Drains need regular maintenance, just like every part of a property. Years of neglect can ultimately result in full drain collapse. Collapsed drains are inevitable if you neglect or poorly maintain drains. It is also one of the most severe drainage issues. Not helped when it is also one of the most complex and expensive ones to fix.

So, how do you identify when you have a collapsed or failed drain?
There are five key signs of a collapsed drain, which are accurate indicators of the problem.

You must have collapsed drains fixed as soon as possible. This minimises the damage and the expense of fixing them. So if any of the following symptoms present, it’s best to get a professional out and act quickly.

1. Backed-up sewers or regular pipe blockages
   These two less-than-savoury events are an indicator of a collapsed drain. This is because the sewage can’t physically move through the collapsed drain pipe, so it gets backed up.
   
   If this happens regularly, it implies damage to the pipe or a collapsed drain. Ordering a CCTV survey will confirm this so you can act on it.
   
   
   
2. A strong smell of sewage
   If there’s damage to a pipe or a collapsed drain, then you’ll regularly notice the smell of sewage in or around the home.
   
   
   
3. The presence of rodents or other unwanted visitors
   A failed drain is an easy access point into the home for rats and other vermin. They’re more likely to live in the sewer pipes, so there’s no reason why they won’t venture closer and closer to the home. Especially if you have backed-up sewers leaking into your home into floor spaces (crawl space), garage or garden.
   
   
   
4. New damp patches and mould appearing
   A compromised drain puts strain on the pipes carrying wastewater. These pipes can begin to leak, and you may start to see new patches of damp or mould appearing in the home. These can also appear if the collapsed part of the drain is underneath the house. It’s worth checking any outbuildings or the garage for this, too, if this is where the drain pipes are!
   
   
   
5. Slow drainage
   If you’ve noticed problems with your plumbing, you may have slow drainage. This means water is slowly draining from; sinks, basins, bath, shower or toilet. A CCTV survey can assess whether slow-moving drains are due to a one-time blockage or something more serious such as a drain collapse.

Who is the responsible person / organisation to repair the drain?

Prior to utility companies it was very confusing and often property owners footed the bill in any circumstances. The rules are very simple now. You, as property owner are responsible for all the drains on your property, right up to your property boundry (including areas under your property boundry walls / fences etc). Beyond this the utility companies take responsibility. This is where a sewer survey and sewer location survey can be helpful in identifying the fault and the exact location of the issue above ground.

Will Insurance cover drain repair costs?

Policies vary and you will need to check your policy wording. However in most cases if the drain was accidentally damaged, for example, by a heavy vehicle on your driveway, then, yes, your insurance will likely cover this.

Insurance companies will almost always reimburse you for the "make safe" works required to get your drains working again and establish the root cause of the fault. It's well worth getting a professional company in to do this, trying to clear the drains yourself can be hazardous and potentially cause further issues without establishing the underlying fault - not to mention messy and smelly!

Why worry about working drains?

Regularly inspecting drains may seem pointless if they're working well, however it's worth considering the following;

• The material your drains are made from; All modern pipes are now PVC, however most older properties do not have these. They have, clay, cast iron or pitch fibre which all have issues and part of the reason these are no longer used for drainage today.
• Hidden inspection chambers (manholes) are commonplace, previous owners often don't mark these and new owners don't realise they are there until they collapse or need to be used to unblock the drain.
• The age of the drains; Clay pipe have a life expectancy of around 50 years. Pitch fibre pipes are such a concern that we strongly recommend a pre-purchase survey if the property was built during their use. Cast Iron will rust and become pitted / cracked.
• PVC in a new build can have displacements or issues that should be presented on your snagging list and dealt with by the housebuilder.
• PVC can be chewed by rodents; If a property is empty for a while, rodents will often live in underfloor access areas (crawl spaces). They frequently chew PVC pipework to get to the "food" inside the pipes. This can stay unnoticed when the property is habited again and wastewater is leaking into the crawl space.

If you need your drains unblocked, repaired, surveyed or simply checked, SBS drainage team will be happy to help. Just give us a call!