Blocked sewerage?

[OBBob]

Hi Guys

This ones got me a bit stumped ... any ideas?

The toilet has been draining fine uintil the last couple of days but now it appears to have slowed majorly. I haven't done much work around the place in that time so I don't thin I could have blocked the drain etc. I tried a heap of stuff and ended up hiring an electric eel ... put 25m down the sewer pipe but still seem to have the problem.

I made a vent near the toilet (never seem to be one originally ... but like I said it worked fine). This made the toilet flush fine but the two gulley traps overflow, which would indicate a blockage further downstream?


The neighbours who connect to the same line out in the street say they don't have a problem.

25m of snake should put it well off my property unless I'm not thinking about this the right way or the pipes connect differently to what I assume? Any ideas??

[echnidna]

sounds like a plumbers job

[OBBob]

I think a plumber is the next step ... but I hate to call someone out without a basic understanding of what the problem is. It doesn't make sense that I could feed that much eel down there and still have the problem? Any possible explanations appreciated.

[Dan]

Sounds much the same as what happened at my place. The only difference is we knew where the pipe was going and could hear the auger at the spot where it hit the blockage. There has to be a blockage and if it's far enough away the you may not have to pay for the repair (mine was only about 100mm on the "free" side ). You may be able to get a rough plan of where the pipe runs from the council, I had one in the papers that came as part of the house purchase.

[OBBob]

An update for people that may seach for the answers in the future.

I am progressing, it turns out you can call your local water authority and they will fax, e-mail or post a copy of the sewerage plan for $20. It is much more detailed than the one in a normal house sale document and shows all the pipes, gully traps etc. on the property. Just hope its up to date! Mine dates from 1920 and the plan was available (apparently there were plumbed stables in the back yard when the house was built)!

Anyway ... getting closer, will post the next step later.

[Sturdee]

. It is much more detailed than the one in a normal house sale document and shows all the pipes, gully traps etc. on the property. Just hope its up to date! .

Yes, they are up to date. In Melbourne all plumbers must lodge amendments to the plan when they do any work on the sewerage system.

Peter.

[Iain]

WE had a similar problem some years ago and it seemed that after a very wet winter the pipes 'sank' a little further (midway between the house and the main drain) creating a back up problem with the storm water.
With rainfall it was not apparent but when we backwashed the pool filter it was a bit too much to cope with.
We sold the house in the summer.

[Phil Spencer]

Hi Guys

This ones got me a bit stumped ... any ideas?

The toilet has been draining fine uintil the last couple of days but now it appears to have slowed majorly. I haven't done much work around the place in that time so I don't thin I could have blocked the drain etc. I tried a heap of stuff and ended up hiring an electric eel ... put 25m down the sewer pipe but still seem to have the problem.

I made a vent near the toilet (never seem to be one originally ... but like I said it worked fine). This made the toilet flush fine but the two gulley traps overflow, which would indicate a blockage further downstream?


The neighbours who connect to the same line out in the street say they don't have a problem.

25m of snake should put it well off my property unless I'm not thinking about this the right way or the pipes connect differently to what I assume? Any ideas??

Had the same problem recently, there was a blockage outside my property line that did not affect the neighbours, as it was on Melbourne waters side of the system a phone call got them out in the middle of the night th clear the blockage it was their responsibility and therefor their cost, I suggest that you call them.

Phil

[OBBob]

Update as promised. I found the inspection openning in the font garden over the boundary trap. Sure enough the water was high, which means it was blocked on the Melbourne water side. I got them out and it took about 10 minutes to put th electric eel through the tree roots! All working again ... just wish I had have known about the inspection point earlier.

[Dan]

... just wish I had have known about the inspection point earlier.

In my case we knew there was an inspection point, just didn't know how far down it was. Turns out it was about 1.5m below ground, found it with an excavator. Unfortunately for the plumbers the excavator found the pipe first and nicked it, now I know what a cesspool looks like:eek: . The plumbers then had to get in the hole and repair the pipe and they also brought the inspection point up to ground level. Council got the bill.

[OBBob]

Yeah the problem is that so much work goes on without consideration for where these pipes run. It doesn't appear to be a consideration in permit application etc. Just looking at my neighbors place I would say that their inspection point has been covered by the concrete covering the front garden area ... hope they never need it!