Importance of a Drainage Survey

Drainage surveys for a new house

When we buy a property, we spend good money and a good deal of time having various searches carried out to ensure we are making an informed and wise decision in buying that property.

Sadly, having a drainage survey is frequently missed out, costing the new homeowners dearly down the line.

What are property searches?

These are the property searches your conveyancing solicitor will normally carry out on your behalf: 

A Local search to obtain a variety of information from the local council, such as whether the property is affected by plans for a new bypass or a planning enforcement notice.

A drainage and water search will determine whether the property has mains water and drainage. The local water company will also provide other useful information, such as the position and location of pipes.

An environmental search should reveal if the property is affected by contamination that could involve costly rectification

A standard planning search should find out whether the neighbours have got planning consent for a large extension or if a planning application has just been lodged for a new road or retail park nearby.

A flood risk report will check whether the property is at risk from flooding.

Even coal mining and other mining searches are made to find out if the property could be affected by old mine workings or a new mine nearby.

High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) will reveal if your new home will be affected by new rail line construction.

Surprisingly there is even a search carried out with regard to Chancel repair liability. This is to check that you won’t be liable to pay for the maintenance of your local church.

And finally, a land registry pre-completion search will make sure the seller still owns the property on completion

As you can see, the list is quite detailed as to what lengths people will go to ensure the property, they intend to buy is what it is supposed to be. But an actual drainage survey is rarely carried out. We believe that these drainage surveys are very important and could potentially save you a lot of money and heartache in the future.

What is a Drainage Survey and Why is it Important?

A property drainage survey is a detailed inspection of a properties condition.  We will inspect your property and tell you if there are surface water drain issues or any repairs that need carrying out. We recommend home buyers arrange to have a residential survey done after their offer has been accepted by the seller.

Drain surveys for your peace of mind

Drainage surveys and inspections are normally taken out via one of many CCTV methods. This has become the only way to really find out what is wrong or what is causing the issue or blockage. This practice should not be reserved for pre-purchase reasons, but employed periodically, as a way of identifying impending negative issues with your drainage system. After all, you descale your kettle regularly to keep it functioning efficiently, why wouldn’t you do everything you can to keep your drains clear?

What is a drainage survey?

A drainage survey is the process of examining the condition of a drainage system and finding out what has caused an issue which allows us to decide upon the best solution to resolve it. The technology used for inspecting and surveying drains, sewers and other types of piping has become essential simply because of how cost-effective, safe and quickly you can get results. The methods used today mean that excavation is rarely required, saving time, disruption, mess and money.

The equipment and techniques used in a survey can also be implemented in above-ground pipes too, such as downpipes, soil stacks, storage tanks and ducting systems.

What are they used for?

The main point for a drainage survey is to investigate sewer and drain problems like poor flow rates, pollution incidents and blockage which can become a more serious issue if ignored or left untreated.

Drainage surveys are also used when the buildings are still in their construction phase. These are essential in identifying the connectivity of the drain system and they allow design contractors to create a plan that meet today’s stringent regulatory controls.

They are a vital part of planned preventative maintenance which allow the construction firms to manage their costs and avoid damaging pipe and drain failures.

Why is it important to survey drains?

Potential problems are identified when a survey is carried out. These problems can range from root incursion, blockages or structural issues like fractures in the pipes or the collapse of pipes due to shifting groundwork. CCTV drainage surveys are suitable for any type of building or property, whether new, old, or whether for sale or not. These drainage surveys can be carried out on commercial, residential or industrial properties at any time, but we implore people to have them carried out as a matter of the utmost importance when selling and buying properties.

What should you expect from your drainage company?

As a trusted and professional specialist in drainage surveys, we have the expertise and equipment to carry out the drainage survey that most suits your circumstances. We also provide accreditations showing proof to you that we can carry out the work safely, on time and to a very high standard.

We also have access to specialist drainage equipment that is required to ensure the CCTV survey can be completed, and this is supported by the latest software, which is always used so reports can be provided in time, with the correct data included and presented in a way that is best for you.

Reporting on the drainage survey findings

From all the data that we collect from the initial property drainage survey, we can put together a comprehensive report which will include any actions required to remedy the issues.

We provide all of our customers with a full PDF technical, report site plan, specifications, recommendations and quotations for associated repairs from our qualified drainage engineers.

What we look for in a drainage survey

We look for the obvious first such as extra lush green grass in patches that could indicate an underground leak. This is an initial visual once over of the property before we even set up any CCTV equipment.  Once we have given the entire property and its surrounding a thorough visual inspection, we look for the following:

Water backing up

When using your plumbing, a clear sign of a sewage backup or a plumbing problem is if water backs up elsewhere. Should you flush the toilet and hear sounds that you’re not used to hearing then this maybe means that water is blocked and is trying to find another way out. Another key way to spot this is when using a toilet, you notice bubbling in the pan when running a tap close to it.

More than one drain being blocked

It’s normal to notice one drain being blocked, but if the water backs up in other places this is a major sign of a serious blockage and should really be remedied as soon as possible.

Blocked drains when toilets don’t empty when flushed

Sometimes a slight blockage may occur in the toilet itself and a quick plunge will shift the blockage. Sometimes though, the toilet water rises up and falls either slowly or not at all, despite your best efforts with the plunger. This would indicate a blockage in the actual drain that needs addressing quickly. After all, you don’t want foul toilet water and the associated waste all over your floor.

Bubbles rising through standing water indicate a blockage

When water is prevented from draining, air can become trapped, which can lead to bubbling. To check the severity of the blockage, fill your sink, bath or shower with a few inches of water and watch it drain to see if there are bubbles rising from the plughole.

A pre-sale or purchase drainage survey can save a lot of money

As with all the other searches and surveys that are carried out before the sale or purchase of a property, a drainage survey could save the seller from future liability as well as the buyer avoiding costly remedial works on poor quality drainage.

As drains are unseen, few people worry about them until something goes wrong. Sadly, by then, it’s too late and the damage is already done. Getting a drainage survey carried out by a professional drainage specialist can save you thousands of pounds and avoid further damage, expense and misery in your new home.