Collapsed Drain Repair

Drains getting damaged can be caused by plenty of different reasons from normal pipe blockages to more serious causes such as drain pipes completely collapsing, due to other groundworks around the area and external factors like tree roots.

Smaller drain damage includes things like cracks in the pipes and joints in the pipework that have become unstable. These types of problems can usually be taken care of with no-dig technology such a CIPP drain relining. 

However, a more serious problem such as a collapsed drain repair are more involved and would require us to ‘dig deep’ into the problem and excavate the pipe to replace that section and seal it.

Signs of a collapsed drain?

Here are 5 major giveaways that you might have a collapsed drain:

 1. Sewage Smell

Firstly a dead giveaway sign of a damaged pipe is smelly odours coming from your drains. These smells can come around any drain in the house such as the sink or shower holes. Alternatively, there may be bad smells outside around drains and manhole covers.

The bad odours are caused by a blockage in the pipe. If after a few attempts to clear a blockage the smell persists then it is more likely to be a damaged pipe causing preventing the pip from clearing.

2. Signs of Damp

You may start to experience a build-up of water around a manhole, somewhere in the garden where a pipe may be running underneath. Sometimes might even see damp in the house on the walls or floor in the problem is beneath your home.

This is caused by the water not draining away and building up around that point. One way to find out what is the cause is with a drain survey as soon as possible.

3. Slow Drainage

Have your drains started to drain really slowly? Water seems to sit in your sink or bath for a lot longer than what you are used to? It could just be a blockage in the drain yes but if after being cleaned they remain to drain slow then that points towards a collapsed drain. 

If that is the case for you then you will need a drainage professional to carry out a drain survey to carry out a full inspection. 

 4. A Rodent Problem

Whilst you may not think a rat infestation or something similar could be anything to do with a drainage problem. They can be very linked as when your pipe becomes damaged or collapses this provides an opportunity for rodents to enter the drainage system and potentially enter your home.

If a rodent problem is something you are seeing along with drainage issues then not to worry we work closely with companies such as Rentokil Initial who can take care of that issue for you too.

 5. Can a collapsed drain cause subsidence?

The answer to this question is… Yes!! it absolutely can. Like we mentioned above in the previous points when you have a collapsed drain the flow of water is seriously disrupted. The problem is all that water has to go somewhere so it leaks out into the surrounding soil which can lead to movement in the earth leading to subsidence.

Collapsed drain who is responsible?

A common question around any type of drainage problem is who is responsible for the maintenance and repairs? Generally, a property owner is responsible for all drains inside the boundaries of their property. While anything that is outside the properties boundaries is the responsibility of your water company because they are publicly owned.

Lateral drains are the pipes that carry the wastewater away from your house to the sewers. Any problems with lateral drains or sewers will generally be covered by your water company although some may be privately owned. In this case, the responsibility will fall with them.

So to summerise, you are only responsible for the repair and maintenance of the drains that are within the boundaries of your property. Anything outside these boundaries like lateral drains and sewers is taken care of by your water company.