Problems with a small sewage leak in outhouse and can’t find manhole cover

[Sue72]

i am having real problems with a small sewage leak in my outhouse from where the old toilet used to be, and which is now used to drain the washing machine. Dial a rod came out and it did seem to get better but they could not find the manhole cover that i understand is somewhere in my garden. they managed to use the surrounding manholes but say they need access to mine. does anybody know how i can find my manhole cover?

[ALDA]

SUE,

ALTHOUGH MANHOLES SHOULD NOT BE COVERED OVER (FOR PRECISELY THE REASON THAT YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR POST), MANY ARE DURING THE LIFE TIME OF A PROPERTY.

CHECK OUT AREAS MOST COMMONLY COVERED WITH PAVING SLAB, GRAVEL OR DECKING.

CHECK OUT THE LOCATION OF NEIGHBOURS COVERS AND LOOK IN SAME AREA IN YOUR PROPERTY.

AS YOU MENTION AN OUT HOUSE IN YOUR POST, I ASSUME THE PROPERTY IS FAIRLY OLD AND THAT ANY MAN HOLE COVER WILL BE OF THE CAST IRON VARIETY AND THEREFORE A METAL DETECTOR MAY BE OF SOME USE IN LOCATING THE COVER IF IT HAS BECOME COVERED WITH SOIL AND OR VEGITATION.

ALDA.

[Sue72]

Alda, thanks for the info. you were in fact correct, and it was eventually located under the patio (sounds a bit dodgy a la Brookside!). Locating it was only the start of what turned out to be a rather unpleasant experience which I shan't go into.......

[ALDA]

SUE,

I HOPE THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED THOUGH.

REGARDS,

ALDA