Clay Water Drain Issue

[Fergie Ploughman]

We've had a water drain issue, had to dig down about 7" to find the clay pipe and break the top out. The hole is really awkward, pipes, wires and obstacles everywhere! We've had a jetter up it, along with a root cutter and got it all flowing well....as usual tree roots have been the problem. We can get into inspection chambers downstream, but almost impossible upstream. We'd temporarily covered over the open top clay pipe to stop rubbish getting in it and all is good so far so we're letting it all dry out. We've now had a camera up it and we've seen a bloody stone about 2 metres up stream from the open top section, which we must have shoved up there with drain rods! The challenge now is how can we get the stone out before we repair the pipe. We cannot get in up stream of it to push it, either by rods or lots of water! The only way is to pull it out - question is, how ?? Its a 6" clay pipe and the stone is probably 4" or so. I think if we leave it in it will silt up and block again in the future. I'm wondering what we could put on the end of a drain rod to hook it and pull it back....any bright ideas ?

 

[Cowmansam]

Like a hinge that only goes out to 90 degrees so lays flat going forwards opens out coming back

 

[Kidds]

First thought is a homemade corkscrew with a very course thread and only just fits in pipe. Screw it past the stone to draw it back.

Second thought is strong vacuum cleaner using suction pipe extension

 

[Macsky]

We've had a water drain issue, had to dig down about 7" to find the clay pipe and break the top out. The hole is really awkward, pipes, wires and obstacles everywhere! We've had a jetter up it, along with a route cutter and got it all flowing well....as usual tree roots have been the problem. We can get into inspection chambers downstream, but almost impossible upstream. We'd temporarily covered over the open top clay pipe to stop rubbish getting in it and all is good so far so we're letting it all dry out. We've now had a camera up it and we've seen a bloody stone about 2 metres up stream from the open top section, which we must have shoved up there with drain rods! The challenge now is how can we get the stone out before we repair the pipe. We cannot get in up stream of it to push it, either by rods or lots of water! The only way is to pull it out - question is, how ?? Its a 6" clay pipe and the stone is probably 4" or so. I think if we leave it in it will silt up and block again in the future. I'm wondering what we could put on the end of a drain rod to hook it and pull it back....any bright ideas ?

Get one of the half moon hinged scraper attachments and grind it small enough to get passed the stone

 

[Kidds]

Like a hinge that only goes out to 90 degrees so lays flat going forwards opens out coming back

Got one of those you can have for free. It will push the stone further and get itself stuck too!

 

[zero]

Slurry tanker and a 4" pipe? Or bigger pipe might be worth a try if thats what you've got?

 

[Cowmansam]

How about a stiff bit of fencing wire and bend the end a touch should be thin enough get past easily

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Yes...very wary of hinged flaps, buggers for getting stuck....that said at two metres, its probably unlikely. Its about the only thing we can think of. A vaccy tanker with a 4" hose is a definite one to consider, and also the bendy wire approach. Its a frickin' pain working in a V shaped hole 7" down...

 

[robs1]

Isnt it easier to measure the two.meters and just break into.the pipe

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Isnt it easier to measure the two.meters and just break into.the pipe

Afraid not, we're surrounded by obstacles...pipes, wires, tarmac, etc very awkward...

 

[robs1]

Afraid not, we're surrounded by obstacles...pipes, wires, tarmac, etc very awkward...

Then vacuum tanker might work, did it with our house drain that some idiot put best part of whole toilet roll down.

 

[Cowmansam]

Then vacuum tanker might work, did it with our house drain that some idiot put best part of whole toilet roll down.

Must have had a serious case of the squitterrs

 

[robs1]

Must have had a serious case of the squitterrs

No knocked of the top of the cistern and flushed it rather than stick his mitt in and pull it out.

 

[Cowmansam]

Some folk are a special level of dense

 

[Zebbedee]

Push the jetter pipe up with no water coming through then when past it turn the pressure on and pull stone back towards you simples,,,

 

[Dry Rot]

Got one of those you can have for free. It will push the stone further and get itself stuck too!

...as I know to my cost! Thinking of tying a rope to the end and trying to pull it out with the tractor. Will the flange break first or the rods??

Thinking of digging my pipe out, all 50m, then relaying. Do it right, do it once.

 

[Zebbedee]

Almost certainly both,,,do you know how many rods you put up? Then dig at that point after all that is probably where the problem you were trying to sort is anyway

 

[Dry Rot]

Almost certainly both,,,do you know how many rods you put up? Then dig at that point after all that is probably where the problem you were trying to sort is anyway

Yes, I have the spot marked. But while the digger is here, it occurs to me to dig the whole bloody thing out or tree roots will simply block it again! It is not the digger that costs but the transport.

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Push the jetter pipe up with no water coming through then when past it turn the pressure on and pull stone back towards you simples,,,

I think it would push the stone further...

 

[Paddington]

There is a danger that the half moon will get behind the stone then jam. I use a home made wire grappling hook for cleaning out a valley gutter where I can't get a half moon to fit. Four pieces of V shaped fence wire, about 5cms long tie wrapped at 90 degrees to each other round a drain rod. If the thing does get stuck, then a good pull will just straighten the arms out.