Do you acknowledge the first footsteps in drains pipes installing
Do you acknowledge the first footsteps in drains pipes installing
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 will probably not have to inform the Local Authority for replacement of damaged parts or sections of drainage as permission will have already been granted for the initial installation.
Whatever water we see on the surface around your home is usually rainwater. This can discharged into a soakaway, watercourse, surface water sewer or, particularly in older properties, into the foul water drainage system. If gully traps are fixed at the junction of the rainwater pipe and the waste water drain, foul odour can be controlled. With more contemporary systems, however the foul water and surface water is kept separate, this is a more recent development. It is extremely important to ensure that you do not connect foul water to a surface water drainage system. If you are unsure about the drainage system around your house get advice from the Building Control Department before you start any work.
The first thing to do in a DIY drainage replacement job is to decide the position and level of the waste pipework. 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. Using surveyor’s site level you can calculate the fall of a drain over a distance to check the values. In the absence of one of these, create a datum point and set levels with a hosepipe filled with water and compute the fall from the datum in this manner.
The stability of the existing home is of prime importance it should be not compromised while the drain pipe ditch is being installed so check you are not impacting on the existing structure. Similarly, take care of the substructures when laying a drain that runs alongside the home.
While installing a new sewage system make sure that you do not dig too long before laying the pipe. The pipes should be laid quickly and the ditch back filled after the system has been examined thoroughly and tested as required.
Because of different depth and soil conditions the trench will probably need to be supported. It is advisable to take proper precautions. If in doubt add support to the ditch to prevent it from collapsing. You must make the ditch as narrow as possible while leaving enough room to work inside it. The base of the ditch should be clean and even and free from protruding stones or bricks etc. If the existing soil is too weak or clayey, you should place and compact a layer of firmer soil at the base of the trench to prevent later sinking.
For pipe support do not use bricks or other hard materials 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 material used for bedding should be firmly compacted down with a depression created to allow the joints in the pipes to fit easily. A good guideline is that support should be provided for the entire 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. In case of any change in the direction of the pipework it should be provided with an inspection chamber for allowing drains rod access.
Following this guide you can see that DIY plumbing and sewage can be delivered by conscientious DIY enthusiasts.