Soakaway

[bobbie22]

Help please. I have a soak away which seems to have failed. The down pipe is completely full of water. When it rains, the water pours over the pipe, and down the walls of the house. I priced a new soak away but the price was high. I have spoken to a builder who says that there should be a u bend somewhere underneath and it may be blocked. The question is, dig down, or get new guttering (if that would solve the problem)
Your advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

[Tuvok]

Have you got a septic tank that might need emptying?

[bobbie22]

No septic tank Tuvok

[Old_Geezer]

How far down would this U bend be ? Can you get your hand down there and pull stuff out ? How about a jet washer blasting stuff down further and breaking blockages up ? OR I think you can get things with corkscrew end fittings to try and drag stuff out.

[bobbie22]

Hi old geezer. Have a friend who will try a high pressure hose but at the moment we don't know which way to go. Ie left or right. It really sounds like a problem though

[Maydup]

If you're sure the builder checked the downpipe and eliminated any blockage in it, then he is right that the problem is below ground. Either there's a blockage in the route to the soakaway or the soakway is full. Eitherway it probably needs digging down to expose the problem.

[bobbie22]

Hi may dip. I only spoke to the builder on the phone, and the U bend was his opinion only. As there is already a proper drain about 15 feet away at the front of the house, would it be practical to get new guttering and do away with the soak away pipe?

[buildersmate]

New guttering won't solve this. What generally happens is leaves that have fallen into the gutter get washed into the downpipe then lodge at the L bend at the bottom where the pipe turns horizontal. If you can remove the downpipe, you may be able to get access to pull enough of the debris out. Fit a mesh cap over the top of all downpipes to prevent leaves getting down there in the first place. Far easier to remove them from the top of the pipe than the base.

[Maydup]

Could you find a handyperson to help you at this stage rather than a builder?

Someone who adertises locally to help with gardens and general outdoor jobs who can clear the downpipe and the elbow at the bottom and put a mesh cap in the guttering as suggested above. I fear the builder you spoke to on the phone might be looking for a more substantial project.

[The Builder]

It does sound like an ordinary bung-up with leaves, Bobbi.
I guess there's no trapped gulley at the bottom of the downpipe.

Just excavate around the pipe where it goes underground. Dismantle everything and clean out. Unless the house is very old, I doubt if the soakaway has stopped working. They tend to just get slower and slower with age, not fail suddenly.

[gingejbee]

^^^not only leaves! We don't have much in the way of leaves....but chunks of moss coming off the north-facing side of the roof cause similar problems. None from the south-facing side, of course!

[bobbie22]

Many thanks to all for your advice. I will take on board cleaning
out below where the pipe goes into the ground. Not me personally, but a handyman I know. Thanks again x