Drainage installing, what to do initially
Drainage installing, what to do initially
Before starting any plumbing and sewage work yourself you should find out about any Local Authority regulations that relate to your area.
You need to explain your work plan in detail to the authority if you wish to install a new drainage system or alter an existing one, the officials will then go through the plan to check if it is in accordance with the rules. However you do not require authority approval for replacement of failed joints or cracked plumbing and drains pipes.
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 sewage pipes. If gully traps are fixed at the junction of the rainwater pipe and the waste water drain, foul odour can be controlled. However, the latest systems are designed in a way which separates the foul water and the surface water. It is extremely important to ensure that you do not connect foul water to a surface water drainage system. If you have doubts about your house’s sewage system, you can get help from the Building Control Department before you begin any work.
Designing the path of the waste passageways will be your first task. The route should be as short and straight as possible, this will help to reduce future maintenance problems and costs. Also, make sure none of the pipes are laid at too steep an angle. Use a surveyor’s leveling tool to set out the slope of the drain ditch. A hosepipe filled with water from an established datum point can be used if you don’t have a surveyor’s site level.
Don’t compromise the stability of the home when putting in the drainage ditch. You have to make sure that no house foundation is weakened if you are laying a drain pipe running parallel to the building.
Try to leave as short a time as possible between digging the trench and installing the drainage system as an empty trench represents a risk with the potential for a sidewall collapse. Excavate a part of the sewage system, install and test the pipework, and then back fill and compact the earth before moving on to the next part.
Depending on the depth and soil conditions, the ditch may require support. Do not take any risks. If you are not entirely confident of the stability of the ditch you should add support. You must make the ditch as narrow as possible while leaving enough room to work inside it. The bottom of the ditch must be smooth and clean, free of any objects that make it uneven such as stones or bricks. If the existing soil is too weak or clayey, you should place and compact a layer of firmer soil at the base of the ditch to prevent later sinking.
For pipe support do not use bricks or other hard materials in the ditch. This will damage the pipe and must never be used as temporary or permanent support. For accommodation of the joints in the pipes,the bedding should be compacted in a regular way with hollows made a appropriate points. You will need to provide a continuous and uniform support for the complete length of the pipe.
It is important that all parts of your drainage system are designed so that all parts of the pipework are accessible to a set of drain rods. Therefore, a run of drains should be as straight as possible between two points. As a general rule, any change in direction of the pipework should be provided with an inspection chamber to allow rodding access.
Following this guide you can see that DIY plumbing and drainage can be delivered by conscientious DIY enthusiasts.