Broken drain pipe - how to repair

[welsford46]

Hi

Just spent the afternoon rodding the drains as I had two manholes full of you know what.

I think I've found the problem - I think a drain has been broken about 2' before the last manhole. Reasons for this deduction are that the last manhole was clear but had a fair bit of soil in and there is a 'rat' hole directly above where I think the break is. Steam was coming out of the hol;e when I was flushing with bath water. I reckon British Gas Transco must have broken it when they installed gas a couple of years ago (beofre I bought the property) as the rat hole is directly in line with the gas meter box!

I will try a call to Transco (or National Grid as they are now) to see if they'll do the repair...but in the meantiome I'll probably dig a big hole to have a look at what's broken.

What can be done to repair a section of drainage pipe...can you cut a bit in? It looks like it is ceramic?

many thanks

Richard

 

[noseall]

yes you can graft in a new piece of plastic or supersleeve (clay) using fernco rubber jubilee clip type couplers.

you will need a 12" skill saw as well.

 

[The_Scotty]

Measure the outside diameter of the pipe (or the inside bore if you dare) and find a local specialist that sells cast pipe (some of the plumbers merchants round here do).

Cut out a section of pipe and replace with new pipe and timesaver jubilee's either side.

 

[welsford46]

How easy is the pipe to cut - a wack with a chisel and hammer or something more sophistiacted?

I'll have a look at the damage this week if I can.

 

[big-all]

How easy is the pipe to cut - a wack with a chisel and hammer or something more sophistiacted?

I'll have a look at the damage this week if I can.

definatly dont hit it with a hammer and chisel as it will shatter
unless thats what you want

 

[Blasphemous]

welsford46,

big-all is right... don't use a hammer and chisel to cut it. The problem will get MUCH worse!

I suppose you could as noseall states, use a 12" Skill Saw to cut it or you could hire an Angle Grinder from HSS or Lord etc. Its about £25 on a day rate at HSS I think. They'll provide a Masonary Disk with it. It'll cut through the old pipe no problem.

A word of warning... Be VERY VERY careful. You mentioned something about Transco working in that area in the past. Make sure you're definitely NOT cutting anywhere near the Gas Main!!!! or an Electrical Main!!!! Cutting through either of those with an Angle Grinder could end up costing you your life! I don't know your level of competence in such matters but this might be one for the Pro's.

 

[Slugbabydotcom]

use a 12" Skill Saw to cut it

You mean a
STIHL saw

or you could hire an Angle Grinder from HSS or Lord etc. Its about £25 on a day rate at HSS

Or you could buy a 230mm
angle grinder for £17.94 which with an RCD and a bit of care would do the job cheaper

 

[Blasphemous]

I'm off to Argos!

 

[The_Scotty]

Done mine with an andle grinder. Took a bit of time but left a neat cut.

 

[noseall]

take a look at the damaged pipe and decide how much will need replacing. bare in mind that if it is old salt glaze you may need to cut out the female flange that houses the connecting male end, or else you won't get the rubber connector on.

once you have a measurement, go cut a new piece ready.

offer this new piece into place above the damaged section and mark the old pipe ready to cut. slide the couplers onto the new piece of pipe, sliding them beyond their final seating position so that you will be able to slot the graft into place.

clear all material from round the damaged pipe local to the intended cut. this will make it easier to get the coupler into place.

cut the old section out, drop the new in then slide the couplers into position.

tighten the jubilee clips. done.

 

[welsford46]

Cheers thanks for all the guidance much appreciated - I'm just waiting on National Grid to come and have a look to see if they reckon they broke it..if not I'll have a go