blocked drain

[Peter]

Him next door had his drains cleaned and as an aside suggested that my waste (kitchen sink) underground pipe has collapsed. Rubble at the inlet in his manhole and a total lack of water when the sink tap was left on convinces me he is correct.

Anyway, sods law might apply, in that the collapse may be under the neighbours block paving rather than my side so finally my question is:- Can I remove pipe up to the fence and remove the blockage neighbours side (only a 2 foot run from the fence to his manhole) and run a smaller pipe inside the current one. If so are there large to smaller connectors etc made for underground waste?

Many thanks

Peter

[George]

Replace the same type of pipe thats there if you start putting in smaller diameter piping you'll end up with a bottle neck syndrome. Also dont put a sleeve inside another pipe as the ridge of the sleeve will be a barrier for collecting crap.

[Roger Mills]

Are you saying that your kitchen sink outlet joins the sewer inside an inspection chamber in your neighbour's garden? Is it *just* the kitchen sink - where does the main stack from your toilet(s) etc. connect?

You need to know what's happened to your pipe before deciding what to do about it. The best way of finding out is to commission a CCTV survey of your pipe, starting from the chamber in your neighbour's garden.

[Peter]

The toilet waste joins the same chamber but by a different route. My interest in 'sleeving' is only to avoid digging up the neighbours block paving. The pipe run is only about six feet from kitchen trap to inspection chamber. The drain guy hit solid blockage about 2 feet from the chamber putting it directly under the fence. My guess fwiw. Concrete fence post install crushed the soil pipe probably years ago and we've been watering the foundations ever since.

Thanks Peter

[devonsteve]

Hi Peter A slip coupling can be used to repace a section of pipe , ( fits on outside of existing pipes as an external sleive) or alternately rubber couplings are readily available from screwfix or most builders merchants to allow pipes of differing sizes to be jointed Steve

[Roger Mills]

Sleeving is ok in cases where the bottom of the pipe has collapsed, leaving a hole for stuff to fall into and get caught up. But you've got to have a clear path through the pipe - you can't install a sleeve if there's a fence post in the way! You may be able to dig on your side, and tunnel to the obstruction without disturbing your neighbour's block paving. How deep is the drain?

Could you divert the pipe from the kitchen gulley to join up with the pipe from the stack?

[Tim Downie]

I'd be more inclined to wonder just where your sink water is going. If you been using it for a long time without problems I'd be surprised if it's just leaking away without any signs on the surface.

Could the drains have been rerouted in the past? Has either your house or your neighbours had any modifications that could conceivably involve the drains?

Tim

[Colin Wilson]

I wonder when he had his block paving done - if the base material was compacted prior to laying the blocks, his own workmen might have caused the problem !