Blocked drain in garage

iwant2asave

Hi,

I have a drain in my concrete floor garage of a 1940s house that has started overflowing in heavy rains.  It's next to a manhole cover and from what I can see both rainwater and toilet/bath water go into the pipe that leads to this drain.

My question is, is this something that I should be getting someone to clear privately or might this be something I should contact water company to help with.  I found it a bit confusing from the Thames Water website to work out.  Thanks,

ButterCheese

If it's on your property (i.e. within your boundary) then the water company isn't responsible.  Private firms will do the job, just make sure you get someone who comes recommended.

Lorian

I would expect that's a manhole cover for a sewer. Plenty of sewers run across private property without being the home owners responsibility.

p00hsticks

ButterCheese said:

If it's on your property (i.e. within your boundary) then the water company isn't responsible. 

I don't think that's always the case - we live in an end terrace and the drain for two other properties goes though ours - It's always been my understanding that as it is shared the water company would intervene rather than expect us to sort it out

FreeBear

The P trap at the bottom is probably silted up. Get a pair of marigold gloves & a soup ladle. Scoop out as much of the muck as you can, and then poke a hosepipe down to clear the rest of it. If you lift the manhole cover, you can monitor the water flow.

Alternatively, if you have a wet-vac, you could suck all the crud out with one.

iwant2asave

FreeBear said:

The P trap at the bottom is probably silted up. Get a pair of marigold gloves & a soup ladle. Scoop out as much of the muck as you can, and then poke a hosepipe down to clear the rest of it. If you lift the manhole cover, you can monitor the water flow.

Alternatively, if you have a wet-vac, you could suck all the crud out with one.

Perfect, this was exactly what it was.  Thank you!!