Plumbing Question...

Gavin83

Section62 said:

Mr.Generous said:

I use a smidge of petroleum jelly on the pipes to ease insertion.

Petroleum jelly can attack plastics and 'rubber', so isn't a good choice to lubricate uPVC pipes and connectors.

A better choice would be a silicone-based lubricant (formulated for the purpose), e.g. -

https://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-silicone-spray-40ml/3290F

...or of the things people already have at home then washing up liquid (as suggested by happyhero) is probably the least-worst option, although I'd make sure to use it diluted rather than applying it neat.

What about water based lubricants than some people might *ahem* have lying around the bedroom?

grumbler

Gavin83 said:

Section62 said:

Mr.Generous said:

I use a smidge of petroleum jelly on the pipes to ease insertion.

Petroleum jelly can attack plastics and 'rubber', so isn't a good choice to lubricate uPVC pipes and connectors.

A better choice would be a silicone-based lubricant (formulated for the purpose), e.g. -

https://www.screwfix.com/p/floplast-silicone-spray-40ml/3290F

...or of the things people already have at home then washing up liquid (as suggested by happyhero) is probably the least-worst option, although I'd make sure to use it diluted rather than applying it neat.

What about water based lubricants than some people might *ahem* have lying around the bedroom?

Those that all people have laying around in kitchens and bathrooms are much cheaper.

Beverley75

Ectophile said:

Just to worry you a bit - does your house have separate storm water drains and sewers?  A previous owner of my house had decided to route the waste water from the kitchen sink, through an outside pipe to a handy external drain - rather like yours.

A few months ago, I had the local water company sniffing around, trying to work out where the pollution in their surface water drains was coming from.  It turns out that whoever had fitted the pipe from the kitchen sink had directed it to the wrong drain.

I had to drag out the washing machine and re-plumb the kitchen sink back into the soil stack, where it was supposed to be, before I started getting legal letters from the water company.

Thanks @Ectophile - after a panic 😂 - I've double checked and it's going into the sewer (you can't see it in the picture but the down pipe from the gutters goes into the storm water drain further along).

Thank you so much for flagging it 💐