Just out cleaning the patio i noticed a fishy smell from the rear waste gully and the slate chippings in the channel nearby was wet and slimy (smelt bad too). Scraping back the slate the soil was wet and black. I looked in the drain itself (the gully?) and it is about 1 foot deep. I got gloves and reached down to find a lot of gunge in the bottom of the gully as it goes into the trap. I got a hose and blasted the rubbish through but it felt as if the pipe had cracked. I cannot see any damage down the pipe but felt a sharp edge under the bend and was able to drag out some black soil/stones from what felt like the crack.
I am awaiting a builder to come out and quote but a few questions.
If the pipe is cracked, how come the water remains at a constant level i.e. around 3 inch above the bottom?
Would a leak really make it back up to the top of the soil (under the slate chippings)? There is a chance the waste water from the washer has simply splashed onto the slate chippings as it hits the grate on top of the drain.
Is this an urgent fix? We had the patio (slate) laid a few years ago and there was no evidence of leaking then.
If i recall the Water Board came and fixed the same area around 12 years ago.
Any and all help is appreciates guys before i get stung by a builder. The trap/gully is glazed earthenware by the way and the house was built late 30's.
I am awaiting a builder to come out and quote but a few questions.
If the pipe is cracked, how come the water remains at a constant level i.e. around 3 inch above the bottom?
Would a leak really make it back up to the top of the soil (under the slate chippings)? There is a chance the waste water from the washer has simply splashed onto the slate chippings as it hits the grate on top of the drain.
Is this an urgent fix? We had the patio (slate) laid a few years ago and there was no evidence of leaking then.
If i recall the Water Board came and fixed the same area around 12 years ago.
Any and all help is appreciates guys before i get stung by a builder. The trap/gully is glazed earthenware by the way and the house was built late 30's.