Overview of drains pipes set up
Overview of drains pipes set up
The first thing that you will need to think about when undertaking any DIY plumbing and drainage are the rules issued by your Local Authority.
You will have to present detailed plans for the proposed drainage work when you are changing existing sewage system or installing a new sewage system, and also need regular inspections to be undertaken to ensure that the plans are following the local building rules during progressing each phase of the work. If you are simply replacing damaged sections of the drainage, in most circumstances they do not need to be informed.
The water which you see on the surface is basically rainwater. 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. But modern systems are especially created so that dirty water and surface water remain separate. To comply with modern planning rules you should always make sure that the foul water and surface water drainage system do not connect. If you have doubts about your house’s drainage system, you can get help from the Building Control Department before you begin any work.
Before starting your work, finalise the routes the waste pipes would take. Keeping the path as straight and short as possible will be the main concept behind the design of the waste passageways or pipes. You must avoid making your pipe runs too steep. Use the surveyor’s site level to calculate the drain fall over the complete system. By establishing a datum point and using a hosepipe filled with water to establish levels you can calculate the fall from the datum in a situation when do not have one of these measures available.
You need to ascertain that the foundations and structure of the house is safe when digging to install your drain ditch. If you are laying a drain run parallel to the building, you must ensure that any foundations are not weakened.
The pipes should be laid before too long a ditch is dug as a new trench can be unstable. Make certain that the pipes are laid as soon as possible and then bury them immediately after the testing and inspection are completed.
The trench may need to be supported depending on the depth and soil conditions. You should avoid any risks with this project. If you are not sure prop up the trench anyway to prevent it from falling. Keep the ditch as narrow as possible, but allow room to work in the ditch. Ensure that the trench bottom is flat and free of stones, tree roots and soft spots. If the material at the base of the trench is not appropriate then you might have to bring in new material.
For pipe support do not use bricks or other hard materials in the trench. Such hard objects will cause the poorly supported pipe to bend or break and the joints will eventually fail. The bedding should be properly compacted with hollows made to accommodate the joints in the pipes. The support should be smooth and even, from the beginning of the pipe to its end.
Make sure that your plans are made in such a way that drain rods are within reach of every part of the network of pipes. The drains should therefore run straight between two points to ease the passage of the drain rods. 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.