The Morecambe DIY Project

[accykeef]

The bottle trap under the shower has been causing some problems of late, I flushed it out with the hose pipe a few weeks back and thought I had solved the problem but yesterday it blocked up almost completely.

The only solution was to remove it and see what the problem was. The access to the trap is from the kitchen below and involves moving the oven out of the way and then getting at it through a small hole in the ceiling. It is a bit awkward but would have been much worse if I had to remove the shower tray to get to it.

I removed it and the trap and pipe were full of, what I can only describe as thick sludge. It can only be a combination of the washing products, we use that causes it but it is not easy to remove. Jetting it out with the hose pipe worked eventually but it did take a while. I have also put some mesh into the trap to prevent anything other than water fetting into the pipe. We will just have to see if it works.

Once reassembled, the sun came out and gave us this fabulous light show.


Meanwhile, in the living room, Woody our pet wooden dog has taken up residence as a keyboard holder. He is actually a toilet roll holder but is too big to fit in the toilet room.

[trevnhil]

I like the pictures of the Herb garden in the outside facilities. I did see the pictures a day or two ago but have been a bit too tired at the end of the working day to reply. I am having half a day off today, hence the spare time.
I would imagine that you had to buy the gravel to go in the bath but it is all looking very good. At least you can leave the seat up without getting shouted at.

Re. the problems with the shower waste......
It will be at times like this that you will be glad that you put an access panel in, so that you could get to the shower waste trap.
It is amazing how much hair gets held in the trap along with 'gunk'.

In our last rental I had to hook it out with a thin bent wire. I also was a big believer in a kettle full of boiling water at regular intervals.

The picture in the shower looks good and to me quite futuristic.
I hope that all will be running smoothly now.

The dog is very well behave to keep the keyboard level.

Cheers. Trev..

[mpprh]

I've had the same problems in the past.

However, there is a solution. Fit traps with top access. These are easy to regularly empty and clean. Some are very shallow which helps to get a decent fall in the pipes without needing steps to climb up to the tray.

Since I discovered the trick, I've done four without any blockage problems.

Even better, they are cheap !

[accykeef]

Hi Peter
It is a top access one that is fitted but the problem was where it blocked up with hair and gunge. After removing the insert, which was fairly clean the water was only draining slowly. Once I had taken the trap out, I was able to jet it with the hose pipe and remove the blockage which was up inside the trap itself.

When I fitted it, I could not understand how the trap worked. It would trap heavy objects in the bottom but we don't tend to get many of those passing through the shower.

To trap hair and soapy sludge, I made a filter out of plastic mesh (as in the pic below) and it works a treat. I am still refining the design but the filter works as a filter should. We just need a cleaning person to empty it regularly and it is job done.

[trevnhil]

Peter, yours looks very nice and top access must be good. Keith your home made filter also looks very efficient as well.

I certainly hope that ours last for a long long time as they are (obviously) under the shower tray and could only be accessed by digging down about 6" at the side of the shower tray.

Trev..

[accykeef]

I decided at the time of installation that access may be needed from below too. Had it been on the ground floor or a solid concrete base, I would not have put a trap in at all, under the shower tray, just a 90 degree angle and a straight pipe out. That was an option for ours here if the bottle trap idea didn't work.

[mpprh]

The French variety has the trap in the plug hole. The whole lot lifts out from above :



The hair stays at the top, the water slows and the whole trap is lifted for rinsing every few weeks.

The cup gets a soapy scaly slime that wipes off.

Maybe it is slightly different from yours ?

Peter

[accykeef]

That design makes more sense than the one we have. I even took it back to the suppliers, when I had inspected it, asking if there was an additional piece. They assured me it was complete. There would not be room for a cup, in the bottom of ours as the pull out bit (in the pic above) fills the hole.

I will look into the hole and report back

[accykeef]

The mesh in the trap works a bit too well but I think it is better to trap it there than have it block up the whole thing and then have to remove it again.

At last I have had the opportunity to use my Christmas present from Mrs Keef. I am not sure if I mentioned it but she got me a power washer. The weather has not been suitable to try it, up to now but apart from a cold biting wind, it was rather pleasant outside this morning so I put on all of my coats and hats and ventured outside. It was quite straight forward to set up, water in, water out and an electricity supply. It took an hour to transform this



into this



The major cause of the dirt is dead ferns falling off the trees and the fact that it has not been cleaned since the flags were laid in August 2011.

[mpprh]

Looks good.

A reminder that I ought to do my terrace this year !

[accykeef]

I hadn't realised just how dirty the flags had got until I compared the photos. I might do the concrete on the drive tomorrow and see what that looks like when it is clean.

[trevnhil]

Well Keith I think you did forget to tell us about your Christmas present. I am sure I would have commented upon it.
It is amazing how time flies because I did not think it was 2011 when you were flagging a bit.
However you are back on form now and your work today has really worked wonders

Jan 12, 2013 20:01:31 GMT accykeef said:

I hadn't realised just how dirty the flags had got until I compared the photos. I might do the concrete on the drive tomorrow and see what that looks like when it is clean.

Is this just to see what it will look like when it is shined up a bit, or is in an endeavour to be able to say that the drive really does not need 're-doing'

Finally looking at the pictures, I can see that you have ignored what your wife is always telling you.

You forgot to put the seat lid down.

Regards. Trev..

[accykeef]

Oh Trev - the drive does need doing although the thought of it brings me out in a cold sweat, I know it is going to be a heavy task but I really must get on with it. Stay tuned to this channel.

[trevnhil]

It's a bit early in the year to start DIY drives Keith. You could wait until the clocks change and then you can work later into the evening.

I HAVE JUST HAD A THOUGHT....... I remember seeing a big yellow digger that you have. You could use that.

Trev..

[accykeef]

Hi - is there an echo in here, in here, in here ................