Drainage

[normc]

Guys, Thanks for your help and suggestions. To answer some of the questions; The drain goes out into the gutter at a point about 10M from the edge of the slab, but very little discharge at present. The inlets are all just a metre or so from the slab. Tried the hose but it may be a little too soft & flexible and in need of a jet nozzle on the end. Problem is that prevents it from going round bends. The pergola work was nearby and in fact some mods were made to one of the drain inlets to accomodate the downpipe from the roof. I suspect some sloppy workmanship may be at least part of the cause, but if it is hardened cement it won't be easy to clear.

[Jon]

have you tried putting the hose in from the gutter end as well as the each and every drain?
It does sound like the problem is in the "main line". Would the pergola connection be the most downstream connection?

[normc]

Actually, thats a good thought Jon. The pergola connection is the most upstream connection (wish we could draw diagrams here) which would indicate it is more likely a general build up of sediment than hardened cement. Would you agree?

[Neo]

If you can manage to get hold of a strip of yellow tongue (from yellow tongue chipboard flooring) it's a bit stiffer then a hose but still a wee bit flexible. It might help to illuminate if not eliminate the source of the blockage. If you get it to where the hose stops, jiggle it around a bit and pull it out you ma be able to determine whether the end is roughened like it's hit concrete, or even with a splinter in it.

Because of its dimensions, the flexi side of yellow tongue will allow it to go around a reasonable corner, but the stiff side won't. The stuff is also great for pulling cables through houses - that's how I found out about it, my electrician showed me and I've found marvellous uses for it ever since. Tapping the Mrs on the shoulder from 3.6 meters away over a fence and scaring her silly was a highlight.:eek:

I wouldn't be surprised if you found the pipe blocked by an off cut or a soft drink can etc from the pergola. You wouldn't believe the lengths necessary to try to stop people/workers/kids putting things down drain pipes because they're too lazy to put something in a bin or worse. Not long after moving into a new house a few years ago we eventually found the raw sewerage cascading from a vent over the beautiful turf I had laid a week earlier to be caused by a drink can. Did I mention the Mrs was preggers with our first at the time and paranoid she and the bub would contract hepatitus A, B, C and G plus AIDS and haemorrhoids etc etc and made my life an absolute mysery until it was fixed? - I s'pose she was right tho' somehow it MUST have been my fault.

Good luck with the investigation.

[gsouth]

Normc,
Why don't you use paint or something similar to draw a simple diagram and then upload it as an attachment - use the paperclip icon on the message creation pallet.

Geoff