Putting in a sewer, do this first off
Putting in a sewer, do this first off
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 sewage 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 do not require authority approval for replacement of failed joints or cracked plumbing and drains pipes.
Surface water is basically rainwater. This can discharged into a soakaway, watercourse, surface water sewer or, particularly in older properties, into the foul water drainage system. The rainwater pipes in combined drainage systems empty their discharge into the foul water drains through gully traps, this prevent foul air from escaping outside creating odours. However, the latest systems are designed in a way which separates the foul water and the surface water. It’s absolutely crucial that you keep the dirty water drainage system apart from the one for surface water. The Building Control Department is your first point of contact before you start any work if you are not familiar with your home’s drainage system.
Before starting your work, finalise the routes the waste pipes would take. Have an eye to future care when you design the drainage system and always try to keep the waste or soil pipe as straight and short as you can when you are devising the layout. You must avoid making your pipe runs too steep. You can calculate the fall of a drain over a distance using a surveyors site level. Or just fill a transparent hosepipe with water and use the water level at the two ends to mark the required fall from the starting point.
The stability of the existing home is of prime importance it should be not compromised while the drainage trench is being installed so check you are not impacting on the existing structure. Similarly, take care of the substructures when laying a drain pipe that runs alongside the home.
While installing a new sewage system make sure that you do not dig too long before laying the pipe. Make sure that you get the pipes laid as quickly as possible and then backfill the ditch as soon as the system has been inspected and tested.
Be wary of the depth and soil conditions and if necessary add extra support to the ditch. Do not take any risks. Be on the safe side and secure the sides of such risky trenches by propping with sheets or boards. The ditch should be narrow, but spacious enough for people to work with any required tools. Protruding stones or bricks should not be left in the base and it should be cleaned to provide a smooth, regular surface. If the material at the base of the ditch is not appropriate then you might have to bring in new material.
Bricks and/or any other sturdy material should never be used to prop up the pipe in the ditch. This will damage the pipe and must never be used as temporary or permanent support. The bedding should be made compact to fit around the pipe joints. A comprehensive support should be used for the whole 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. An inspection chamber should be present at places where the pipework changes its direction, this is important so that it remains accessible to drain rods and they do not need to go around corners.
If you are keen on DIY and follow some basic rules then you will be able to do plumbing and drainage on your own.