How To Spot And Resolve Drainage Issues

Martin Beattie

Worried you may have a problem with your drains?

Whilst we’d all like to believe we do a good job of keeping on top of DIY tasks and chores at home, it’s easy to neglect the things that aren’t exactly visible to the naked eye – including our drainage systems.

However, drainage issues can arise for all sorts of reasons and come in various forms, requiring different levels of skill to repair

Here we take a closer look at some of the most common problems and offer advice on how to resolve the issue before it escalates into something much more serious.

5 tell-tale signs you have a problem with your drains

  1. Smelly drains – is there a persistent unpleasant smell coming from either inside or outside your property? Perhaps when you drain water there’s a nasty odour? Bad smells are a clear indication you have an issue with your drains.

Our best advice to get to the bottom of the problem is to contact professional drainage contractors (like ourselves). We can conduct a CCTV drain survey to identify the source take the necessary action to rectify the issue quickly.

  1. Blocked drains – is water taking a while to drain in your bath, shower or sink? Hair, oils or soap scum are likely blocking the plughole, making it difficult for water to pass through.

Start by removing the bulk of the clog yourself with off-the-shelf products. If the problem persists after you’ve attempted to clear the blockage, get in touch with our drainage specialists at ADS – we’ll happily organise a CCTV drainage survey to inspect the pipework and find the root cause.

  1. Slow water draining – if your toilet seems to be taking longer to flush, your sink isn’t draining like it usually does or your shower floods, this suggests you have a slow drain.

If not fixed, it can be a very frustrating problem. However, to ensure the issue is resolved in good time, call a professional drainage company to help. Not only do they have the tools and equipment to take a closer look inside your drains – to figure out what’s going on – but they also have the expertise to carry out the repairs needed, identified by the CCTV drain survey.

  1. Collapsed drains – can you smell a foul odour around your house? This usually happens when wastewater isn’t being disposed of properly and, instead, seeps out into the surrounding areas.

Aside from being terrible for your nose, a collapsed drain can lead to other issues, including sinkholes in your garden and dampness in your home – which is why you must call an expert immediately. The quicker you get someone to take a look at your drains (using CCTV technology and innovative reporting software), the sooner the problem will be resolved and less damage will be inflicted on your property.

  1. Pest infestations – if you can hear scratching in the loft or walls, or you’ve found droppings and strong urine smells, you could well have a pest problem! Rats, cockroaches, fruit flies and drain flies all thrive in drainage systems that are not cleaned or maintained properly.

Whilst you could take matters into your own hands and put traps down, we recommend contacting our team. As specialists in CCTV drain surveys, we can locate defective pipework that enables pests to enter your home and provide suitable solutions to prevent future infestations.

Arrange your CCTV drain survey today!

Do any of the above signs sound familiar? If so, we highly advise you to arrange a CCTV drain survey with ADS.

We use only the latest technology and reporting software to inspect your drainage system, leaving no stone unturned. We then use the findings from the survey to draw up conclusions on the cause of the issue and present HD images to show the extent of the problem.

Also included in the report will be our recommendations on the best course of action to take to resolve the issue both quickly and efficiently, ensuring minimal disruption on your part.

To book your CCTV drain survey in London, call 0208 594 7171.