paul1966 Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 we have removed our downstairs lav to extend the kitchen, this has resulted in a redundant branch of sewer pipe. its a shared sewer with next door and the manhole has four connections as shown in the rough diagram, our connections are the bottom two, the one marked with an x is now redundant and at the minute is open so sewage is backing up the pipe. i have one of those donut pipe caps that you place in the pipe and tighten up to blank it but to be honest i don't fancy climbing in the sewer to do it that way, one way i had thought of was using a piece of old gutter as a run and pour some concrete down it, any other ideas or should i just climb down and do it, its about a 3-4 foot drop to the sewer floor. / / / / ------/-------------- \ \ \ \ x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 To reduce risk of blocking the rest -- insert an inflatable plug from the top and concrete cap against this, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Why is the sewage backing up? Surely sewers are laid to run the sewage away from the building and into the main sewer usually via the inspection chamber? Is there a blockage/Restriction somewhere in the run, stopping the sewage clearing? I thought you just capped a redundant branch pipe off? But confess..........I probably don't know what I'm talking about?lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord v Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) You shouldn't have sewage backing up. If you don't want to cap in the sewer then I would recomend exposing the pipe, removing a section then capping that end. Need to ensure the section removed is cut carefully to enable the covered to be fitted properly without any cracks etc. Edit Unless you mean it's a bit wiffy? It will be as the toilet will have the water trap which is now removed! Is the pipe clay or plastic? Edited January 10, 2017 by Lord v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 You didn't ought to be chucking concrete down there , any that drops into the channel will stop and set somewhere possibly causing worse problems . Get some rapid setting cement , knock up 1/2 a bucket of stiff concrete . Get in there and shove the concrete up the pipe and in the slipper then trowel it smooth (so solids won't have anything to grip on to) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Loads of noxious gases in sewers - if it's 3 - 4 ft deep let the air flow over it a while before you climb in. I've been in dozens of chambers up to 16ft deep and the only thing that bothers me is spiders. As said concrete is not the best thing to put in a run dead or not. Either use the bung you have or buy a 4 " blank from your local merchants. They are usually found on plastic chambers and can be fitted using plumbers weld. Best bet is get in and do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowdy Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 (edited) Just stuff newspaper down about 5" from the top of the drain and then cap off with 3-1 cement Job done no risk of it blocking or affecting the main drain and the paper will brake Down in the damp conditions. Edited January 10, 2017 by mowdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 If it's plastic do it the way digger said . The black plastic stoppers are free from the builders merchants , just take one out of one of them inspection chamber bases - everyone else seems to ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 its a clay pipe, the houses were built in the 1940's and originally had a cesspit, the fall on the pipe seems to be very shallow and its made worse by next doors being empty at the minute so there is only one sewer inlet being used apart from rain water off the roofs. if i had the money i would fit a proper plastic chamber rather than the concrete channels. i think i will have to give a good clean out and get in there and fit the donut blank i have got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 If your going to do that tie some stainless wire round the end and trap the other end in the lid then when it falls out you can easily get it back . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 didn't think about it falling out over time, might just use your quick setting cement/concrete idea instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 To reduce risk of blocking the rest -- insert an inflatable plug from the top and concrete cap against this, This, nice and simple job done Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 took a pic of the sewer today, ours is on the right hand side, i guess to do it properly i would have to fill it in where the red arc is? or would i still be ok just blocking off the unused pipe?. whilst next doors is empty its a good opportunity to sort it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 What's upstream? From the pipe in the top of the pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 nothing it ends flush with the wall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Fill the incoming from your side with rapid set and bench it to match the existing. Easier now you have posted a pic. Needs a decent scale by the way 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 If that's backing up fire a wheelie bin full of water down there in one shot , should send most stuff on its merry way . If it doesn't some one further down the line may notice there's a problem . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 how long does quick set cement take to go off before we can use the sewer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Sets in 40 mins, your branch further down won't effect the new benching if the flow is good. Usable after max two hours if flow is as it should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) ok thanks. looks like its a job for this weekend. the flow is not brilliant but if need be i can temporarily dam it until it sets. Edited January 11, 2017 by paul1966 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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