Do this before you start drain set up
Do this before you start drain set up
Before you undertake DIY plumbing and drains work it is essential to understand the national rules and rules developed by the local authority.
The local authority will definitely require you to submit complete drawings of the proposed changes or replacement of your existing drain and sewage system to ensure that your work is in conformity with local rules. In most cases they do not need to be notified for a simple replacement of broken parts.
Surface water is basically water from rain and is handled differently from dark waste water in a modern drainage development. It can drain out through a soakaway, watercourse, surface water sewer or, especially in older houses, into the dirty water drainage pipes. The rainwater pipes in combined drainage systems empty their discharge into the foul water drains through gully traps, this prevent foul air from escaping outside creating odours. However, modern systems are designed to keep the foul water and the surface water apart. Foul water should never be connected to surface water sewage system with any new sewage development you undertake. If you are unsure about the drainage system around your house get advice from the Building Control Department before you start any work.
Designing the path of the waste passages will be your first task. Keeping the path as straight and short as possible will be the main concept behind the design of the waste passageways or pipes. If the pipe slope is excessive, your joint alignment may fail. Use a surveyor’s leveling tool to set out the slope of the drain trench. If you do not have one of these available, establish a datum point and use a hosepipe filled with water to establish levels and calculate the fall from the datum this way.
The stability of the existing building is of prime importance it should be not compromised while the drainage trench is being installed so check you are not impacting on the existing structure. Similarly, take care of the foundations when laying a waste pipe that runs alongside the home.
The pipes should be laid before too long a ditch is dug as a new ditch can be unstable. Make certain that the pipes are laid as soon as possible and then bury them immediately after the testing and inspection are completed.
Depending on the depth and soil conditions, the trench may require support. Take he utmost care when doing this work. It is better to provide support to the ditch walls than allowing the ditch to collapse. The excavation should be only as wide as required, but should also permit the fitter to work conveniently. The trench base must be smooth and clean, there shouldn’t be any bricks or protruding stones around. You may need to import a suitable material for the base of the ditch if the existing material is unsuitable.
The pipe present in the ditch should not be supported using bricks or other such materials. This will damage the pipe and must never be used as temporary or permanent support. The bedding should be made compact to fit around the pipe joints. The support should be smooth and even, from the beginning of the pipe to its end.
The sewage system should be designed in a way that pipework remains accessible to drain rods should sewage maintenance work be required. Therefore, a run of drains should be as straight as possible between two points. Always make sure that rodding access is allowed in an inspection chamber at any point where the direction of the pipework changes.
If you follow this guidance, sewage and DIY plumbing can be within the range of the most DIY enthusiasts.