• Man hole cover

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 7:49 am**

I have a man hole cover on my drive which has a large crack in it. It needs replacing. Ive never needed to access it and i think it just leads to yorkshire water mains pipes. As its on my property does anyone know if its my responsibility to replace it? Or is it Leeds council or Yorkshire water.

I have taken the necessary precautions to prevent Paul Smith falling down it

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 7:54 am**

Can you post a picture of it?

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 7:59 am**

: thumbnail_IMG_1389.jpg (38.82 KiB) Viewed 4855 times

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:04 am**

It looks like a cast iron manhole cover placed over domestic drains to me. These crack easily especially when people try to lift them by loosening them with hammers.
I doubt it contains water pipes unless the writing (which I can't read - because its too small, not because I can't read!) says water meter or the name of the water company.
Whatever, it is dangerous and needs fencing off for now. A picture of what's down there under the cover would help?
If it is drains and on your property it is likely that you will be responsible.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:08 am**

nonayclaret wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:04 am
It looks like a cast iron manhole cover placed over domestic drains to me. These crack easily especially when people try to lift them by loosening them with hammers.
I doubt it contains water pipes unless the writing (which I can't read - because its too small, not because I can't read!) says water meter or the name of the water company.
Whatever, it is dangerous and needs fencing off for now. A picture of what's down there under the cover would help?
If it is drains and on your property it is likely that you will be responsible.

The writing just says "CAWOODS SANDS LTD LEEDS 10"

Its quite deep but i could see pipes of some description down there. I've called Yorkshire Water who are sending someone out to have a look and to check if its their responsibility

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:10 am**

If you contact Yorkshire Water they’ll send someone round to have a look. Just mention it’s dangerous.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:12 am**

Google the Company name, then contact them for a price of a replacement. Measure the size of it before you do.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:14 am**

The writing is the ironworks maker of the cover. I think it will be drains. If YW are coming out then it should be sorted one way or the other.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:17 am**

cheers for the advise

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:21 am**

I think the ruling is if it takes waste from one more house it is the responsibility of the utility company, just your house and it is your responsibility.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:21 am**

That is a galvanised light duty manhole cover and not suitable for vehicular traffic. They bend and eventually crack. I assume your car drives over it? You need a heavy duty cover.

Thing is.... there is a big difference in price.
That's the reason someone has fitted the cheaper one.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:23 am**

When I had a similar problem a number of years ago the water company and the council both advised me that any drains or covers on your property are your responsibility. On the pavement or road etc the council or the water companies will deal with it. We are in the unenviable position of having several covers for different drains on our driveway and lawn whereas neighbours don't have them. Just the luck of the draw I guess.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:26 am**

PC alert

Not allowed to call them MAN holes anymore as it could upset some people

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:26 am**

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:21 am
That is a galvanised light duty manhole cover and not suitable for vehicular traffic. They bend and eventually crack. I assume your car drives over it? You need a heavy duty cover.

Thing is.... there is a big difference in price.
That's the reason someone has fitted the cheaper one.

I don't think its galvanised; its a very common cast iron type which break. The galvanised ones do sag with vehicular passage and are then almost impossible to lift. This is a thin cast iron one. The depressions once had small bars across them to allow lifting but these invariably break off.
Anyway, YW should sort it out now.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:40 am**

jojomk1 wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:26 am
PC alert

Not allowed to call them MAN holes anymore as it could upset some people

And in return, not calling them manholes, ends up upsetting those who want to call them manholes. What a weird world we live in.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:12 am**

They're called access covers or maintenance covers now

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:22 am**

Buy one at the ironmongers. A galvanised one.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:23 am**

Also known as "raised ironworks" on road repairs

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:23 am**

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:21 am
That is a galvanised light duty manhole cover and not suitable for vehicular traffic. They bend and eventually crack. I assume your car drives over it? You need a heavy duty cover.

Thing is.... there is a big difference in price.
That's the reason someone has fitted the cheaper one.

Clark drain do a 5,10 and 25 tonne one. I suppose it depends on what type of vehicles use your drive.

The price difference isn't as much as I thought. It's about £50 up to £110, depending on the rating.

They are galvanised steel.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:25 am**

jojomk1 wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 9:23 am
Also known as "raised ironworks" on road repairs

They are "raised" because the tarmac around them has been removed.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:28 am**

The house deeds will show the boundary if it’s anything to do with the supply pipe it’s usually the homeowners responsibility, if it’s around the communication or mains pipe you’ll have more joy.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:31 am**

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:23 am
When I had a similar problem a number of years ago the water company and the council both advised me that any drains or covers on your property are your responsibility. On the pavement or road etc the council or the water companies will deal with it. We are in the unenviable position of having several covers for different drains on our driveway and lawn whereas neighbours don't have them. Just the luck of the draw I guess.

It’s where the boundary finishes it can be a grey area sometimes depending on the external stopcock & if it’s a shared water supply.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:31 am**

i believe they are known as inspection chambers these days

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 9:43 am**

Thought this was a thread referring to what Rachel Heyhoe Flint used to call her cricket box

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 10:13 am**

You can tell that it is cast iron by the way it has broken, definitely not galvanised mild steel

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 10:35 am**

Depending on Size you can pick them up: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324649240865 ... Sw~45gsg-h

This one is 2.5 tonnes, depending what you need to drive over it.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 10:42 am**

bfcjg wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:21 am
I think the ruling is if it takes waste from one more house it is the responsibility of the utility company, just your house and it is your responsibility.

^^This. If it is on your property then it is your responsibility only if the waste water comes solely from you. If other properties feed into the system upstream then it is the responsibility of the relevant water company. This was the cause of a very long running dispute I had with United Utilities and an insurance company.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 2:52 pm**

Stayingup wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 9:22 am
Buy one at the ironmongers. A galvanised one.

Ironmongers i remember them from the fifties the staff always wore toffee coloured coats and sold everything from soap to chicken wire and had a great smell inside great shops

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 6:45 pm**

And fork handles of course....

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:22 pm**

The plot thickens. Yorkshire Water have come round whilst I was at work and fitted this. Obviously a temporary fix. Surely this suggests they are coming back with a more permanent solution?

: 2A8E6FF7-F70D-4C0B-B27A-F1E9B01028B1.png (438.29 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:26 pm**

You’re certainly not going to miss seeing that one!

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:27 pm**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 7:59 am
thumbnail_IMG_1389.jpg

Have you checked it's not just a dead Mexican moustache?

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:28 pm**

Notts Forest next away shirt.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:28 pm**

Looks like they got their paint off Triggers mates down at British Rail

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2022 8:32 pm**

You're a bit of a man-hole DA.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 8:58 am**

Yorkshire water will be responsible for your water supply and waste water. If it's deep like you say this may well be a sewer and it's possible it is not just for your property but others too.

With a sewer you will most likely see open, semi circular pipe or pipes with inlets coming from the side. When you run water/flush your toilet you should see water run along. If you ever have a blockage this manhole would be the place to get access to help clear it.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 9:10 am**

Still surprised no mention of Ladies underwear on this thread oh hang on a minute ........

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 11:27 am**

Hipper wrote: ↑
Wed May 04, 2022 8:58 am
Yorkshire water will be responsible for your water supply and waste water. If it's deep like you say this may well be a sewer and it's possible it is not just for your property but others too.

If only it was this simple.
If I have time this afternoon, when I am on the pc, I will type out, as simply as I can, who is responsible for what.
Some of the info on this thread is correct other stuff isn't.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 12:32 pm**

1/. Mains supply into the house.

As soon as the supply pipe enters your property/land then you are responsible for it and any leaks.
(This may have become a little more complicated for those with a water meter in your garden. Perhaps the water company might accept
responsibility up until the water meter, can anybody confirm this?).

2/. Foul Water within the property's boundary. (rainwater, sink & bath waste, toilet waste etc)

Access points (manholes) are built were a pipe run either
a/. Changes direction.
b/. Changes gradient.
c/. Other pipes join the run.
d/. Exceeds a certain length.

Generally speaking, as soon as a pipe run is joined by/(shared) with another household, then it becomes the responsibility of the water company.
i.e. from the point of joining (not prior to) down to the sewer.

Tip, lift off all covers get some pink toilet paper and/or approved dye, flush the toilets and rinse the sinks/baths etc and survey your own systems.
You'll need at least 2 people!
Find out how yours and your neighbours drains work before you get a blockage. This way you know who is responsible and who to call.
Sometimes work is covered on your household insurance if its not the Water Company's problem.

Now no doubt, others will want to argue with and contribute to this over-simplification?

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 12:52 pm**

jojomk1 wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 8:26 am
PC alert

Not allowed to call them MAN holes anymore as it could upset some people

Never seen a woman in a man hole. There again may be I've had a sheltered life

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 1:01 pm**

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑
Wed May 04, 2022 12:32 pm
1/. Mains supply into the house.

As soon as the supply pipe enters your property/land then you are responsible for it and any leaks.
(This may have become a little more complicated for those with a water meter in your garden. Perhaps the water company might accept
responsibility up until the water meter, can anybody confirm this?).

2/. Foul Water within the property's boundary. (rainwater, sink & bath waste, toilet waste etc)

Access points (manholes) are built were a pipe run either
a/. Changes direction.
b/. Changes gradient.
c/. Other pipes join the run.
d/. Exceeds a certain length.

Generally speaking, as soon as a pipe run is joined by/(shared) with another household, then it becomes the responsibility of the water company.
i.e. from the point of joining (not prior to) down to the sewer.

Tip, lift off all covers get some pink toilet paper and/or approved dye, flush the toilets and rinse the sinks/baths etc and survey your own systems.
You'll need at least 2 people!
Find out how yours and your neighbours drains work before you get a blockage. This way you know who is responsible and who to call.
Sometimes work is covered on your household insurance if its not the Water Company's problem.

Now no doubt, others will want to argue with and contribute to this over-simplification?

The situation changed for me with YW when I asked for a water meter installed, for years I suffered with a low water pressure & as it was a private supply pipe past their boundary I was responsible & as I wasn’t using much water due to pressure I requested a water meter which they (YW) fitted incorrectly due to not registering a sufficient flow I think, eventually Npower YW contractors fitted me a new supply pipe & ferrule which improved the water pressure, homeserve couldn’t do anything in the small print it’s an existing problem so wouldn’t touch, I guess some household insurance policies might cover internal pipe work depending on the level of cover & exclusions.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 1:04 pm**

The nature of the fracture ( brittle) suggests it is definitely a cast iron cover. There could be a problem in getting a cover to fit the existing frame. If the water company are responsible they may end up hacking out tarmac and replacing the cover with a new one + frame and then bodging up the tarmac around the repair. An alternative may be to weld the existing cover and leave the frame insitu.

Cast iron is notoriously difficult to weld ( high carbon content) but it is possible - i.e. cracked engine blocks of old cars. If you need to repair then some local engineering/steel fabricators may be able to weld reinforcing strips to the underside and stitch the fracture.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 8:43 pm**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 7:59 am
thumbnail_IMG_1389.jpg

I can see you're putting your best foot forward to address the issue

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2022 8:49 pm**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Tue May 03, 2022 7:59 am
thumbnail_IMG_1389.jpg

If you hold your phone at a 45 degree angle ( to the left ) it actually looks like a long armed man or alien is trying to climb out of the cover.
Ps I have had a glass of pinot

Posted: **Thu May 12, 2022 6:57 am**

Update

Whilst I was on the turf last Saturday, Yorkshire water/council or whoever came and fixed the man hole cover.

Posted: **Thu May 12, 2022 7:46 am**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Thu May 12, 2022 6:57 am
Update

Whilst I was on the turf last Saturday, Yorkshire water/council or whoever came and fixed the man hole cover.

Yes: I love a happy ending.

Posted: **Thu May 12, 2022 8:20 am**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Thu May 12, 2022 6:57 am
Update

Whilst I was on the turf last Saturday, Yorkshire water/council or whoever came and fixed the man hole cover.

At least there was one positive from last Saturday then

Posted: **Thu May 12, 2022 5:03 pm**

Glad you got your man hole sorted.

Posted: **Thu May 12, 2022 9:01 pm**

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑
Thu May 12, 2022 5:03 pm
Glad you got your man hole sorted.

It was filled in quickly and discreetly so I can’t complain.

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