RugbyRebels

The down pipe we share with our neighbours has about a foot of gunk at the bottom blocking it. Unfortunately I can't get anything up the pipe to unblock it as it sits right on top of a grate. The down pipe is made of metal and doesn't break into pieces. The only access is at the top, about three metres off the ground. How am I going to unblock it?

Small sewer auger

Pressure the neighbour into doing it...


Failing that a ladder or if you particularly safety conscious a working platform, and some rodding equipment or something akin to what Porky suggests.

I'm guessing with a grating at the bottom, this is just a roof run off downpipe (i.e. gunk being leaves and moss etc.) or grey water, and not something altogether more unpleasant with a foul pipe.

bruce wrote:Pressure the neighbour into doing it...


Failing that a ladder or if you particularly safety conscious a working platform, and some rodding equipment or something akin to what Porky suggests.

I'm guessing with a grating at the bottom, this is just a roof run off downpipe (i.e. gunk being leaves and moss etc.) or grey water, and not something altogether more unpleasant with a foul pipe.

Correct assumption. Had a go with some drain rods today bit didn't make much headway. Might see what hss has for me to hire.

Donny osmond wrote:

bruce wrote:Pressure the neighbour into doing it...


Failing that a ladder or if you particularly safety conscious a working platform, and some rodding equipment or something akin to what Porky suggests.

I'm guessing with a grating at the bottom, this is just a roof run off downpipe (i.e. gunk being leaves and moss etc.) or grey water, and not something altogether more unpleasant with a foul pipe.

Correct assumption. Had a go with some drain rods today bit didn't make much headway. Might see what hss has for me to hire.

You should be able to remove the grate.

Removing the grate is only going to give a few inches of additional room to work; about the circumference of the grate.

I think you will either need to sort it from the top or get a hold of a pretty powerful power hose to try and shift it from the bottom (You're still going to face the problem of the space needed to get the thing up there).

Bigger job entirely, but probably better in the long run, is to cut off the bottom metre or so and then fix the bits back together with a joint that will allow you to sort things out easier next time.

Of course, if it was me, a couple of ounces of PE-4 would sort the matter out good and proper - and teach your neighbour not to let his fecking leaves clog your downpipe!

The neighbour is from belfast, I'll ask if he's got any pe4 lying around.

There are some interesting new corkscrew type bendy tools that have the same tensioning as those implants they put into a penis to help with size and spring (I'm told). You don't need much access.
You should only need to clear the blockage at the closest point to the drain and the rest will come flooding down like an avalanche of sh*t.
It's very satisfying when it goes,......even if you are covered in sh*t. That's proper labour.

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:
Bigger job entirely, but probably better in the long run, is to cut off the bottom metre or so and then fix the bits back together with a joint that will allow you to sort things out easier next time.

Yeah,....the bodge it and scarper solution. Cut a small access hole and jab at the blockage first before cutting the entire pipe.

Donny osmond wrote:The neighbour is from belfast, I'll ask if he's got any pe4 lying around.

Belfast? He's more likely to have SEMTEX.