a hopeful guess: chances are good there may be a drain already there,
just broken off and buried?
action: dig around where the drain should be as if it's 1972, for any
further evidence.
assistance needed: then call on local experienced plumbers who may have
been to the home already, check with neighbors, and snake out ALL the
traps and drains.
a sewer camera isn't needed until after the above but you've already
got a major expensive water problem to fix so don't delay.
where the rain and dirty pool water all go could be interrupted by
blockage anywhere along the planned or real pathways of the drain. the
plans don't always match reality, so go with reality and a good sewer
man on this one.
often the oldtimers at the sewer company may provide assistance as to
how deep the applicable sewer can be found. a call to them may provide
a free visit to see that everything's fine on the city side at the
street manhole.



miamicuse wrote:
I have a property that was built in 1972 - no plans available.

Spoke to previous owners and original architect - did not keep plans.

Talked to City's building department - any plans prior to 1974 was on
microfilm and was destroyed by some parasite and no longer available.

How, I have a drainage problem. The house is a wrap around house (rooms on
four sides) with the pool in the middle. The pool opening has a doomed
shape screen on top. When it rains really heavily, rain water pours into
the center courtyard. The courtyard has three drain inlets - north, east
and west sides but the south sides has a low spot and it ponds and water
will get into the room from there - all wet carpet...

I think I need to put a drain inlet at this low spot (AND try to find a way
to minimize the runoff from the roof to the pool area) but I have no idea
where the existing drain line is. There are no plans.

Is there some sort of device that can detect pipe location beneath the brick
pavers and probably concrete slab below that? I need to know where the line
runs to know if I can punch a hole and install a new inlet near the line.

Thanks,

MC