Opening up a burst drain

[BAC]

How much do you actually know about me? Your answer is most likely to be nothing as I'm actually a drainage engineer. I'm one of a team who go out and survey the fields, take soil samples, discuss the problems with our clients and then go back to the office and draw up the scheme to be installed.

I never said there wasn't a manhole, I said it was unlikely and seeing as 90% of the manholes we install are subsurface I suppose you suggest digging up the whole of his field to find it at 800 below GS.

Next time you think your being clever and cutting someone down to size as is your way on this forum instead of agreeing or putting another point across just take a minute and think.

We aren't talking about installing new drains so your post is irrelevant to anything I have said. Problem solving is completely different to installing a new drain.

All I'm trying to do is help, you take my posts as you like. I just don't agree with some of your posts.

I think every minute of the day mate, that's why I'm so clever

 

[Matt L]

A lot of our work is solving problems and fixing drainage systems that have failed for a number of reasons. I apologise if you took my post in the wrong way and also if I took your post in the wrong way. This is not the place for arguing, it's a place for suggestions and helping.
I was purely saying you don't know me so don't judge me mate!

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

dig 4 yards or so down stream of the bust drain, putting the soil the top side of the hole to make a dam, make this trench at right angles to the run of the pipe till you find it, then widen at the point of the pipe, rod down hill to see it's clear, then rod uphill to blockage, measure rods and dig in again, and then mend/ clear the pipe, once done, leave it a couple of days open to see it's running a ok then back fill,

them talking about digging a sump, likely have never had much water to deal with, as a 4" pipe will fill a hole in no time and once its all very wet, it will just keep falling in on the sides

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

dig 4 yards or so down stream of the bust drain, putting the soil the top side of the hole to make a dam, make this trench at right angles to the run of the pipe till you find it, then widen at the point of the pipe, rod down hill to see it's clear, then rod uphill to blockage, measure rods and dig in again, and then mend/ clear the pipe, once done, leave it a couple of days open to see it's running a ok then back fill,

them talking about digging a sump, likely have never had much water to deal with, as a 4" pipe will fill a hole in no time and once its all very wet, it will just keep falling in on the sides

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

dig 4 yards or so down stream of the bust drain, putting the soil the top side of the hole to make a dam, make this trench at right angles to the run of the pipe till you find it, then widen at the point of the pipe, rod down hill to see it's clear, then rod uphill to blockage, measure rods and dig in again, and then mend/ clear the pipe, once done, leave it a couple of days open to see it's running a ok then back fill,

them talking about digging a sump, likely have never had much water to deal with, as a 4" pipe will fill a hole in no time and once its all very wet, it will just keep falling in on the sides

 

[wasted years]

Not everyone is as fortunate to have drainage plans and you have to use your brain. You stick to sitting on your gravel cart because if you don't look for a man hole first then your a fool

Ouch that hurt.

 

[mikep]

Funny none of the answers seem to suggest waiting until the drain has stopped bubbling up. The blockage will still be there so no matter. I always find that where a drain bubbles the ground has moved below it as the pressure forces water in all directions so it, they, are out of alignment and rods do not work.
I always have some 110 and 150 rigid polypipe ready and dig straight down if you break the tile no matter as in clay soil it will be useless for repair without a lot of work to trench bottom. Dig both ways to find sound trench bottoms and remove the tiles in between rod both ways cut a piece of poly to suit the length fit this and pug some clay under it where the trench is eroded. Seal the top of the joints with broken clays and refill with the softest soil going in first but slowly to stop movement.
Check your outfalls and hopefully all will be well.

 

[mikep]

PS i have never had a blocked drain except on a headland near trees or bushes
In field leaks have always been caused by a dropped drain where the above repair is the best solution.

 

[Kevtherev]

I can usually find drains by a bit of a knack I've got if not I use divining rods.
Another thread descending into arguments [emoji849]

 

[Ray996]

Divine intervention required!

 

[Kevtherev]

The fine art of drain 'smelling' [emoji23]

 

[RWG Contracts]

I can usually find drains by a bit of a knack I've got if not I use divining rods.
Another thread descending into arguments [emoji849]

I showed some lads on site one day divining rods, they thought I was taking pee until I showed them

 

[Kevtherev]

I showed some lads on site one day divining rods, they thought I was taking pee until I showed them

Strange how they pull towards water or a drain.
Makes my arms ache

 

[General-Lee]

View attachment 491454
The fine art of drain 'smelling' [emoji23]

Can smell you from here!

 

[chipchap]

You can often guess where a main drain is by the lie of the land, that is if you are unable to dowse!
We often get drains blocked by oilseed rape roots. If I don't get round to clearing the blockage it usually clears itself by the next winter.
I do like to get down in a hole and get dirty mind.

 

[phillipe]

You can often guess where a main drain is by the lie of the land, that is if you are unable to dowse!
We often get drains blocked by oilseed rape roots. If I don't get round to clearing the blockage it usually clears itself by the next winter.
I do like to get down in a hole and get dirty mind.

ooh err

 

[Kevtherev]

Can smell you from here!

 

[Billm]

Just slightly above

On an obvious blow I would start below the problem or do we do it different in Scotland?

 

[KMA]

I have sympathy with anyone having drain problems, trying to put raised beds in my swamp/garden found an old tile drain, followed it to the outflow where and ash stump had broken the tile, removed that. started digging back along the line to put in a new drain, 10' along I've found a 'dead' wast pipe which the lazy feckers had cut into the tile drain and faked it up with slate just before that point the tiles I'd been digging back from the out flow are stuffed into a bigger clay tile. So the small (3"ish) tiles were being expected to take the feed from both the bigger original (6"ish) tile drain AND the 4" wastewater drain. Last night just before I gave up and reached for the beer I started digging up some odd shaped bricks and hollow square tiles which I think are from a flu. In addition we've found some broken china a clay marble, I think a quatz marble an 1890 penny some bits of china, clay tobacco pipe and bits of an old hexagonal chimney. Feck knows what I'll find today and I've still got another 25' of this trench to dig. It's like bloody time team

Did a bit of dowsing last night just for a laugh and came across a strong reaction about 10yds up the garden

 

[db9go]

I can usually find drains by a bit of a knack I've got if not I use divining rods.
Another thread descending into arguments [emoji849]

What do you use for the rods.
The chap who use to do it for me died so i am going to give it a go he made it look so easy thanks