Drain Issues, From Vermin to Roots Incursion

We’ve all been there at some point in our lives! You flush the toilet or pull out the plug, only for the water to remain at the same level. Often, a quick plunge will do the trick, or if this fails, a chemical solution can clear the blockage, but what if the issue is beyond these remedies?

Worse still, imagine having vermin such as rats or mice taking up residence within your drainage system, maybe even gaining access to the rest of your property through this unsanitary entry point.

Rats in the drainage system

Should you suspect that rats have infiltrated your drainage system, you will need to first confirm it and then try to discover the furry beasts are coming from.

The first step is to find and check out the potential entry points to find out exactly where the rats in your drainage system are coming from. Once this has been done, or if you are still unsure, we would recommend that you ask us to carry out a CCTV survey of your drain. This allows us to see everything that is going on within the drainage system; so that we can find the exact location the rodents are entering and determine just how serious the problem actually is.

The CCTV footage will be able to pinpoint the exact entry point for the rodents in your drain pipes. From experience, the most likely entry point will be the last manhole on your property before your home but the footage will be able to confirm this. We will also check for any holes or cracks in your drains to see if the rats or mice can find their way into your home.

Fixing the entry points

Once the CCTV survey has been carried out, we will be able to find the rodents route into your property. At this point, we can begin to address any cracks or holes and ensure your drains are repaired so the rats cannot find their way back into the drainage system or your home.

No two drains with a rat problem are exactly alike, thus there may well be a different solution due to the amount of damage or the location of the entry point. As you can appreciate, the services of drainage professional are the only way to go when you have rats or mice gaining access to your drains and possibly your home.

Many people will simply fit cowls over water pipe hoppers, but although this will prevent rodents from entering there, it does not tackle any underground issues.

The solution to rats in drains

Drain relining is one of the most common ways to fix a crack in a drain. Drain relining is a very cost effective way of fixing problems with your drains without the need to excavate and dig up the ground or replace the entire drain pipe. This fact alone, makes relining of drains a big hit with homeowners. Once the drain lining has cured and sealed the previously damaged drainpipe, you will be able to go back to using your drains as normal. Once the drain has been relined, the rats cannot get back into your house through the cracks as they will have been covered with the flexible lining resin.

Other ways for rodents to get into drains

We’ve already looked at damaged drains underground and how rodents can use these cracks and holes to get inside the drainage system, but they often get in from the outside and well above ground. Many houses have hoppers to catch waste water and rats can easily gain access to these unless they are blocked off with a cowl or some other type of guard.

In fact, if you want to stop rodents from entering your drains, it is a sound idea to add some kind of protective guard over any openings on your external drains. A good, sound cover will scupper the plans of rats and mice and prevent them from gaining access in the first place.  

Also, make sure that if you have to store foodstuffs for birds, rabbits or other pets outside, always ensure that it is stored in airtight containers that are chew proof. Any form of food will attract rodents, so it is best to try and avoid leaving it out as a temptation.  

Drain collapse nightmare

A collapsed drain is a really serious problem and in the past, before relining and CCTV technology came to the fore, would have required full excavation of the sight to replace the entire run of drainage pipes.

Drainage collapse is when your pipe has become severely damaged and has collapsed or is beginning to do so. This can be for a number of reasons, including freezing temperatures, frequent blockages and root damage, which all place additional pressure on the drains.

As mentioned above, tree and large shrub roots can also cause a drain to eventually collapse, as they have the ability to grow into your drain pipes, causing them to crack and eventually collapse if left unchecked.

Once the drain has sustained some damage, it is likely that the drainage system will start to suffer from further and more serious blockages and flooding until the collapse has been discovered and resolved.

A collapsed drain can cause further serious damage to your property, such as flooding and damage to patio areas. So, keep an eye out for areas in the garden that are wetter than usual, or where grass grows much quicker than in other areas because of the extra underground moisture.

How do you know if you have a collapsed drain?

Any property can have a collapsed drain, although typically, it tends to affect the older properties. Sometimes if a drain is very old it can simply collapse due to repeat material fatigue. Keeping an eye open for some tell tale signs could be an indication that your drain has collapsed and needs repairing.

The smell of sewage in your home or garden could be a clear sign of a collapsed drain. Smelling sewage is often a sign that one of your pipes has become blocked and started to seep into the surrounding ground.

Also, a damp area appearing could be the first sign of a collapsed drain. This is because the normal flow of water has been disrupted, which can lead to water getting into the ground around the collapsed drain. If the collapsed drain is located beneath your property, you may be able to see signs of damp on your floors or walls. Remember that damp can give off mould spores, which are dangerous to the health and wellbeing of occupants, as well as the damage the damp can cause to the structure of the property.

When water takes longer to drain away, this could be a sign of a blockage or you may have a collapsed drain. It’s always best to get this checked professionally to prevent any further damage to the drainage system and therefore, your property.

Over time, the leaking or damaged pipe can release water into the immediate surrounding area and cause the surrounding environment to subside or sink. Sinking areas can also suggest that the pipe has been damaged for a significant amount of time.

Fixing a collapsed drain pipe

Repairing a blocked, damaged or collapsed drain requires the attention of a professional drainage engineer. We make good use of trenchless technology to repair damaged drains, so relining the drains in situ, without having to excavate the area is a major plus for the homeowner.

Roots causing damage to drains

Tree roots and large shrub roots are common cause damage to drains. It is quite incredible just how bad the problem can become and in a relatively short space of time.

Most people have trees and large shrubs in their gardens and quite a few have them planted close to the house or existing drainage systems. We certainly don’t want to discourage people from enjoying their gardens, but there are some trees or shrubs that have extremely invasive root systems and these are best avoided, unless they can be planted well out of harm’s way.

Generally speaking, tree roots only pose a significant risk to properties and drainage systems if they are located within a two-metre radius of the trunk. Most structures that have been built further away than this will not be adversely affected.

The drain pipe needs a fault to allow tree root ingress

Tree roots only seem to find their way into drains when there is an existing defect in the pipes. There is no hard evidence to show that the roots can attack and create cracks in a sound drainage system.

The problem is that once roots have found the defect, which could be a small crack or a slightly misaligned joint caused by poor fitting or pipe subsidence, they can widen them by expanding as they grow.

The tree and shrub root systems will seek out the drainage pipe defects and make their way inside the pipe as they seek the water and nutrients that flow through the pipe.

As a precaution, you should avoid planting species of trees that have vigorous root systems, such as willow, poplar and maple. If you want to plant a fig tree, plant them in a good sized pot rather than the ground. Should this not be an option, an underground root containment system is desirable for this species of fruit tree and constraining the roots will also pay dividends in the quality of the fruit the tree yields, whilst protecting your property and drainage pipes from root damage.

Roots that find their way into drainage systems can be a very serious problem. It can lead to sewage backing up into the home; it can cause flooding and serious damage to the property.

Preventative measures to take

If at all possible, keeping pipes clean by using a water jet to prevent a build-up of silt and other nutrients is a good idea, as this can encourage root growth in the first place. Should this not be a possibility for the DIY enthusiast, a general flush through by a professional drainage engineer periodically can prevent issues from getting out of hand. The engineer will also be able to diagnose any other issues before they become a problem. So, a few pounds spent now in prevention, could save a good deal of money spent later in reputational work.

If we do discover root ingress within your drainage pipes, we can solve the problem with a no-dig method. This may involve water jetting, electro-mechanical cutting with the use of CCTV technology.

Fat build up in drains

Fat from everyday washing up and cookware can build up in your drainage system at an alarming rate, causing your drains to become seriously blocked in a relatively short period of time.

Many peop0le think that using a dishwasher will stop this from happening, as the temperatures they operate at will stop the fat from solidifying. Unfortunately, the high water temperature simply ensures that the fat blockage occurs further down the drainage system, often taking the remedy further away from the homeowner’s capability.

The water will cool at some point, allowing fat to solidify and build up within the drainage system. Old fat also gives off a pretty disgusting smell too. To avoid a build up of fat within the drainage system, always remove any fat from cookware and plates and dispose of it in the household waste.

Foods such as lamb are particularly fatty, so be extra careful after the Sunday roast. Scrape any fat from cookware and soak up any residue with kitchen roll before washing up or loading the dishwasher. A regular hot and soapy flush through should be enough to melt away any residual fatty deposits from your drainage system.

Whatever issue you have with your drainage system, whether it is a slow draining sink or toilet, root damage, foul smells coming from drains or even an infestation of rodents, we can deliver a quick solution at a very competitive price.