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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:17 pm
by Pavlos
I'm gonna give some chemicals a try, just to see. I know when I went round yesterday it took a few flushes to fill up, so fingers crossed whatever was there yesterday has seeped away, leaving little to no water by the blockage to dilute the stuff...
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:55 pm
by flowjoe
Many companies offer a free CCTV Survey service because as sean says they can put the costs onto the insurance, they work on the bases that if 6 out of ten surveys show an insurable risk then they can legitimately submit an invoice, and in the process pick up some repair works. Its not the way we work and many of the lads working for these outfits are on a crap basic wage and they have to build up their wage by finding work for the company (and occasionally work that doesnt need doing).
I would always suggest you find a smaller local contractor, ring your local housing department and see who they use to look after their housing stock, they would normally have a list of up to three reputable contractors.
Let us know how you go on
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:25 pm
by Mikey_C
You could try your in or out water board, ours (southern water) did a cracking service. Failing that try your insurance company first they may want to appoint there own team/contractor, they me even come out on a bank holiday.
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:06 am
by matt h
most local firms should have camera, but as suggested try your insurance first, if you are covered that is. if one shot works, suggest you research drain layout as you will undoubtedly need to locate manhole in the future. good luck:)
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:22 am
by Pavlos
Thanks. I've spoken to Southern Water and they are initially going to come and check the main sewer to make sure that isn't blocked. Will check my insurance tonight too, and will also ring the housing department for some recommendations...
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:33 pm
by flowjoe
It used to be that as the customer the likes of southern water would come out and offer help and advice, they now tend to turn up, lift a manhole cover three streets away, tut and erm a bit and say nowt to do with us and off they pop.
Your insurers (bricks and mortar) tend to put the onus on you to prove it is an insurable peril that has caused the blockage before they send anybody out, unless you have one of those utility company plans for blockages and plumbing.
What you have that these other bodies dont is a sense of urgency so im afraid it is often the case that you have to part with the hard earned ££££££ before you can get anyone to assist you.
I hope i`m wrong on this occasion but hang onto any paperwork/reciepts that comes your way as you can often claim mosts costs back if it is an insurance job
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:55 pm
by Pavlos
Actually the guys from Southern Water were't too bad. Well I got a call last night saying they were at my house (where I was not), I told them it would take half an hour to get there, and they didn't mind waiting around. When I got there and they realised it was pretty much a private blockage they offered to do what they could and have a look at me problem. Would have given the rods a go if I had a manhole too I reckon. Well they couldn't do anything, and even apologised for the wasted trip.
Called the insurance today to see if I was covered since it would cost more than my excess for someone to come out and jet the thing. Apparently I'm covered for unblocking and whatever needs doing, just need to pay the excess. Someone calling in 2 or 3 days apparently. Don't mind the delay too much since I have somewhere to stay...
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:49 pm
by matt h
all's well that ends well:D
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:40 am
by Pavlos
Man with camera turned up and managed to check out the drain with the access hole next to the toilet. It went down around 7.5 metres (somewhere under my conservatory I think) then there was a blockage of toilet paper and he couldn't shove it past there. Plus the camera couldn't see past it. His suggestion now, to prevent any damage to conervatory, is to dig down outside to find the pipe, then enter it that way with rods or jet or whatever. Someone else coming round on Thursday to try and do that. I guess that means breaking the pipe and replacing that section. At least I don't lose loads of conservatory tiles. Unles they find out it's collapsed and needs replacing...
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:13 am
by flowjoe
Pavlos
Strange way of doing things, turning up to a blocked system with a camera ?.
While they are supplying the labour and digging down to the pipe i would slip them some extra and have a chamber/rodding point installed for future access. Your insurers will class this a betterment and won`t contribute but plastic chambers are fairly cheap
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:25 pm
by lutonlagerlout
surely you would try and rod it first and foremost?
if unroddable then try the camera?
LLL
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:45 pm
by Pavlos
flowjoe wrote:Pavlos
Strange way of doing things, turning up to a blocked system with a camera ?.
While they are supplying the labour and digging down to the pipe i would slip them some extra and have a chamber/rodding point installed for future access. Your insurers will class this a betterment and won`t contribute but plastic chambers are fairly cheap
Well he turned up with all the equipment, but since there is a lack of access the camera was his only option. The area they were planning to dig under on Thursday, under the paving slabs, turns out to be concrete so I guess they'll have to dig further away from the conservatory.
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:05 pm
by flowjoe
Fair play to them they seem to be having a go, you have a very understanding insurer or you pay one hefty premium to get that kind of service.
The first question we get from insurers is "is it ware and tear" (whatever that is ?) or "is it shared" either way they are looking at losing all or at least halving their costs. It is very rare for them to fund the clearing of a system.
Let us know the final outcome
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:20 am
by matt h
flowjoe wrote:Fair play to them they seem to be having a go, you have a very understanding insurer or you pay one hefty premium to get that kind of service.
The first question we get from insurers is "is it ware and tear" (whatever that is ?) or "is it shared" either way they are looking at losing all or at least halving their costs. It is very rare for them to fund the clearing of a system.
Let us know the final outcome
wear and tear is depicted and and broadly defined as damage caused directly due to the age of the components or building materials etc, as opposed to accidental or damage which has occurred which has been related to external factors such as falling tiles and lightening strike.Some times it is difficult to prove that wear and tear does not apply, and therefore the ombudsman gets involved. Most insurance companies assesors are only emplyed to reduce the insurers costs, and even in some cases get paid bonuses on the amount they reduce claims by, so they are not generally there to assist the consumer. 
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:56 pm
by flowjoe
Matt
I was being a little ironic in my question, as i have discussed on many occasions with loss assessors down the years i have yet to see a salt glazed pipe eroded away over its 100 years service.
The materials used if installed correctly will and do last 100 years+, but your insurers dont ask you to survey the system on your property to check its condition because its over 30 years old.
They take your ££££ every month without hesitation but when a problem occurs they then throw Ware and Tear into the equation.
Poor installation/workmanship, accidental damage, misuse of a system Yes. wear and tear ? i have yet to see a claim on a drainage system thrown out for this reason