Tag: drainage help & advice

What is a CCTV Drain Survey?

Posted on by Josh Paternoster

A CCTV Drain Survey may sound like a daunting concept. However, it’s really a simple procedure that involves using specialist drain cameras to inspect your pipes. In order to ensure the longevity of your drains, it helps to understand their condition first-hand. And if you really want to know exactly what’s going on, there’s only one way to find out – and that’s with a CCTV drain survey. After all, seeing is believing!

CCTV Drain Surveys in More Detail

Simply put, a drain survey is a detailed and informative look into your property’s drainage pipes, by making use of specialist CCTV cameras which are fed into your drains system. This equipment projects a live feed back to a monitor at surface level so a drainage engineer can identify any problems, and assess the best course of action. This footage is also documented, saved and can be exported for your reference.

Why Would I Need A Drain Survey?

There’s various reasons as to why you would need to get a drain survey completed. 

One of the most common reasons may be that you are a new homebuyer, in which caser, a pre-purchase CCTV drain survey is 100% recommended. Buying a property is one of (if not the) largest purchase you can make, so understandably, it’s important to have peace of mind that you won’t encounter any surprise problems with your drainage once you’ve moved in. 

A drain survey will provide you with a precise analysis of your pipes and give you the power of an informed decision, before you sign. 

Drain surveys are also recommended for homeowners or tenants who are experiencing recurring blockages in their drains, or frequent foul smelling odours. Often, consistent drainage issues can be solved with a CCTV drain survey. At Quick Clear Drainage, we offer a free drain inspection after every unblock – Full surveys are also quoted for free.

What Is The Outcome Of A Drain Survey?

The findings of a CCTV Drain Survey are endless. From damage due to tree roots, collapsed drains, severe blockages, wear and tear on old systems, and more. What’s important is that if there is an issue, a drain survey will identify it as soon as possible before the problem gets worse.  

Some of the following issues can be identified and solved as a result of having a drain survey conducted:

  • Collapsed & damaged drains
  • Damage caused by tree root ingress
  • Severe blockages
  • Causes and extent of leaks/bursts in pipes
  • Drain corrosion and general wear & tear
  • Rodent & animal intrusion.
  • Evidence of displacement or poor installation

Drain Repairs

Following a CCTV drain survey, a drainage engineer may find damaged drainage systems which require repair work. It is recommended that you take action with collapsed and damaged drains as soon as possible, as left unchecked, it can cause unwanted damage further down the line. 

The Difference Between An Inspection & A Survey

Both an inspection and a survey will provide you with peace of mind – the main difference between the two is that our full surveys allow you to keep a DVD recording as documented proof of the condition of your drains. CCTV Drain Surveys are considered a more formal evaluation of the condition of your drains, and are recommended if you are having more severe drainage issues. 

Quick Clear Drainage CCTV Drain Surveys London

Quick Clear Drainage provides CCTV drain surveys in London to help locals stay on top of the condition of their drainage systems. Drain surveys can be booked ahead of time or in many cases, on an emergency basis.  For more information, or to arrange a CCTV drain survey for your property, get in touch now.

 

How To Prevent Blocked Drains

Posted on by Josh Paternoster

Is there anything more frustrating than having a blocked drain? You can’t use the toilet for fear that it is going to overflow. You may even find that you can’t use water in any parts of your home, depending on the nature of the blockage. It can be very annoying, to say the least. But what makes matters worse is learning that the blockage could have been avoided. This is the case more often than you would realise. Mostly, blockages tend to occur because we act in ways we shouldn’t in terms of what we put down our toilets or sinks. Therefore, with a few little changes, you can go a long way to ensuring that your drains do not end up blocked. With that being said, let’s take a look at some important tips to follow to prevent blocked drains…

Some tips for the kitchen

Let’s begin by taking a look at some of the different things you can do with regards to your use of your kitchen sink in order to stop a blocked drain from occurring. When it relates to the kitchen, blockages usually occur because food has gotten down the sink.

This can be especially damaging if it is cooking oil, grease, or fat. This is because these liquids will solidify when they cool down, and this causes a pretty big blockage, which can be hard to remove by yourself. This is why you need to make sure that you never pour grease, fat, or cooking oil down the sink.

You should also make sure that you scrape any leftovers from your plate into the bin before you wash it in the sink. Another useful tip is to use a strainer in your sink plughole, emptying the contents into the bin. This will act as a barrier, ensuring food does not make it passed the plughole and into your drains. It’s always best to clean your sink properly to be absolutely sure you can prevent blocked drains.

Blockages in your own drains, as a result of clogging your pipes with fatty oils, grease, and leftover food, can cause a world of grief for your home. But there are also some more severe consequences. In the UK, “Fatbergs” have been an issue within London sewer systems since 2010, due to the rise in usage of “disposable” wet wipes.


BBC Earth Lab “Disgusting ‘Fatberg’ Found In London Sewer”

Fatbergs occur due to a combination of oils, fat and wet wipes, all combining into one large solid piece of matter. With that in mind, blockage prevention can be heavily influenced by what we flush down our toilets.

Some tips for the bathroom

Of course, aside from the kitchen, most of the mistakes happen in the bathroom when it comes to blocked drains. Did you know that one of the biggest causes of blocked drains in London and the UK, in general, is people trying to flush nappies down the toilet? You may think that this is something you can do because of the materials that modern nappies are made from. However, they have not been designed to be flushed down the toilet. This is one of the quickest ways to end up with a blockage because the nappy will end up stuck in the pipe, as it does not degrade in water.

Another big drain blocker is hair! If you have long or thick hair, this point is for you! It can be very difficult to avoid hair getting into the sink and shower plugholes. After all, you can’t help if strands of hair come out while you are washing! However, a good method for dealing with this is to get a trap or guard so that you can catch the hair before it is washed down the pipes.

Aside from nappies and hair, common blockages occur because of wipes and feminine products. With wipes, you need to throw them in the bin. They are not designed for toilets. Moreover, feminine products can range from cotton buds to sanitary pads, and these have not been designed to be flushed down the toilet either.

Whether it is food or a bathroom product, don’t have the attitude that now and again won’t make a difference. Little build-ups can easily result in big blockages.

Call Quick Clear Drainage London For Blocked Drains Emergencies!

If you do find that your drains are blocked, it is important to deal with the problem as soon as possible so that you can enjoy your home and the bill does not get bigger and bigger. After all, if you leave the blockage it may get worse, and this could mean that you have a more expensive plumbing service on your hands. Plus, who can really afford to leave a blockage as it is in any case? We all need water and to use the toilet! So, if you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. Quick Clear Drainage London is here to provide an emergency blocked drain unblocking service. It does not matter what time it is or what day of the week it is, we have got you covered. Simply give us a call on 0203 633 3897 to book an emergency appointment if you have a blocked drain London.