Recent content by EssexAndy

Thanks very much, that's really helpful. My system has a hot water cylinder with a motorised 3-way valve. I will have a look at the thermostats you have suggested.

I have given up on the Honeywell thermostat which like the previous 2 or 3 has developed a mind of it's own. I have followed the Technical Departments instructions to wire in capactitors across various terminals & the suggestions from others who have suffered the same problem. The unit I am...

Thanks, that makes sense. I'll give him a call and see what he thinks. Anything will be better than trying to access the manhole covers.

Not sure I'm with you on this... please humour me. So I would access the internal soil pipe (at ground level). Such that I could look down a 6" hole in my kitchen floor. This soil pipe will go down into the floor a couple of feet or so and then turn to be horizontal. The pipe will then go...

Thanks for the reply, Ian. - The 2 soil pipes run vertically down internal walls and are boxed in. I guess the answer is that they are accessible. - Only the sections that run the length of the extension have been lined. It is impossible to line the 2 'spurs' that go off at right angles to...

The extension on the side of my house was built 10 years ago on top of 8 pillars/piles (4 x 2 pattern). I now need to get access to the ground underneath the middle section (drain problem - see my other threads...) I have explored all other solutions and getting access to the drains beneath the...

The extension is built on piles. The rats are getting out of the drains into the void under the extension. From there they have chewed holes in the periscope type air vents that sit in the cavity wall to provide circulation to the void. This sort of vent...

Update to this thread... The interim solution has been to fit a Vermend Rat Blocker device (http://www.vermend.co.uk/) on the pipe leading that exits the extension. These don't come cheap but since fitting one of these (6 months ago) - I have had no rats getting into the cavities or anywhere...

This could be a good interim solution (I say interim, this problem has been going on for almost 8 years) http://drainstore.com/water-rat-and-vermin-non-return-valve-anti-flood-valve-110mm-i605621.html Knowledge of this product, if it works, could have saved a whole lot of pain... Provided I've...

Thanks Frank - all good points. To which I have answers to all of... :D At the end of the day, killing the rats or preventing them from accessing the cavity walls & loft is not the end of the story. I need to keep them in the drains and out of the void under the extension. I doubt the house...

Thanks very much - I really appreciate your help & support. I will, more than likely, take the course of action you suggest. I will take the precaution of an additional opinion on the source of the rats before proceeding - as the outlay for that will be pennies compared to the potential work &...

This is my thinking. One of the soil pipes only services an en-suite bathroom and I think this could be routed inside the house/extension to the other soil pipe. That would mean connecting only one soil pipe up to the new drain system. The big question is whether any contractor would be...

Diagram... I've had to take a photo of my PC to capture this... I was hoping to upload the Excel spreadsheet. But clicking on photo gives a reasonable image.

There are 2 manholes concealed under the extension - both have T's that accept the soil pipes from the house. The soil pipes will be plastic, although the actual drainage pipes they connect to will be terracotta (or whatever is used). I'm trying to attach a diagram which will be worth 1000 words...

Hi, Yes, the drains were surveyed with CCTV and a crack was found. This lead to the entire straight length of drainage being lined (i.e. that runs the length of the extension i.e. about 35 feet). The operator actually captured rats on the video footage - something he said was extremely rare (I...