Evening all,
I've got a problem with a blocked drain.

The problem:
When the loo (bottom right) is flushed, the open gulley overflows. The level does eventually drop, but it takes about an hour.

I cleaned out solids/tissue from the gulley, and removed an inner sleve which allowed me to find the drain going to the left. I've not actualy found the drain coming from the right yet, which doesn't make sense to me. It feels like the gulley goes down into a bigger pipe.

Using rods I've found that the drain goes about 2m to the left, then I hit something solid.
From the inspection chamber aroundd the corner, I can feed a rod about 8m towards where the first rod stopped. This seems to hit something solid too, so I'm guessing it is a corner.
Also, the drain does go at a slight angle as shown, not parallel to the house.

The inspection chamber is clear, and the other loo (top left) flushes into there no problem.

I've no proof that the drain actually goes to that inspection chamber, but I don't see anywhere else it could go.

Should there be an inspection chamber over the corner (assuming it is a corner) The house is only about 12 years old, so I'd have thought it would be fairly modern.
I've lifted a few slabs around where the corner is, but cant' see any sign of one, the slabs look like they've been there as long as the house, they're laid on blobs of mortar.

I've rodded up to the corner with the worm from both sides, and it's not helped, might give it another go when I get a chance.

Any advice please, anything else I can try?

Thanks
J

_________________
I am not a pro.

Soil waste would not go into an open gulley!
How deep is the water in this gulley?
Some surface water drains have the gulley in pipe lower than the out to catch the sludge/silt from blocking downstream.
Have to wait for an expert, I'm just experienced clearing a few drains around my place.

Maybe my terminology is wrong,
It's an oval shape with a grid type cover. The kitchen waste comes out the wall and goes down through a hole in the cover.

It's deffo waste from the loo, believe me!

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I am not a pro.

On every change of direction there should be a manhole, there seems to be one missing there.
As you say, the front stack and manhole are running free so I am assuming thats the flow of the drainage, ie from rear stack, under gully to the tight corner, ( with no manhole ) then towards the front.
As Aeromech said, soil waste wont go into a gully, but the gully will probably have its on trap and is teed into the main drain run which is okay.
I would geuss that you have a blockage where either the pipe from gulley is connected to the main drain run via a Y junction, or on the tight bend.
You dont seem to have a manhole along the back, so rodding is going to be difficult, I know it sounds a big job but, if the drainage isnt to deep is install a manhole, they come in plastic and its not a big job for builder, plus you will have full rodding access to both runs, the inner sleeve in the gully is a catchment trap which should be cleared regulary.
If you want to test the runs, add some food dye to a bucket of water and chuck it down.
Likely chances are, you might find a manhole on that corner, I cant see bco passing the drainage without it.

Okay CB the expert thankfully beat me to it, but in for a penny: waste does not by standards join here at an open top, the outlet from this, your kitchen gulley, joins a manhole/pit where the soil waste will also join by a separate pipe, guessing this is some way out from the house line about 2mts perhaps under something, patio/grass and if the outlet from this is blocked (tree roots love this moisture) then it is possible the kitchen sink gulley will also be tainted as the water is trying to escape even upwards; important you get it sorted as the back up to your toilet down pipe could start leaking-suggest give this loo a rest in the mean time.

Thanks for the replies,

I'm still not sure where exactly the loo waste joins this open gulley, but it does, and the water rises quickly when the loo is flushed, so I'm assuming that side of things is working OK.

I might lift some slabs and start digging at the weekend, the drain at the gulley end is only about 1ft down, I can reach along the pipe about 6 inches.
I've rodded this run from the gulley side and the inspection chamber side.

Putting in an inspection chamber sounds very sensible, I need some more daylight to investigate further.

The loo is now not in use until I get this sorter, luckily we have another :)

Any idea how I could connect a hosepipe to the output of my jetwash? That might be worht a try to get it running again until I can get the drains done.

Thanks

J

_________________
I am not a pro.

I am going to be a bit hard nosed with you, if there is only one outlet from your kitchen sink gulley then the loo does not connect here, not only that, applying a power wash from this point will only achieve mud in your face; find another connection in this "sink only outlet 1 foot down gulley" or look elsewhere.

Thanks again,
I'm not disagreeing with you, just saying that poking around with my hand in a bin bag, i've found one so far. Wherever the loo connects, the result is evident in the gulley, This is the only place I can investigate from without digging up the patio, so that's where i'm starting from.

I'll probably have to wait till the weekend to have a proper look.

Point taken on the jetwash, a facefull of that is not what I want.

I'll post back when I find out more.

_________________
I am not a pro.

From what you have described and the fact that the gully level rises with wc flush and content this is unlikely But:- my house has wc's on both sides but also has deep drains and inspection pits running down either side of the property; what is down the right side of your house plan?
When you have a weekend prod around, remember CB's advice that inspection manholes are where there is a change in direction, especially right angular.
I have used old lengths of hose pipe for rodding and also used an empty tins with a long stick nailed from within (ladle) to scoop out a gully!!! Good luck.

The drain is now unblocked.

Rodding again 2m left from the gulley with a bit more confidence and suddenly the water level dropped and it all went through the way it should. I've done a few flushes through by blocking the entrance to the inspection chamber with an old mop with a bag over it while I ran plenty of water from both the loo and the kitchen, once it filled up a bit I pulled the mop and let it flush through.

I'll have to keep an eye on this as I'm still not sure exactly how the drains run, but the gulley definately only has the one drain connected as I've been told a few times now

Whenever I get the patio redone i'll make sure to get proper access to any drains that may be there.

Thanks once again.
J

_________________
I am not a pro.

Neighbour rang the bell this 9am, do I know anybody with a set of rods, muggings hands over his, neighbour, got Bro in-law coming and down loo making gurgling noises. Just finished a touch up with some Crown satin and bell again. Neighbour, the pit in front of the house is full, muggings, on with muckboots (great B'day gift) and disposable gloves, finds the exit pipe and 6 rods later meets a blockage, up with neighbours manhole cover, no problem there; back to rods and next push big gurgle and away it flowed; six rods aligns with his boundary and some big leylandii guessing a root has found its way to nourishment .

I was sure you were going to say that he got the rods stuck in there.

Happy Birthday.

_________________
I am not a pro.