Getting through a blocked underground duct

zac8

I’m looking for advice on getting a fibre cable through a blocked underground duct.

The cable was cut at the pole outside my house by a hedge cutter hired by a neighbouring farmer. Eir came to repair it but couldn’t rod through to the house as the duct seems to be blocked about ten feet from the house. They said they’d send out a contractor to do it as they’d have the equipment to do it. I then got a call to say they wouldn’t send contractors as it is private property and my responsibility.

I know it’s the farmers/hedge cutters responsibility but the farmer’s playing silly beggars and I just need it fixed.

Does anyone know who might be able to do this and what equipment they use?

PilotHole

I had a similar problem with a blocked fiber duct.

I just dug a new one in. It doesn't have to be deep or even buried but of course that would be preferable to keep it safer.

And if you want it done in a reasonable timeframe best to get the shovel out!

zac8

Thanks but it’s over 50 meters.

cruizer101

Could you just dig down at the blocked part, cut that bit out and replace or hand feed it through that bit

zac8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118189824#Comment_118189824

I don’t know where that is. The duct is not in a straight line from pole to house. If I can get an idea of the location of the blockage then I can try that.

ted1

Have you a power hose? Try blasting the blockage.

Furze99

Been there, hedge cutters are a menace. I've seen them working in the dusk/ dark even when the operators can often barely see what they're at. Most of them are contractors and flit off to the next job. I'd reckon they cause endless damage to phone lines and cables up and down the country. Do Eir or whoever ever go after them for compensation?

Things can only get worse in rural areas with the supposed broadband plan to route cables along telephone poles in the ditches.

By way, ended up digging new trench.

Gusser09

I'd just start digging to be honest. Even if you could run some Wavin up the side of the garden from the current entry point to your property it might get you sorted quicker and then you could look at burying it at a later date. Don't skimp on the ducting either. I'd be using 4 inch Wavin. Overkill but it would future proof it.

zac8

Thanks for the tips guys. There’s granite slabs at the front of the house that would need to be lifted so not straightforward. I think I will end up doing this myself. It’s mad that they can cause damage like this with no repercussions.

whizbang

fibre cable

Its either Fibre, or its cable. If its cable; it could be coax, or just Plain old telephone wire.

If its cable, just join it up yourself.

That will give you some time to do the digging.😉

NickNickleby

Can you see both ends of the cable? If so, why not tie something (like a nylon line) to the end that was cut, the go to the other end and try to pull it all through. Then get eir back and tell them to use your diy fish wire. I'm surprised they didn't try this (or did they and it didn't work?). If you can pull it through, be sure you make a really secure joint, as the blockage will cause it to snag. You will have to strip back the outer sheath of the cable, then loop back the inner wires (I'd make them at least 30cm ) and twist them together to make a loop, the put your nylon line through the loop and double it back on itself. Squeeze the loops tight to make them as small as possible. Then wrap duct tape over the whole lot, trying to keep the diameter of the taped joint as small as possible. Start the tape over the outer sheath at least 10cm from the bared wires to try to keep the outer surface as uniform as possible along the cable-joint-nylon. It wouldn't surprise me if the so-called blockage was in fact a very tight bend in the run. if so the cable should pull freely. Best of luck. edit to add, test the strength of your joint really well before committing.

zac8

It’s fibre and the first Eir engineer who came pulled the wire out of the duct at the pole end. The wire was snapped at the point it enters the house. I knew the existing wire could be used to pull the new wire through so couldn’t understand why he did that. Maybe the wire broke when the duct was cut and sprang out.

corner of hells

Have you tried using a "yellow" ducting rod ?

Might be worth hiring ?

KaneToad

I had similar blocked duct issue. Eir sent a contractor. I was charged for it but paid it off monthly on my bill with no interest charges.

Dont recall the fee but fairly sure it was less than €200.

blackcard

You can put something like chimney rods through the duct with a piece of metal on the end of the rods. Get a metal detector and trace the rods to the place they get stuck. Dig down to where the duct is blocked, cut out a section of the duct and use repair collars to replace the section of duct

NickNickleby

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118195324#Comment_118195324

That's a pity. I hope my post didn't come across as condescending, it was just a thought. Sounds like whatever is causing the blockage is tight enough to hold the cable in place. So, attaching a new one to the old one would probably never have worked anyway.

zac8

Thanks for the tips. I’ll try to get a price from KN on Monday.

Still stihl waters 3

Hire a cobra from a plant hire company to see would that work

zac8

Well KN said they don’t do private call outs so I hired a cobra as suggested and got through the blockage easy enough. Rope in the duct now ready for Eir engineers. Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciate it.