Making the right connection

[griers]

Hi,

Great site! Need some extra advice.

I'm planning to install some linear drainage at the low point of my patio (about 3m from house wall) as clay soil means I get a shallow pond at the end of the patio after heavy rain.!

I need some advice on where and how to connect the outlet from the linear drain.

I have a combine foul/surface water system. Up against the house wall is a gully taking kitchen waste water into a pipe that runs parallel with the house wall, around a corner and a few meters up a side path to a man hole (two other pipes join this manhole on the house side from the toilets etc).

I can't run directly into the gully as it higher up than the linear drains, so should I try and connect to the pipe running from the gully to the manhole or even direct to the manhole. The problem with the manhole is that the side path that it is situated in is narrow and only really allows new access from the same side as the existing pipe from the gully. (the web page suggests breaking in from the side for combined systems).

Any advice greatfully recieved

Steve

[steve r]

Would there be sufficient fall if you lowered the pipe from the gully?
Might be easier than laying a new pipe.
You'll probably find an elbow under the gully, all you need to do is replace it with a T fitting and fit an extension between it and the gully.

[Tony McC]

I was thinking "summat simliar" Steve. Although the gully is higher than the propose linear channel. The pipework connecting the gully to the rest of the system may be low enough to allow the installation of a simple AC that could be used to connect-up the linear channel.

Have you had a dig around the gully, Griers? Any idea what's happening with the connecting pipework?

[griers]

Thanks for the replies,

I've been digging around the gully on Sunday. The gully is a simple affair, just a clay trough about 30cm deep with an exit to the left at about water level. I think there must be an additional trap type arangement directly next to outlet in the side of the gully as the gully outlet seems to head upwards at first. All the pipe work seems to be of the clay variety and encased in concrete (at least the little bit i uncovered next to the gully was).

Can I break into the very bottom of the clay gully somehow with a new pipe from the linear drain. That should give me the fall I need.

This is my first attempt at this sort of stuff!

Cheers
Steve

[steve r]

Not a good idea.
I think what you are describing is the trap.
If I were doing this job I would replace it and a short length of pipe with plastic fittings, then you could insert a T and couple up to the linear drain.
You will need an additional trap to the drain as you're connecting to a foul sewer.
Wickes sell a suitable plastic linear drain in 1 Metre lengths at a very reasonable price.

[griers]

Thanks Steve,

I'll give it a go.