Before you start drainage installing do this
Before you start drainage installing do this
Before starting any plumbing and sewage work yourself you should find out about any Local Authority rules that relate to your area.
If you are considering altering your existing sewage, or installing a new sewage system you will almost certainly need to present some detailed plans of the work that you intend to undertake and it will need to be inspected as the work progresses making sure that it complies with the local building rules. However, you will probably not have to inform the Local Authority for replacement of broken parts or sections of drainage as permission will have already been granted for the initial fitting.
Whatever water we see on the surface around your home is usually rain. This surface water can seep into sewers, watercourse and become a part of the drainage system in older housing developments. To stop any nasty odours emanating from the drains a combined system will discharge the surface water into the foul water drains by way of the gully traps. However with the new drainage systems, the foul and the surface water can be kept apart. It’s absolutely crucial that you keep the dirty water sewage system apart from the one for surface water. When in doubt about the how the modern sewage system works, consult the Building Control Department.
Before starting your work, finalise the routes the waste pipes would take. The route should be as short and straight as possible, this will help to reduce future maintenance problems and costs. You must avoid making your pipe runs too steep. A surveyor’ site level should be used to work out the fall of a drainpipe. Or just fill a transparent hosepipe with water and use the water level at the two ends to mark the required fall from the starting point.
When installing your drain ditch, you will need to make sure that you do not impair the stability of the building. If placing a sewer alongside the house, you need to make sure any foundations are not damaged.
While installing a new sewage system make sure that you do not dig too long before laying the pipe. Make certain that the pipes are laid as soon as possible and then bury them immediately after the testing and inspection are completed.
Weak soil may require that you shore up the walls of the excavation, particularly for deeper trenches. It is advisable to take proper precautions. If you are not entirely confident of the stability of the trench you should add support. The trench should be narrow, but spacious enough for people to work with any required tools. Ensure that the ditch bottom is flat and free of stones, tree roots and soft spots. 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.
Bricks and/or any other sturdy material should never be used to prop up the pipe in the ditch. This should not be used as support for the short or the long run because it will damage the pipe, the pipe needs to be fully supported over its full lenght. The bedding should be properly compacted with hollows made to accommodate the joints in the pipes. A comprehensive support should be used for the whole of the pipe.
The sewage system should be designed in a way that pipework remains accessible to drain rods should sewage maintenance work be required. The drains should therefore run straight between two points to ease the passage of the drain rods. 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.