Possible damaged drain.

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
I think I have a damaged drain. The toilet was blocked but then seemed to clear. All was well for a few weeks but now waste has come up through the drive where the waste pipe runs. Question, is this covered by my home insurance? My policy states the following:

13. Underground cables, pipes, drains & tanks
We’ll pay claims for the cost of repairing underground cables, pipes, drains and tanks – and their inspection covers – for which you’re legally responsible, if they’ve been accidentally damaged.
We’ll also pay claims where an underground drain that services your home gets blocked and can’t be cleared by normal methods. If this happens, we’ll pay the cost of breaking into the pipe and repairing it.
! When we say ‘accidentally damaged’ we mean physical damage that’s sudden, unexpected and not done on purpose. There needs to be a one-off, specific event that caused the damage. For example, if you accidentally put a garden fork through an underground pipe or cable whilst gardening.
It doesn’t include damage that’s caused by poor maintenance or that happens slowly over time. For example, if the joints on your underground pipes have worn out or moved.

It’s that last paragraph that concerns me. There is a small man hole/ inspection chamber where I can see the pipe. I assume it’s more than a basic blockage if it’s leaking up through the ground
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I think I have a damaged drain. The toilet was blocked but then seemed to clear. All was well for a few weeks but now waste has come up through the drive where the waste pipe runs. Question, is this covered by my home insurance? My policy states the following:

13. Underground cables, pipes, drains & tanks
We’ll pay claims for the cost of repairing underground cables, pipes, drains and tanks – and their inspection covers – for which you’re legally responsible, if they’ve been accidentally damaged.
We’ll also pay claims where an underground drain that services your home gets blocked and can’t be cleared by normal methods. If this happens, we’ll pay the cost of breaking into the pipe and repairing it.
! When we say ‘accidentally damaged’ we mean physical damage that’s sudden, unexpected and not done on purpose. There needs to be a one-off, specific event that caused the damage. For example, if you accidentally put a garden fork through an underground pipe or cable whilst gardening.
It doesn’t include damage that’s caused by poor maintenance or that happens slowly over time. For example, if the joints on your underground pipes have worn out or moved.

It’s that last paragraph that concerns me. There is a small man hole/ inspection chamber where I can see the pipe. I assume it’s more than a basic blockage if it’s leaking up through the ground
Unless some specific event can be seen to have caused it, I suspect that they will wriggle out. It seems likely to be judged to be a 'damage over time' event that they would disclaim indemnity for. But, who knows..?

Is there any sign of subsidence around where it emerges? The joins in sewer pipes are rarely 100% sealed, a blockage 'somewhere' downstream may just be escaping via the easiest joints to bypass.

Sometimes, indeed often, a 'good clean' will prevent a second blockage from having 'something to hang onto'.

The Karcher-style drain blasters will do a good job, to around 15 metres from the access, subject to getting round bends. I've shifted a good feww and only ever gone back to one twice on one occasion.

The rearward-pointing jets will pull the head along the pipe.

61Lz8bS-3WL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
Unless some specific event can be seen to have caused it, I suspect that they will wriggle out. It seems likely to be judged to be a 'damage over time' event that they would disclaim indemnity for. But, who knows..?

Is there any sign of subsidence around where it emerges? The joins in sewer pipes are rarely 100% sealed, a blockage 'somewhere' downstream may just be escaping via the easiest joints to bypass.

Sometimes, indeed often, a 'good clean' will prevent a second blockage from having 'something to hang onto'.

The Karcher-style drain blasters will do a good job, to around 15 metres from the access, subject to getting round bends. I've shifted a good feww and only ever gone back to one twice on one occasion.

The rearward-pointing jets will pull the head along the pipe.

61Lz8bS-3WL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
I have a cheap Triton jet wash so might see if I can find a suitable attachment. That’s for the info. There was quite a bit of water coming through the floor when I put the shower on. Do you think this could be coming from a joint?
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I think I have a damaged drain. The toilet was blocked but then seemed to clear. All was well for a few weeks but now waste has come up through the drive where the waste pipe runs. Question, is this covered by my home insurance? My policy states the following:

13. Underground cables, pipes, drains & tanks
We’ll pay claims for the cost of repairing underground cables, pipes, drains and tanks – and their inspection covers – for which you’re legally responsible, if they’ve been accidentally damaged.
We’ll also pay claims where an underground drain that services your home gets blocked and can’t be cleared by normal methods. If this happens, we’ll pay the cost of breaking into the pipe and repairing it.
! When we say ‘accidentally damaged’ we mean physical damage that’s sudden, unexpected and not done on purpose. There needs to be a one-off, specific event that caused the damage. For example, if you accidentally put a garden fork through an underground pipe or cable whilst gardening.
It doesn’t include damage that’s caused by poor maintenance or that happens slowly over time. For example, if the joints on your underground pipes have worn out or moved.

It’s that last paragraph that concerns me. There is a small man hole/ inspection chamber where I can see the pipe. I assume it’s more than a basic blockage if it’s leaking up through the ground
That last phrase concerned me as well and I at first assumed I wouldn't be covered. I gave LV insurance a ring and was relieved to find I was actually covered.
Mine leaking water supply pipe under the lawn was covered by my LV house insurance and they offered me to either them get their contractors to do everything (which we went with) or a cash payment up front for us to get someone in ourselves. If it was accidental damage it was just the £100 excess to pay , if wear and tear it would be another £100 . But just paid the £100 as not wear and tear on a 26 year old blue plastic pipe.

They used a company called Auger who specialise in drains , underground pipework and subsidence.

We got the paperwork through from Auger , which also scarily said that it was a one time claim only if wear and tear , but if accidental damage I'd be covered for further problems with the same pipes. The blokes said it couldn't be wear and tear on our underground pipes , so it's classed as accidental damage.

The blokes doing it have said it's accidental damage (can't see how as its about 4 foot or more underground....but they must know what they're talking about )

Best to ring insurance.......good luck !
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I have a cheap Triton jet wash so might see if I can find a suitable attachment. That’s for the info. There was quite a bit of water coming through the floor when I put the shower on. Do you think this could be coming from a joint?
If the drain is blocked, it will fill up until it finds a way out, if that way is not fast enough, it will fill up more.

As @staffordjas says, you can ask and you might be told 'Yes'.
 

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
It's worth seeing if the other people are blocked too - if so, then your problem is Severn Trent's...

They may not know, if you are even slightly lower than them.
Its running clear past the man hole onto their boundary. We've had problems with this drain in the past though. I will give the jet wash a go and is what it can sort. Fingers crossed but if not I will call the insurance
 

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
UPDATE:

I tried to clear the drain myself with both rods and the jet wash attachment but had no joy. So I have tried the insurance company. They have put the camera down and the drain has collapsed. Hopefully it can be repaired fairly soon
 

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
UPDATE: they have dug up the drive and found where the pipe was damaged. They think it’s from the BT duct as it’s right where they cross. They have replaced a small section and everything seems to flow ok now. You can just make out the new light brown pipe and the grey BT cable duct. I suspect it was damaged when the drive was done but only recently collapsed
 

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