Hi,

just when the problem seems to be solved...........


.......it gets infinitely worse.

Rodding out the drains this morning (as you do).

The manhole nearest to the main sewer is at the border of our property.
From the rodding hole (above the 'U' bend) it is about 4 * 1 metre bamboo
rods until there is a junction.
I know there is a junction because when using the round rubber plunger
thingy (which fits the bore of the pipe) I hit a sudden obstruction and when
I pull back the rubber plunger resists for a moment, then pulls back.
From this I conclude that I have reached a 'T', 'Y' or similar junction
under the road where our pipe joins another (hopefully larger) one.
The distance between the stop (far side of pipe) and the pull (entrance from
our pipe) isn't very far, so I presume the other pipe isn't very large and
therefore not the main sewer under the road.

Just when I had cleared the blockage - rodded all the way though to the
junction and had the accumulated water (etc.) rush out and pulled back to
retrieve the rods, it all came away surprisingly easily.

When I pulled the rods out, I found the end missing.

Unfortunately I hadn't counted the rods as they came out so I don't know if
I have just lost the rubber plunger, or the rubber plunger and a rod.

The brass fitting is there, with the rivet missing. Looks like a normal rod
end, but I didn't check how the rubber plunger was fitted so it could be
from the plunger.

The best result would be that I just lost the rubber end, which went into a
larger pipe and is now in the main sewer.

The more likely result is that I lost a rod and a rubber end, and I now have
a length of rod in my soil pipe, with the rubber end protruding through the
junction and at right angles to the joining pipe.

So you see my problem.

The presence of a rod in the drains is likely to cause problems in the
future, even though it is draining O.K. at the moment.

Retrieving it is a real problem.

Even if I can find someone with a long reach claw thingy (at least 3 metres
long) it has then got to grip the rod firmly enough to pull the rubber
plunger back through the entrance hole.

The only other obvious alternative is to have the water company come and dig
up the road outside our house (which will not come cheap).

Does anyone have a magic solution?

Does anyone know if an accident of this kind is covered by household
insurance?

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing or using the toilet?

TIA
Dave R



--

In message , David W.E. Roberts
writes

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing or using the toilet?

Um, long enough to sell the house? No, probably not :-)

No answer here, I'm afraid, but a *lot* of sympathy from someone who
seems to have miles of drains - seventeen rods and still can't reach the
blockage :-(
--
Graeme

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
Hi,

just when the problem seems to be solved...........


......it gets infinitely worse.

Rodding out the drains this morning (as you do).

The manhole nearest to the main sewer is at the border of our
property.
From the rodding hole (above the 'U' bend) it is about 4 * 1 metre
bamboo
rods until there is a junction.
I know there is a junction because when using the round rubber
plunger
thingy (which fits the bore of the pipe) I hit a sudden obstruction
and when
I pull back the rubber plunger resists for a moment, then pulls
back.
From this I conclude that I have reached a 'T', 'Y' or similar
junction
under the road where our pipe joins another (hopefully larger) one.
The distance between the stop (far side of pipe) and the pull
(entrance from
our pipe) isn't very far, so I presume the other pipe isn't very
large and
therefore not the main sewer under the road.

Just when I had cleared the blockage - rodded all the way though to
the
junction and had the accumulated water (etc.) rush out and pulled
back to
retrieve the rods, it all came away surprisingly easily.

When I pulled the rods out, I found the end missing.

Unfortunately I hadn't counted the rods as they came out so I don't
know if
I have just lost the rubber plunger, or the rubber plunger and a
rod.

The brass fitting is there, with the rivet missing. Looks like a
normal rod
end, but I didn't check how the rubber plunger was fitted so it
could be
from the plunger.

The best result would be that I just lost the rubber end, which went
into a
larger pipe and is now in the main sewer.

The more likely result is that I lost a rod and a rubber end, and I
now have
a length of rod in my soil pipe, with the rubber end protruding
through the
junction and at right angles to the joining pipe.

So you see my problem.

The presence of a rod in the drains is likely to cause problems in
the
future, even though it is draining O.K. at the moment.

Retrieving it is a real problem.

Even if I can find someone with a long reach claw thingy (at least 3
metres
long) it has then got to grip the rod firmly enough to pull the
rubber
plunger back through the entrance hole.

The only other obvious alternative is to have the water company come
and dig
up the road outside our house (which will not come cheap).

Does anyone have a magic solution?

Does anyone know if an accident of this kind is covered by household
insurance?

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing or using the
toilet?

TIA
Dave R



--




Get a camera down there to see what the actual problem is then you'll
know how much you need to panic.

I suspect that the Dynorod type people have not only the camera
equipment but also the means to retrive lost rod ends

AWEM

David W.E. Roberts wrote:
Does anyone have a magic solution?

Drain-rod-dissolving acid?

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing

Oh, ages. Social interaction starts to fall off long before the
suppurating buboes set in.

or using the toilet?

According to the paediatric dietician on Jamie's School Dinners, if
digested food doesn't pass down-and-out eventually it ferments and
up-it-comes.

Owain

"Andrew Mawson" wrote in message
...

"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
Hi,

just when the problem seems to be solved...........


......it gets infinitely worse.

Rodding out the drains this morning (as you do).

The manhole nearest to the main sewer is at the border of our
property.
From the rodding hole (above the 'U' bend) it is about 4 * 1 metre
bamboo
rods until there is a junction.
I know there is a junction because when using the round rubber
plunger
thingy (which fits the bore of the pipe) I hit a sudden obstruction
and when
I pull back the rubber plunger resists for a moment, then pulls
back.
From this I conclude that I have reached a 'T', 'Y' or similar
junction
under the road where our pipe joins another (hopefully larger) one.
The distance between the stop (far side of pipe) and the pull
(entrance from
our pipe) isn't very far, so I presume the other pipe isn't very
large and
therefore not the main sewer under the road.

Just when I had cleared the blockage - rodded all the way though to
the
junction and had the accumulated water (etc.) rush out and pulled
back to
retrieve the rods, it all came away surprisingly easily.

When I pulled the rods out, I found the end missing.

Unfortunately I hadn't counted the rods as they came out so I don't
know if
I have just lost the rubber plunger, or the rubber plunger and a
rod.

The brass fitting is there, with the rivet missing. Looks like a
normal rod
end, but I didn't check how the rubber plunger was fitted so it
could be
from the plunger.

The best result would be that I just lost the rubber end, which went
into a
larger pipe and is now in the main sewer.

The more likely result is that I lost a rod and a rubber end, and I
now have
a length of rod in my soil pipe, with the rubber end protruding
through the
junction and at right angles to the joining pipe.

So you see my problem.

The presence of a rod in the drains is likely to cause problems in
the
future, even though it is draining O.K. at the moment.

Retrieving it is a real problem.

Even if I can find someone with a long reach claw thingy (at least 3
metres
long) it has then got to grip the rod firmly enough to pull the
rubber
plunger back through the entrance hole.

The only other obvious alternative is to have the water company come
and dig
up the road outside our house (which will not come cheap).

Does anyone have a magic solution?

Does anyone know if an accident of this kind is covered by household
insurance?

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing or using the
toilet?

TIA
Dave R



--




Get a camera down there to see what the actual problem is then you'll
know how much you need to panic.

I suspect that the Dynorod type people have not only the camera
equipment but also the means to retrive lost rod ends

AWEM


The lost bit "may" be only the end with the rubber plunger on it and it
"may" have passed from your drain into the larger public sewer where it may
now have been carried away into a more forgiving large bore system with high
flow rates capable of sustaining its journey to an interceptor pit or the
sewage treatment plant where a rubber disc is probably well down in the list
of unusual objects arriving for treatment. A pipefull of **** up to the
place it became detached is within the abilities of a decent drain clearing
firm if it has remained stuck so I'd suggest you use the drainage system as
normal but keep it under observation for a few days to ensure it remains
clear. If an obstruction is present then try using a claw end on your rods
but at the worst you will be able to establish how far down the pipe the
problem actually is.
Personally I never use the disc end on a drain rod but find that a wheel
runner or a claw is quite adequate for clearing most blockages. In an
extreme case I have used a length of blue water pipe with water actually
running through it while "rodding"
Dyno Rod have a wonderful contract for you to sign where you agree to pay
them a large sum of money for them promising nothing so I'd wait and see
before you commit to their mercies (or use a competitor)

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 19:37:59 +0000 (UTC), "John"
strung together this:

snip

Something wrong with trimming posts to context?
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

"Owain" wrote in message
. ..
snip
or using the toilet?

According to the paediatric dietician on Jamie's School Dinners, if
digested food doesn't pass down-and-out eventually it ferments and
up-it-comes.

Ah, thank you.
An enormous weight has been lifted from my mind.
Crapping in the street is not socially acceptable, but I can always hurl
outside an Indian takeaway.
Just off to buy some diced carrots.

Cheers
Dave R

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 11:06:31 -0000, "David W.E. Roberts"
wrote:

Hi,

just when the problem seems to be solved...........


......it gets infinitely worse.

Rodding out the drains this morning (as you do).

The manhole nearest to the main sewer is at the border of our property.
From the rodding hole (above the 'U' bend) it is about 4 * 1 metre bamboo
rods until there is a junction.
I know there is a junction because when using the round rubber plunger
thingy (which fits the bore of the pipe) I hit a sudden obstruction and when
I pull back the rubber plunger resists for a moment, then pulls back.
From this I conclude that I have reached a 'T', 'Y' or similar junction
under the road where our pipe joins another (hopefully larger) one.
The distance between the stop (far side of pipe) and the pull (entrance from
our pipe) isn't very far, so I presume the other pipe isn't very large and
therefore not the main sewer under the road.

Just when I had cleared the blockage - rodded all the way though to the
junction and had the accumulated water (etc.) rush out and pulled back to
retrieve the rods, it all came away surprisingly easily.

When I pulled the rods out, I found the end missing.

Unfortunately I hadn't counted the rods as they came out so I don't know if
I have just lost the rubber plunger, or the rubber plunger and a rod.

The brass fitting is there, with the rivet missing. Looks like a normal rod
end, but I didn't check how the rubber plunger was fitted so it could be
from the plunger.

The best result would be that I just lost the rubber end, which went into a
larger pipe and is now in the main sewer.

The more likely result is that I lost a rod and a rubber end, and I now have
a length of rod in my soil pipe, with the rubber end protruding through the
junction and at right angles to the joining pipe.

So you see my problem.

The presence of a rod in the drains is likely to cause problems in the
future, even though it is draining O.K. at the moment.

Retrieving it is a real problem.

Even if I can find someone with a long reach claw thingy (at least 3 metres
long) it has then got to grip the rod firmly enough to pull the rubber
plunger back through the entrance hole.

The only other obvious alternative is to have the water company come and dig
up the road outside our house (which will not come cheap).

Does anyone have a magic solution?

Does anyone know if an accident of this kind is covered by household
insurance?

Does anyone know how long you can last without washing or using the toilet?

Hi,

USB camera will go up to 5m, then a hub and another 5m lead to your
PC. Silicone it into a narrow plastic box with USB light and
transparent lid. Make sure it can and is focussed down to 3" or so
though (my cheapo Logitech will go to 1")

If there's a rod down there a loop of nylon string with slip knot may
get it if the end is big enough.

cheers,
Pete.