Is this a drainage problem???

[goldbyron]

Hi

I moved into my home (freehold and mortgaged so no freeholders or landlords applicable) 3 weeks ago. This morning the downstairs toilet made some bubbling noises although no plumbing appliances were being used in the house. Anyway I plunged the toilet a few times after flushing it as at first it seemed to take a bit of time to take the water away. Anyway it started flushing/clearing fine and no more bubbling. This prompted me to look in my back garden and open the manhole cover! In there I could see that there was murky water which was not drained away. After some experimentation today (what a way to spend a day) I noted that the levels filled after say a bath and then slowly reduced although did not clear to below the big pipe I could see in there. There are no problems in the house with draining water away or anything like that and the water is not rising to any levels that threaten to flood or overspill. However I suddenly remembered that a damp contractor called in when we had the survey noted some minor levels of damp on the ground gloor area which is near this pipe which seems more than coincidence.... Anyway I suppose I am asking:

1. Is it normal for some water to sit in the drains like this and/or does it take a while to drain away?

2. If not I am assuming that there is a blockage somewhere past the drain to my house as it drains okay from my appliances yet not past the external drain. I am end terrace so does this become the public sewer?

3. Do I ring Thames Water (the local water authority), Dyno-Rod or a plumber?

4. Could this problem have been there for months or even years and therefore although needs fixing is not an emergency?

Thank you!

 

[Nige F]

2 it may be a public sewer - it may be a private sewer - best to have a google - and also input the age of the house because pre `36 ( I think) the water co. is responsible . The areas are as grey as the water lying in the drain - Call out whom you wish , you know whose going to be the most expensive You don`t need a Gas Safe plumber for that job. You might find you are near to Hertsdrainage - he posts on here quite often . Good Luck. 4 - no it`s not an emergency and not necesarily a broken pipe causing any damp round your house.

 

[digdilem]

It's not normal for foul drainage to sit in the pipe. You have a blockage of some sort, sir.

Be it roots, collapsed drain, sanitary towel, fabric wipe or lost ferret - something needs doing. These things never get better by ignoring them. (I've tried!)

Buy some drain rods and have a furtle. Always useful things to have anyway (for getting shoes off telephone wires too - long story), and not too expensive. If rodding doesn't fix it, I would probably look at the legal side as you're end terrace. I don't know much about the legals here, other than it can get complicated.

Being terrace, I'm guessing mains drainage rather than septic, but if the others drain through your property they may have some liability too. If you're top of the drain and the blockage is in your bit, it's your own tough luck (probably).

Whatever you do, DO NOT CALL DYNOROD! £200 call out I've been charged by them, plus £75 for 20 minutes work - on a week day too! The benefits of being a known brand. Use a local drainage specialist if you need drainage sorting, not a general plumber. They won't have the gear and prefer to work inside near to a kettle.

Might well be worth talking to the council.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Normally these are easily to clear (should I be saying that) If you can get a set of rods, you can have a go yourself. Remember to always turn the rods clockwise and don't use the screw end. Diyers have a habit of breaking something or get it stuck.

You will have to work out which way you need to rod, sometimes this can be hard to work out.

If you get stuck and need to call out a drainage company, get a fixed price over the phone. We offer a no fix- no fee policy. Not many companies do that but phone around.

Andy

PS Thanks Nige.

 

[goldbyron]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who responded (including Herts who I think I spoke with on the phone yesterday!). In the end Thames Water came out this morning as the house is pre 1937....so thank you so much for that advice. The man just opened the manhole cover to the front of the property, stuck the rods down and cleared a small log of sewage. We went to the rear and amazingly the man hole was now empty of all water so problem solved in 5 minutes and at no cost whatsoever. He said it was just a general build up of waste that caused a slow blockage. Very relieved it was that simple and it was an instant free response. Very happy for having a pre-1937 house and makes my water rates more worthwhile! Thanks again.