tracking a drain

[Duddy]

I've a blocked rainwater down pipe. I can't reach the top of it from the windows, miles off, and the bottom doesn't have an access hatch.

I've located old records and I think (sounds crazy?) the pipe used to go under the house and then drain at the rear. And then around 1910 or so, they re-route it to flow out under the pavement at the front - presumably into the council sewers.

Anyway - I've had no luck getting a 'rodding' company interested. As soon as they find out how tall it is, and old, without access, they won't reply to my calls! One company suggested hiring a cherry picker!

Any ideas from anyone who has encountered something similar?

 

[a twig]

Got a photo of the actual down pipe at all?

Ordinarily you’d consider doing something like removing the bottom section of the downpipe to give you access then replacing it after (assuming it isn’t one piece) or cutting into it to install a rodding or access point at ground level

 

[Robola]

Usually roofers that deal with rainwater goods round here.

I have drains that go under the house to reach the sewer. I was provided a plan that showed the route - it was wrong. I wouldn't trust a drawing on such things. The drawing I was given looked designed to pass building control rather than the reality on the ground.

I assume it is the pipe on the right on your stonemason thread? It appears to pass through a stone collar, and it looks to leak from that joint. Beautiful house but these lovely details don't half make maintenance a pain.

I assume you will be getting scaffolding for the stone repairs, you should get it looked at while access is in place.

 

[fernicarry]

The blockage is more likely to be underground than in the downpipe in my experience. The underground clay drainage here was all completely shot and draining very slowly so in heavy rain water would back up into the downpipe. Is it overflowing at gutter level?

 

[Cubist]

Another of my dumb questions perhaps but...

What diameter is the downpipe at ground level and what material is it made from?

I ask as new access ports for both plastic and cast-iron pipes can be relatively easily purchased and installed. These can be used to rod through the lower sub-ground pipe run and upwards through the upper section - a bit messy perhaps at the roofline exit but definitely doable.