| Lifting A Manhole Cover | | | | Your first check is always to see if the trap on the |
| You have to lift the manhole cover to check the | | | | fitting itself is blocked. If your sure the blockage is in |
| drains, so this is always the first job. It's not east: | | | | the drains, adopt the following procedure. Open the |
| cast iron manhole covers are heavy, so get some | | | | manhole nearest the house. If this is empty, the fault |
| help. Frequently the cover is rusted in its frame. | | | | is in the fitting waste pipe, the stack or the gully trap. |
| Scrape around the join with a screwdriver then tap | | | | If only one fitting on a stack gives trouble, the fault |
| the cover gently with some wood - the vibration | | | | is in its own waste pipe. If several do the blockage is |
| should release it from its seating. | | | | in the stack probably low down, towards the |
| Special keys are available for lifting covers but if you | | | | chamber. |
| don't have one, a strong hook or piece of steel bent | | | | If the manhole is full of effluent, do not immediately |
| in a vice will do just as well. Some covers have | | | | assume that this is where the blockage is. Try if |
| handles consisting of small bars across indents. In this | | | | possible to lift all other manholes between there and |
| case, loop several turns for string or wire through the | | | | the main drain in the road - particularly if the drain |
| bars then around a stout piece of timber. With | | | | includes and interceptor which give more trouble than |
| someone on either side of the cover use the timber | | | | ordinary inspection chambers. It may be that the last |
| as handles lift, and swing the cover free. | | | | one in the line has blocked causing effluent to back |
| As a last resort, use a garden spade to lever up the | | | | up as far as the first. |
| cover over a fulcrum made from wood or bricks. | | | | Work Wear |
| The easiest way is to life one end first and support it | | | | I would also suggest at this point that wearing good |
| across the opening on a broom handle or similar. You | | | | quality workwear well worth it. Clearing blocked drains |
| can then lift the other end onto another support and | | | | is a dirty job, so wearing your going out jeans is a |
| use them both as rollers to push it clear of the | | | | no-no. I would suggest something like a pair of |
| opening. | | | | Snickers Workwear pants or some other good |
| Some covers are secured by screw bolts, in this is | | | | quality brand such as Jobman or Mascot. |
| the case soak them in penetrating oil before | | | | Summary |
| attempting to undo them. Remove the bolts with a | | | | That is it for this article, however, still to come I will |
| spanner or wrench. | | | | tell how to unblock Inspection Chambers and |
| On all manhole covers, a little grease smeared around | | | | Interceptors, and as an added bonus get you a walk |
| the frame before replacement will stop future rusting. | | | | through on how to clear a blocked gully. |
| Locating Blockages | | | | |