It’s surprising how many people are unaware of the problems in their drains until they suddenly start to cause problems. Regular checks on your drains can help to prevent a large repair bill.
Every One to Two Years on Older Properties
For older homes, typically those built pre-1970s, it is recommended that a drain survey is carried out every 1-2 years to check for cracks and other damage to the drains made of clay or pitch-fibre. A Victorian house or old council house would be good to start monitoring.
Before and After Building Work
Groundwork, extension work, and new driveways can place a lot of pressure on the buried pipes. It is a good idea to have a survey done before the work is started so that any problems can be documented before any damage is done. Then after the work has been completed the same survey can be done to check that the pipes have not been damaged during the backfilling process.
After a Persistent or Recurring Blockage
If your drain blocks a single time then this may be due to normal build up of debris etc over time. However, if your drain blocks on several occasions within a 12 month period then there is likely to be a problem with the structure of the drain. A CCTV survey will highlight if there is a fault, collapse, or even root intrusion, saving you from costly unexpected repairs.
When Mature Trees Are Growing Nearby
Large mature trees growing near to underground drains often penetrate the joints of small buried pipes in search of moisture. Regular surveys are recommended, every 12 months, where large mature trees are growing near to underground drain runs, especially after a very dry summer.
Before Buying a Property
Although you may have had a valuation conducted on the property, this will not have included a check on the drainage. RICS property survey guidance makes the point that most property surveys do not cover the drainage in detail, and so it is sensible to commission a separate drainage inspection before you complete on the property.
CCTV Drain Survey Coventry is covered in more detail at https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/coventry/.
For local drainage inspections, see.
Drain surveys can cost a little to sort a problem with your drains before it becomes an emergency repair.