Manhole in garden just purchased property and want to extend

Vic1988

Hi

I have just purchased a house and upon collecting the keys I have noticed a manhole cove in the back garden!
I believe this was covered by the vendors garden furniture!

Our water and drain searches did not highlight the manhole and searches said there is no water mains drainage etc in the boundary of the property.

Next door have an extension (we have a semi detached house)

The searches showed public pipes etc two doors down and in next doors garden but to the side furthest away from our property.

What should we do in regards to the extension should we call the water company to ask about the manhole or try something else?

Thanks

Robin9

Have you lifted the lid ? From the line of the pipes you might be able to work out where its coming from and to.

Flush your loo and see if its associated with your waste. Also ask your neighbours to do the same

G_M

workout what the pipes are serving. Where do they come rom where do they go?


Water divining to follow the line of the pipes underground? Worked for me!


Or just run taps/loos till water comes along the pipe!


(don't forget to run a hose up into the gutters- could be run-off from the rof.

Vic1988

Not yet!

We plan to lift it tomorrow!

Is it wise to call the water company?

Vic1988

What am I hoping for? Eg what is the best outcome if we hope to extend?
Also any idea why it did not show on the searches?

Davesnave

Vic1988 wrote: »

What am I hoping for? Eg what is the best outcome if we hope to extend?
Also any idea why it did not show on the searches?

What you are hoping for is that it's your drain alone, and not very deep.

Then you can extend and probably move the inspection chamber/drains as part of your build, but without knowing more, no one here can advise on the practicalities.

AdrianC

Vic1988 wrote: »

Also any idea why it did not show on the searches?

Because the searches show what's on the official maps - and what's in the ground can differ from the maps.

We had a BT crew here a little while back, replacing a pole. The previous day, they found out the hard way that the water main map was wrong, and the pipe was the other side of the road to where the map said. It was, they assured me, quite an impressive demonstration of the fallibility of the maps...

Vic1988

Davesnave wrote: »

What you are hoping for is that it's your drain alone, and not very deep.

Then you can extend and probably move the inspection chamber/drains as part of your build, but without knowing more, no one here can advise on the practicalities.

Went to the house but we couldn’t get it open! So will need to go back and try again!

Looked over the garden to the right without an extension they have one in the same place (we are not attached to this house).

Knocked next door the house attached to ours that have an extension to ask if they moved anything when building but they have only been living there for two years so old owners did the build. They did say they have two down the side of the house.

Any ideas how we can get the manhole open?

Does the above information make any difference?

Thanks

quotememiserable

If you post a picture of the cover I can tell you how to get it open