With the respite in the rain the last few days (hasn't rained since
Thursday) all of our patio (18"x18" slabs) is dry.

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be over
the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of the
house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover about
2.5m away.

(I know it goes into this pit, as I remove the cover to empty my caravan
loo, so can see the pipe). The pipes a 1960s ceramic type.

Before I start lifting slabs, and excavating, is it possible that a
cracked or damaged pipe could cause an upward dampness like this ? Is
there any easy repair, or (assuming it is damaged) is the proper job to
replace the entire length of pipe ? Would folks say the hardest part of
the job is digging the old pipe free, or actually replacing the pipe ?

As always, TIA guys ...

On 07/01/2013 17:05, Jethro_uk wrote:
With the respite in the rain the last few days (hasn't rained since
Thursday) all of our patio (18"x18" slabs) is dry.

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be over
the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of the
house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover about
2.5m away.

(I know it goes into this pit, as I remove the cover to empty my caravan
loo, so can see the pipe). The pipes a 1960s ceramic type.

Before I start lifting slabs, and excavating, is it possible that a
cracked or damaged pipe could cause an upward dampness like this ? Is
there any easy repair, or (assuming it is damaged) is the proper job to
replace the entire length of pipe ? Would folks say the hardest part of
the job is digging the old pipe free, or actually replacing the pipe ?

As always, TIA guys ...


How deep is the drain pipe?

Really the only way to know for sure is to have a look, and the easiest
way to do that is with a camera, either by getting someone to do a
camera survey, or buying/hiring somthing yourself.

If it is just cracked, or has root ingress on a join, the drain can be
lined with a resin liner, but I think that is out of the DIY scope.

It may be covered under your house insurance.

If the drains are running free, I would be inclided to leave it and see
if it stays like this long term before digging anything up.

--
Toby...
Remove pants to reply

On Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:36:59 +0000, Toby wrote:

On 07/01/2013 17:05, Jethro_uk wrote:
With the respite in the rain the last few days (hasn't rained since
Thursday) all of our patio (18"x18" slabs) is dry.

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be
over the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of
the house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover
about 2.5m away.

(I know it goes into this pit, as I remove the cover to empty my
caravan loo, so can see the pipe). The pipes a 1960s ceramic type.

Before I start lifting slabs, and excavating, is it possible that a
cracked or damaged pipe could cause an upward dampness like this ? Is
there any easy repair, or (assuming it is damaged) is the proper job to
replace the entire length of pipe ? Would folks say the hardest part of
the job is digging the old pipe free, or actually replacing the pipe ?

As always, TIA guys ...


How deep is the drain pipe?

Well in the inspection chamber the pipes about 18-24" under the surface.
So rising from that to meet the drain.


Really the only way to know for sure is to have a look, and the easiest
way to do that is with a camera, either by getting someone to do a
camera survey, or buying/hiring somthing yourself.

If it is just cracked, or has root ingress on a join, the drain can be
lined with a resin liner, but I think that is out of the DIY scope.

There's no trees near it - although from what I understand roots can
travel quite a bit.

It may be covered under your house insurance.

Hmmm hadn't thought of that.


If the drains are running free, I would be inclided to leave it and see
if it stays like this long term before digging anything up.

As far as I can tell drain is running free. Pouring a bucket of water
down it results in water out the other end !

Maybe, as an experiment, I'll swap slabs ... at least the Mrs will think
I'm doing *something*.

On 07/01/2013 17:46, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:36:59 +0000, Toby wrote:

On 07/01/2013 17:05, Jethro_uk wrote:
With the respite in the rain the last few days (hasn't rained since
Thursday) all of our patio (18"x18" slabs) is dry.

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be
over the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of
the house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover
about 2.5m away.

(I know it goes into this pit, as I remove the cover to empty my
caravan loo, so can see the pipe). The pipes a 1960s ceramic type.

Before I start lifting slabs, and excavating, is it possible that a
cracked or damaged pipe could cause an upward dampness like this ? Is
there any easy repair, or (assuming it is damaged) is the proper job to
replace the entire length of pipe ? Would folks say the hardest part of
the job is digging the old pipe free, or actually replacing the pipe ?

As always, TIA guys ...


How deep is the drain pipe?

Well in the inspection chamber the pipes about 18-24" under the surface.
So rising from that to meet the drain.


Really the only way to know for sure is to have a look, and the easiest
way to do that is with a camera, either by getting someone to do a
camera survey, or buying/hiring somthing yourself.

If it is just cracked, or has root ingress on a join, the drain can be
lined with a resin liner, but I think that is out of the DIY scope.

There's no trees near it - although from what I understand roots can
travel quite a bit.

It may be covered under your house insurance.

Hmmm hadn't thought of that.


If the drains are running free, I would be inclided to leave it and see
if it stays like this long term before digging anything up.

As far as I can tell drain is running free. Pouring a bucket of water
down it results in water out the other end !

Maybe, as an experiment, I'll swap slabs ... at least the Mrs will think
I'm doing *something*.

That's a good idea, you dont happen to use a BBQ where this patch is do
you, just thinking it could be fat that has soaked into the slab rather
than water?



--
Toby...
Remove pants to reply

On Jan 7, 5:05*pm, Jethro_uk wrote:
With the respite in the rain the last few days (hasn't rained since
Thursday) all of our patio (18"x18" slabs) is dry.

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be over
the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of the
house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover about
2.5m away.

(I know it goes into this pit, as I remove the cover to empty my caravan
loo, so can see the pipe). The pipes a 1960s ceramic type.

Before I start lifting slabs, and excavating, is it possible that a
cracked or damaged pipe could cause an upward dampness like this ? Is
there any easy repair, or (assuming it is damaged) is the proper job to
replace the entire length of pipe ? Would folks say the hardest part of
the job is digging the old pipe free, or actually replacing the pipe ?

As always, TIA guys ...

You would only get water on the surface if the drain was blocked. So
first thing is to get the cover up and pour water down the drain and
see if you can see it passing through the manhole.

If so leave it be for a while at least.
The water may be a temporary spring or from a mains water pipe.

Jethro_uk wrote:

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be over
the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of the
house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover about
2.5m away.

There's not a dripping gutter above the damp patch is there?

--
Nige Danton - Replace the obvious with g.m.a.i.l

On 08/01/13 06:46, Nige Danton wrote:
Jethro_uk wrote:

Except a small patch on one slab. Which rather worringly looks to be over
the line of the drain pipe from the external drain by the side of the
house, to where it joins the inspection pit with the manhole cover about
2.5m away.

There's not a dripping gutter above the damp patch is there?

Or a net curtain visible where the MILF next door strips off?


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.