Temporary Drain block

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wellygary

8328 posts

Uber Geek

#2861204 3-Feb-2022 12:13

Something like this might work depending on how rough the inside of the drain is

As you screw the lug it pulls the two steel plates together and pushes the rubber seal outward

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bailey-drain-test-plug-100mm-silver/p/180795

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2861228 3-Feb-2022 12:45

I couldn't see a measurement but that hole looks reasonably small.

What about a tapered rubber bung? Hammer it into the hole.

If you still have dribbles around the edges, jam some butyl tape in there. It works on boat batches.

Mike

Bung

6488 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2861234 3-Feb-2022 12:57

jaypeegee:
@bung - username checks out :-) Council says that there is no leak...

They usually check for chlorine in water = town supply rather than rainwater then drop dye into neighbouring drains. I've found food colouring will show up on paper towel at weep hole. That seems a lot of ground water for summer. How long has it been since you've had decent rain?

jaypeegee

62 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2861273 3-Feb-2022 14:47

Bung:
jaypeegee:

@bung - username checks out :-) Council says that there is no leak...

They usually check for chlorine in water = town supply rather than rainwater then drop dye into neighbouring drains. I've found food colouring will show up on paper towel at weep hole. That seems a lot of ground water for summer. How long has it been since you've had decent rain?

Rain? quite some time... We are at the bottom of a hill and I suspect that somewhere further up is a leak/spring/ or at least the source

It is a persistent leak and been so for a while.. Council and Neighbor have both gone "meh"

I have been tempted to block it up and wait for the backflow to appear & hope that it catalyzes interest at the source but the potential downsides are too many...

neb

11294 posts

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Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2861433 3-Feb-2022 20:25

Jase2985:
https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/flex-tape-rubber-sealant-flex-tape-102x1-5m-white/p/351460

I'd thought of something like that too but from the photo it doesn't look like the surface is something that most adhesives would bond to, and that tape is damn expensive for a try-and-hope.

neb

11294 posts

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#2861437 3-Feb-2022 20:28

wellygary:
https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bailey-drain-test-plug-100mm-silver/p/180795

That's actually pretty neat, but also rather pricey. How about checking a brew shop for a silicone stopper you can push into the hole? Those can be had for a few dollars. May need a bit of grinding/filing to get a reasonably round shape first though.

Edited to add: OK, lab supply shop, not brew shop. They start at under a dollar.

gb67

44 posts

Geek

#2861871 4-Feb-2022 20:25

How long does it need to last?

Bung a balloon in the hole (half in, half out) and inflate.

Have seen this done on a sewer pipe waiting for a toilet to be installed.

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Jase2985

13462 posts

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#2861875 4-Feb-2022 21:13

gb67:

How long does it need to last?

Bung a balloon in the hole (half in, half out) and inflate.

Have seen this done on a sewer pipe waiting for a toilet to be installed.

if your worried about it popping maybe put it inside a ziplock bag or something a little stronger

JayADee

2148 posts

Uber Geek

#2862291 5-Feb-2022 19:20

I’d create a lip for the water to drip off and stick a bit of temporary flexible piping on there (possibly with silicone just to hold it in place) to divert the water then remove the pipe afterwards. Or wait and see if the investigation can get it to stop dripping…

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