Drain hole blocked but plumber says nothing to do with him

[LCV]

Hi,

My family and I have recently moved back in following a full house renovation that involved a new heating system and new pipework. There is a drain hole in the small front garden just under the kitchen window which is blocked as it overflows with water each time I wash up in the kitchen. In addition when I have the dishwasher on I hear block sounding noises when the water is trying to drain away.

This drain hole was not blocked before the renovation. I've had the planting changed in the front garden but have always had pebbles on the top to prevent weeds.

I've contacted the plumber to let him know the drain hole is blocked. He has replied to say it is nothing to do with him as he just connected to the drain pipe. Is that correct? He believes the gardeners blocked it when they updated the planting. Could this be the case? There is a grill on top to prevent large items from getting through.

What is your view, should the plumber fix this or is this a job for a specialist plumber?
Thanks!

 

[Riley]

You don't seem to have had a lot of luck with this do you. I would be inclined to think that it is more likely to be the gardeners soil and muck going down the drain and causing a partial blockage. If as your plumber says he only connected to existing then I struggle to see how he can have caused a blockage really unless he lost something down the drain before connecting? Either way I know you have other issues but I think you will need to pay someone to unblock it. Could be a plumber, could be a pro drain jetting company. I don't think you'll get your first plumber back

 

[Scott_D]

Gardener or builders rubble

 

[gassafe]

Pull off the grid & stick your hand down it. Could just be the gulley blocked & easy to clear

 

[LCV]

Thanks for your replies.

Ah, okay. I will do that and if I can't clear it I will call out a pro drain jetting company in.

Thanks!

 

[Howsie]

Has he connected a new drainage run to this?

 

[lame plumber]

tell the wife to stop pouring fat down the sink

 

[plumben]

Looking at the fact theres stones on top of the gully i'd say its gardeners fault most likely stones and soil blocking the gully, pair of long gloves or a thick bin bag stick your hand down and scoop out anything that's in there

 

[LCV]

Yes, a new drainage has been connected to this.

Ha, ha, I am the wife. We have only recently moved back in following a full house renovation. so the sink has not been used for many months and I never pour fat down the sink. We recycle so I put all food related waste into the green bags.

Okay, I will buy a pair of long gloves and get my hand down there. Would you recommend using a stick as well?

 

[oz-plumber]

Don't use a stick, you may only push the blockage further down the drain, causing a bigger problem that may require professional equipment to unblock.

Try clearing it by hand first.
If that doesn't fix the problem, get the drain cleaned and a camera put down it to see what and if there is another problem

 

[Stigster]

Just put your hand down as far as you comfortably can and feel for any debris causing an obstruction. If you hit something a bit more compact or solid then have a go at breaking it up with a rod or something similar as long as it is not at risk of snapping off in there. Then have another go with your hand to scoop out any muck/stones. If you think you have cleared it, you could also run a garden hose down there and give it a flush out.

Good luck, I have cleared gullies many a time and found everything from children's toys to crisp packets and even a drinks can in them. It's well worth a go as it may be a simple blockage to clear and you can't do any harm trying.

 

[Riley]

When you say new drainage do you mean new underground drainage or has he just attached a new white waste pipe into the existing pipework

 

[LCV]

I think it is the latter. We've had a new heating and hot water system put in and he also changed all the pipes..

When we moved back in one of the shower heads was completely blocked with blue/green bits. There was also blue/green bits on the shower floor and in the bath. That's why I thought it could be block by the plumber's work.

 

[Riley]

I'd be very surprised if the plumber has caused the blockage

 

[LCV]

From everyone's replies I don't think the plumber has blocked it. I was just explaining why I initially thought it could be him because of the blue/green bits in my bathrooms and my external pipes look like this:

 

[Howsie]

Everything can be fixed, just have a decent and honest discussion with your plumber/builder.

 

[Riley]

The blue green is just where the copper pipework has not been cleaned properly after soldering has been carried out. This could conceivably be on the inside of the pipe as well causing minor blockage at taps should really be flushed through prior to attaching sanitary ware. Based on your description the waste pipework will be plastic and as such I don't think he would've blocked it

 

[jtsplumbing]

Proberly find the Builder/Plaster have been washing out buckets in the sink,

 

[REDSAW]

sounds like plasterer has dropped his waste down it.
get some rubber gloves on and fish it out!
5 min job but if its set shout the spread back

 

[PhoenixServices]

Usually always the plasterer or tiler. I normally get a call a month after the customer has moved in to a blocked drain. They still don't stop doing it though. In a skip or a flower bed would be better or gravel (gravel hides anything)

 

[LCV]

Thanks all. That makes sense.

 

[gassafe]

From everyone's replies I don't think the plumber has blocked it. I was just explaining why I initially thought it could be him because of the blue/green bits in my bathrooms and my external pipes look like this:

View attachment 25917
View attachment 25918

Is that a gas pipe not sleeved through the wall?

 

[Tjdservices]

Is that a gas pipe not sleeved through the wall?

It looks like it to me

 

[E4gas]

More likely the tiler , they done it on my jobs before