Leaking Soil Stack !

[Monkey Wrench]

I would say that if that brown stuff is .... I would lift a manhole to eliminate a blockage first before you cut into . IMHO

It was a quick visit but, despite how the picture looks, I certainly don't recall it being "brown stuff".

However, I'll now certainly be lifting a manhole cover before I even consider cutting into the stack !

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Ok, I know this was over a year ago but the customer was supposed to come back to me and they never did.................... until now. Things are still the same and the job now needs to be done.

I can confirm that there are no blockages. The bottom fitting is a plastic double push fit coupling from standard black soil pipe to a larger underground plastic. The reason why it's leaking is that the rubber seal in the double coupling connecting on the red/orange underground pipe side has literally dropped out of the coupling. To me, this implies that the seal was pushed out when the stack was first installed as it wouldn't just fall out of its own accord. Additionally, there is a leak from an access panel so higher up so two leaks all together. The stack cannot be lifted as there is a right angle branch going directly into the wall approx 2.5m above the leaks for a toilet on the second floor.

I have tried to find a similar push fit plastic coupling the same as the one in the picture but all I can find is a rubber coupling. The only way I can see doing the job is to cut about 6cm out of the pipe above the access panel and lift out the remaining soil pipe and coupling. Install a new coupler (plastic if I can find one, rubber if not) plus a new piece of pipe (with inline access panel if I can find one) and then a rubber slip coupling.

I'd welcome any other alternative idea's or advice please.

Thank you

 

[Koogatubac]

Horrible jobs these ones.

Access covers such like this one is now on a tee (believe i got them by osma)

I think the best option would be to put a slip coupling on and fresh pipe, its obviously damaged the rubbers since normally 4" rubbers dont really give any problems..

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Horrible jobs these ones.

Access covers such like this one is now on a tee (believe i got them by osma)

I think the best option would be to put a slip coupling on and fresh pipe, its obviously damaged the rubbers since normally 4" rubbers dont really give any problems..

Thanks for the post Koogatubac.

I was intending to cut the pipe out just above the access cover and install a new coupling, piece of pipe (without access) and slip coupling where the cut had been made. However, I can't find a coupling the same as the leaking coupling (with blown seal) as I'll be taking out as they all seem to be rubber nowadays !

Thanks again.

 

[Koogatubac]

Sorry to be bearer of bad news lol its the silver fittings with the 2 jubilee clips each side that fits right, also you can use a pan connector that will slip inside the cast/clay if thats better?

Its all a sightly job in the end. Best job but pricey would be to renew the stack

 

[rab250]

I think if t was me i would be knocking out the cemented tee and remove the upper part of the stack 1st and then replace the damaged coupling and re-build and make right. Just charge accordingly. You want to get it right 1st time while the cust is paying not have to come back and do it again for free.

 

[smtplumbing]

i have had to use these on clay and fiberglass stacks
http://www.drainageonline.co.uk/images/products/AC4000.jpg

 

[smtplumbing]

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Thanks for the pic smtplumbing. I've seen plenty of those fittings in the merchants but had hoped to get a solid plastic fitting like the one that is installed already. Either way, I'd have to cut a piece out of the pipe and also use a slip coupling. Apparently, the stack was installed by the council but, as far as I'm aware, the tenants now own the property but they can't afford to have the whole stack removed in order to replace the leaking joint. To be honest, the jobs a pain in the a**e and, after more than a year of not hearing anything from the customer, I'd assumed they'd got someone else to do it. I'm inclined to think that everybody else was suddenly very busy after they'd seen the job.

 

[stevetheplumber]

if you have a branch cemented in the wall the stack wont fall down dont cut to close i cut a metre high and replace from there down get a new section in using a 4 inch slip coupling or a fernco rubber then cement the base if you cant get a 4 inch slip coupling ,change merchants or rasp the stop out of a normal one