Soil stack leak

[Coldness8388]

I noticed a damp patch in my garage today. I don’t think it’s been there very long but can’t say how long. On further inspection, the floor is very damp around the base of the soil stack that disappears into the floor presumably to couple up with the sewer feed under the garage. Pipe itself is dry and doesn’t seem to be leaking above the pipe anywhere as has remained dry even after emptying a full bath

I’ll need to remove some of the plasterboard to get access to the pipe. I presumably need to replace a seal between the stack pipe and the pipe it connects to but worried about whether I can remove the stack as it disappears into the floor.

 

[CountryFan]

Run every outlet as Bath might not be lowest connection

 

[HERTS P&D]

Check to see if there is a blockage in the manhole.

Andy

 

[Coldness8388]

Thanks for the suggestions. Bath may not necessarily be the lowest connection. I do have a downstairs loo which has its own separate stack which presumably connects to the sewer up or downstream of the main stack in the garage or could it travel under the floor and tee in to the main stack. The kitchen sink, dishwasher etc runs to a drain outside which again presumably connects to the same sewer pipe

I’ll try and have a look in the manhole tomorrow, I have two manholes on the property to see if I can see anything.

I have a drain snake thing somewhere, may be able to use that to try and clear a blockage. I would need to figure out where a blockage could be first which might be tricky without a cctv.

 

[Coldness8388]

Presumably there should be an inspection point on this stack somewhere where I may be able to use rods or a snake thing. Bloody developer encased the whole thing in plasterboard so looks like that’s going to have to go regardless.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Presumably there should be an inspection point on this stack somewhere where I may be able to use rods or a snake thing. Bloody developer encased the whole thing in plasterboard so looks like that’s going to have to go regardless.

Very rare for it to block in the Vertical Section, (unless a waste pipe has been pushed too far into a Boss and is protruding into the stack and collecting waste), access points fitted to stacks tend to be to offer access Downstream, if it isnt possible to work upstream from a Chamber.

Lift Manhole cover, get someone to flush the WC and see if you can see or hear anything at the Chamber. If you know which direction the Stack is(should) be coming from and no flow appears (or noise from falling water can be heard), then rod in that direction, you should feel any blockage.

 

[Coldness8388]

Couldn’t resist having a look this evening. So this is the easiest chamber to access. The left hand channel connects to the downstairs WC and the middle channel is connected to the 1st floor WC and presumably the bath and where the soil stack in the garage is draining to. I haven’t worked out what the right hand channel is connected to. I ran the kitchen tap and there was no flow at any of the channels. The water runs from bottom to top of this pic.

There is another manhole further up the garden but need keys to lift that one and presumably it’s access to the main sewer as it runs to and from the neighbours.

 

[Coldness8388]

Confirmed that all upstairs outlets run through said soil stack out to the middle channel in the chamber. I see flow when flushing WC and running sinks and baths.

Could it still be partially blocked? Or more likely to be failure or a seal? Off to get some rods this afternoon to see if I can locate a blockage.

I think the right hand channel is the connecting pipe from a couple of neighbours, which what the plans seem to show.

Not sure where my kitchen outlets run to however, there is a separate surface water drain on the plans so presumably there but don’t have a manhole for that pipe on my property.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Leave the kitchen tap running for 10-15mins while checking the manhole.

Andy

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Right hand inlet looks clean, I'd wager it's blanked off. Kitchen Wastes must go to the Sewer, if they don't you have a Cross Connection and it'll need rectifying.

 

[Coldness8388]

Could well be. Either way I’m quite confident the middle channel is the problem one. I’ve managed to get the rods down this evening until I met some firm resistance where I assume is where the pipe changes direction the other end to meet the soil stack.

Couldn’t feel much of a blockage and flushed through with a few toilet flushes and a bath or 2. I suppose only time will tell if I cleared anything as the damp floor in garage should dry up?

Not sure what next steps are now if it doesn’t dry up. CCTV? Cut into the soil stack? Could be messy

 

[HERTS P&D]

I use these and put my camera or jetter hose down the stack:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287304805446?var=589262196629&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749386&toolid=20006&_ul=GB&customid=CjwKCAjw8arQBhB9EiwAfIKdQm3HFE4P0UgRHpU5_IIc11VAqyOUL89XCsGo9DzMYIOsNVctL1aF1BoCv58QAvD_BwE|0AAAAADihhqWBoDInbbnAe-Ge1MJkmGEBn|CkEKCQjwzqXQBhCvARIwAPTjAGJoRVq7Cu-USkAaq-YbdtluLpgQ1qq-6kc-M2gRXLleiI9SCyOWjQQZ9SiBGgKjkA&gclid=CjwKCAjw8arQBhB9EiwAfIKdQm3HFE4P0UgRHpU5_IIc11VAqyOUL89XCsGo9DzMYIOsNVctL1aF1BoCv58QAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADihhqWBoDInbbnAe-Ge1MJkmGEBn&wbraid=CkEKCQjwzqXQBhCvARIwAPTjAGJoRVq7Cu-USkAaq-YbdtluLpgQ1qq-6kc-M2gRXLleiI9SCyOWjQQZ9SiBGgKjkA&loc_interest_ms=&loc_physical_ms=1006625&adtype=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17330739732&gbraid=0AAAAADihhqWBoDInbbnAe-Ge1MJkmGEBn

Andy

 

[foxhole]

I wouldn’t assume it drain related , is the garage single skin.?

 

[Coldness8388]

The garage is an internal garage with kitchen at the back where stack is adjacent to, hallway along the long side and neighbours garage the other side. I assume neighbours waste drains to the back of the garden and then joins the main sewer as shown in water company drawings.

I wouldn’t have thought neighbours waste joins mine underneath house before joining the sewer?