Blockage between gully and manhole

Minkybob

I have a blocked pipe between the kitchen gully at the back of the house and a manhole at the front of the house. The gully serves a toilet sink, kitchen sink and washing machine, the house is a terrace (next door is the end of terrace). There are a number of manholes, one is in my front garden and two more in the front paths of neighbours either side.

Plumber 1 put a CCTV rod down the manhole in my front garden and said he could see the stack from upstairs and that the manhole was clear, he didn't think the gully was connected to this manhole. Thames water have since been round and don't know which manhole the gully leads to but since all 3 are clear they have taken this as confirmation of no liability.

I expected this but thought they might be able to fill me in on where the gully goes. I would like to to minimise any further call out time for plumber 2.

What do you advise to do next? Is it preferable to locate / clear the blockage from the manhole direction or can it be done vice versa?

Thanks in advance!

EachPenny

Minkybob wrote: »

I have a blocked pipe between the kitchen gully at the back of the house and a manhole at the front of the house. The gully serves a toilet sink, kitchen sink and washing machine, the house is a terrace (next door is the end of terrace). There are a number of manholes, one is in my front garden and two more in the front paths of neighbours either side.

Are you sure it is the pipe blocked and not the gully? If all that is going into the gully is water from sinks and the washing machine it is very unlikely to block the pipe, unless the pipe has been damaged and collapsed.

A blockage is more likely to occur in the trap of the gully. Have you had this cleared?

Otherwise, can you post some pictures of the insides of the manholes and some overall pictures showing how the different manholes relate to each other position-wise?

Minkybob

EachPenny wrote: »

Are you sure it is the pipe blocked and not the gully?

No I'm not sure, although the plumber did have a go with a plunger rod to no avail which would suggest the issue extends further down the line.

I'm not at home at the moment so cannot take pictures right now,

I can try to expand further on the manhole locations, first my neighbour who is at the end of terrace, there is a foot path along the side of their house with a manhole just next to the street (approx 3m from my boundary) ,then their house.

Next my house , the 2nd manhole is in my front garden (approx 2m * 1.5m) the manhole is less than a metre from the building.

The next house is set back and on a corner (think end of a cul de sac ) there is a path from the street that leads to this house and the manhole is on it, close to the pavement (approx 1.5m from my boundary).

FreeBear

EachPenny wrote: »

A blockage is more likely to occur in the trap of the gully. Have you had this cleared?

With all the food waste & grease from the sink coupled with fibres generated by the washing machine, a blockage in the gully is most likely. Lift the grate off, and shove your hand down there (after putting on a rubber glove) and scoop out all the gunk. If that doesn't clear the blockage, it might be possible that a fatberg has formed around a mortar snot between the clay pipes. In which case, shoving a hose pipe down there may clear some of it.

EachPenny

Minkybob wrote: »

I can try to expand further on the manhole locations....

Being a terrace it is quite likely there is a sewer running along the back of the properties to the end of the terrace, at which point it will head out to a sewer in the road.

The manholes of interest will be the one(s) in your back garden, possibly the neighbours, as some houses might have a direct connection onto the sewer, rather than a manhole.

It is possible there is a pipe running from the back of your property to the front manhole, but in my experience this would be very unusual.

The problem with manholes in back gardens is they often get sheds or patios built on top of them. You may need to do some detective work to find where they are, although if the sewer is serving more than one property then it is likely to be the responsibility of Thames Water to sort out any blockages on that part of the system. (you are still responsible for the gully and connecting pipe)