Diy drain repairs - Can i repair a private sewer?

[lebodge]

Hello

Myself and 2 elderly neighbours share a private sewer. This blocks occasionally, and my neighbour called out a camera operator who located a partial but solid blockage (looks like a brick) which will have to be dug out. The council are about to issue an enforcement notice to have the drain repaired - but we prefer to fix it ourselves (my neighbours are pensioners and are very worried about the cost).

The blockage is half a meter down under my neighbours drive, where my drain runs into the shared drain. We propose to dig up the drain, cut the top off the 'tee', remove the blockage, bank the now exposed gulley with concrete and fit a manhole above it.

All the work is on private property and my neighbour is happy to have his drive dug up. I am a competant DIY-er.

Can I go ahead and make the repair? Are there any regulations that I might fall "foul" (ho ho!) of?

Thanks
Ian

[danensis]

I've always found BCOs most helpful if you go to them with a problem, rather than trying to fix something they will inevitably find out later you have bodged. Go and ask them if there is anything in your plans with which they would have concerns. You don't even have to admit to doing the work yourself, just tell them you want to get the specifications correct.

[lebodge]

Hi

This isn't part of a building project - it's just a blocked drain! The drain has been a problem for years, occasionally blocking up, but has got very much worse lately, so that something has to be done about it.

Do you think I should approach the BCO anyway?

The question really is whether there is some regulation which means I must have the work done by an approved contractor, or can I do it myself - to a proper standard, of course!

Ian



Ian

[flowjoe]

Technically speaking you probably should consult your BCO, though to be honest not many drainage contractors bother for what are basically repairs to existing systems.

I assume that that their is no way of retrieving the brick to the point that the CCTV Survey was undertaken, or of pushing the blockage through to the larger diameter main sewer.

Tony has posted pages on the site showing how to install sections of pipe work/chambers into existing systems, what you have to work out is the type of connection required, the load the chamber will have to carry and any detrimental affect this load may have on the pipe work if the base of the chamber is not supported sufficiently.

The cheapest option would be to excavate onto a straight section of pipe work and to cut into the crown of the pipe so as to retrieve the obstruction, you can then simply cap the top of the pipe off using lead, surrounded in concrete.

With regard to specifications the fall on the pipe work is already determined, so just pay attention to the pipe bedding or chamber base support required. From a health and safety point of view i dont know how you would go on if you cut through the gas/water/electric as obviousley contractors carry additional insurance for such works, should you live to recieve the invoice !

You could even approach a contractor to install the new pipe work/chamber after you have carried out the excavation in order to keep costs to a minimum, get several quotes before you do anything it may well be worth using a decent contractor to get the job done once and done correctly.

[lebodge]

Hi

Thanks for the help. I've found the inspection chamber page, which is useful - I'll be getting on with it on Friday, which will please my neighbours no end! I think it is worth the extra effort to put a chamber in, in case it happens again.

You point about other services is noted - I'll take due care!

Ian