they'd lift the lid, look inside, nod and then replace it. This was the weekly check.

Sometimes, the men would have a cup of tea and a sandwich by our pond. If they saw us looking, they'd just wave.

After about two years, the City Council lost control of the sewers to private company, Wessex Water. The men stopped inspecting and no one ever checked our Chamber again. We know, because we installed a lockable 6' gate.

Chamber 59 wasn't a physical portal into another universe, but with the passing of the weekly inspection, one small door on a different world quietly closed.

Hoploz

Sometimes it's imprinted onto the manhole lid what it is, eg 'foul sewer' or whatever