Collapsed sewer, call the experts ?

[Dan_The_Man]

Guys,
found roots when I snaked the downstairs loo (was not flushing correctly) so dug up the suspect area next to the sewer manhole and found the clay pipe collapsed. Have dug out most of the broken pipe which is under a concrete path down the side of house so dug down next to the path and then tunneled under. Unfortunately the clay pipe is now enclosed in a concrete shield so it's a bh to get a clean section to use a rubber coupler.
Do I call the experts ? can they easily make a connection to new plastic pipe from this ?
Or shall I get the grinder out, cut up the concrete path, dig out more pipe which may end up breaking back to the house wall ?
or is there an easier DIY method to connect this clay to plastic ? maybe cement around to form a join ?

[TheEnd]

i'd keep on chiseling back around the pipe until i get a straight end, then use a grinder to get a flat face on it.
Any professional would be doing the same also, so there isn't much point in calling in help for them to do what you can.

[DrDeAtH]

best keep going back until you find a joint in the pipe, you will find it easier to do the repair near there, as if the clay pipe cracks, you can remove the broken bit further towards the join.... let in a new section of plastic pipe with rubber couplings. back fill with lots of pea shingle afterwards.

[Wings]

DIY get grinder out, there are plenty of flexible couplings to connect clay to plastic, link here to one company near you

http://www.burdens.co.uk/products/Drainage+Systems...

[Chrisgr31]

By the way sewer should be covered on your Buildings Insurance, therefore could have got the experts in and only paid the excess!

[Dan_The_Man]

Did think of that but £250 excess and premium rise next year due to claim means I want to keep costs down.

[GreenDog]

I noticed at the weekend that the concrete under which our sewer pipe runs is sounding very hollow when you tap on it. I can only imagine that the ground underneath has somehow collapsed, however we've had no problem with the waste flowing away etc. Think I best check that we're covered on the insurance, only a £50 excess on our policy fortunately !

[Dan_The_Man]

Sounds like the Wickes universal adaptor is designed to fit inside a clay pipe, may have a crack at that since the concrete that the pipe is encased in is a sod to dig out.

[mk1fan]

The connector you need is the rubber straight connector with 4 jubilee clips on it. Unless you dig out the whole broken length and replace like for like.

[Dan_The_Man]

mk1fan said:

The connector you need is the rubber straight connector with 4 jubilee clips on it. Unless you dig out the whole broken length and replace like for like.

Thanks for the help, also what I needed was one of these, bought for £45 instead of a days hire


to chisel the concrete back to end up with one of these to slip the rubber coupling over, job done now.