1930's interceptor trap - rodding hole "tea pot lid" went missing after some cowboys worked on the drains. Depending who you speak to, these aren't necessary on a vented system, as mine is, but I have noticed the occasional sewer whiff in the garden since it went walkabout and there are no blockages, so I think it's just sewer gas coming through the open rodding hole. Just wondering if they're a standard size and I can just buy a push fit type cap?
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Interceptor trap rodding hole cap replacement
- Thread starter Stu666
- Start date
OP,
Measure the opening, photo it, and then go to a local plumbing suppliers for an Expansion Plug.
Measure the opening, photo it, and then go to a local plumbing suppliers for an Expansion Plug.
Spied these on Screwfix - https://www.screwfix.com/p/bailey-94-110mm-drain-test-plugs-2-pack/62513
Is this the sort of plug that would do the trick?
Is this the sort of plug that would do the trick?
The trouble with that is, when the manhole get blocked and is full of sewage, there is no way of getting to it.
Andy
Andy
Don't fit a drain test plug, they are not infallible, can and do fall out and will cause havoc when it does. If you're lucky, it'll come forward into the chamber, where it should be retrievable with suitable tools. If you're not and it goes backwards, it could be a total PITA to get out. I wouldn't recommend tying a rope to it either, rope may rot, or rats will chew it, so you're back to square one. There is also the issue of safe access to the chamber to fit it.
It isn't essential to block off the Rodding eye, if odour is an issue I'd be looking at where it may be escaping, and looking to deal with that. Assuming system is correctly vented via the soil stack, any low level vents can be blocked off, check chamber where Interceptor is located, is there a pipe coming in at high level? this may lead to an old Air Admittance Valve which is now stuck open or missing, allowing odours to escape.
It isn't essential to block off the Rodding eye, if odour is an issue I'd be looking at where it may be escaping, and looking to deal with that. Assuming system is correctly vented via the soil stack, any low level vents can be blocked off, check chamber where Interceptor is located, is there a pipe coming in at high level? this may lead to an old Air Admittance Valve which is now stuck open or missing, allowing odours to escape.
No low level vents present and and no high level pipe in the interceptor chamber. My logic is that when the "tea pot lid" was present, I never noticed any odours, unless there was a minor blockage, which used to happen fairly regularly due to waste snagging on broken ceramic pipe just before the interceptor. This has now been repaired and I haven't had a blockage since. Just the occasional waft when stood near the chamber covers, of which there are two. In fact one day the smell was so bad, I opened the cover fully expecting to find a blockage. To my surprise it was clear, however, through the rodding eye hole I spied a turd just a little further into the sewer pipe which was clearly the source of the offensive smell. I'm pretty sure had the tea pot lid been in place, I wouldn't have smelt it.
OP,
Well said, keep on doing the right thing.
Simply do what I suggested in post #2 - & get an appropriate sized expansion plug.
Why would it fall out when they are commonly used to test systems under far greater pressure than found in an interceptor trap?
They were always fitted to interceptor traps to:
1. prevent rats entering the manhole and 2. to prevent sewer gas escaping.
Well said, keep on doing the right thing.
Simply do what I suggested in post #2 - & get an appropriate sized expansion plug.
Why would it fall out when they are commonly used to test systems under far greater pressure than found in an interceptor trap?
They were always fitted to interceptor traps to:
1. prevent rats entering the manhole and 2. to prevent sewer gas escaping.
I've got some of these, the rubber has perished and gone crusty really quickly, in about two years. Not really recommended for anything other than one-off jobs.
Some photos of the hole would be useful.
Poster #8,
Do you have any pics showing your drain test plugs?
Do you have any pics showing your drain test plugs?
If odour remains an issue, you've another problem, the missing stopper wont be it. Fresh Turds wont cause too much of a smell, chances are there's a build up of sewage somewhere in the system that's slowly going septic, and giving rise to the pungent fragrance that is offending you.
I will reiterate my advice not to use a Test Bung, these are designed for short term use, either for testing a pipe, or holding back a small amount of flow, I wouldn't trust one on a longer term basis, notwithstanding the danger of entering the chamber to fit the thing in the first place. The fact you are noticing odour could indicate the presence of sewer gases, entering that chamber without taking suitable precautions could be extremely risky.
I would be looking to see where the odour is escaping from, if it's the chamber cover, then look at ways of sealing it, (grease around the rim of the frame to make an airtight seal there is one such option). May also be worth contacting your Sewerage Undertaker to ask them to check the main sewer off the property where yours connects to.
I will reiterate my advice not to use a Test Bung, these are designed for short term use, either for testing a pipe, or holding back a small amount of flow, I wouldn't trust one on a longer term basis, notwithstanding the danger of entering the chamber to fit the thing in the first place. The fact you are noticing odour could indicate the presence of sewer gases, entering that chamber without taking suitable precautions could be extremely risky.
I would be looking to see where the odour is escaping from, if it's the chamber cover, then look at ways of sealing it, (grease around the rim of the frame to make an airtight seal there is one such option). May also be worth contacting your Sewerage Undertaker to ask them to check the main sewer off the property where yours connects to.
Poster #8,
Still waiting to see the pics of the drain test plugs - you know, the ones you have two of?
Perhaps the OP, seeing he has a one off-job would also like to see them?
Still waiting to see the pics of the drain test plugs - you know, the ones you have two of?
Perhaps the OP, seeing he has a one off-job would also like to see them?
If this https://www.bes.co.uk/media/catalog...2in-drain-pressure-test-plug_min_1960_P_1.jpg is what you are referring to, then as I, and several others experienced with UK Drainage systems have said, it is NOT suitable for this application.
A hostile and unhelpful post has been removed
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There is a way to plug the rodding hole - not using a test plug, but I don't want ree to abuse me so I'm keeping quiet for now. But you mention 2 manhole covers - what's the second one do ?
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