sewage pipe CCTV inspection..

[ledger]

had a nightmare over the weekend with blocked main drain. Eventually had the blockage cleared, but suspect there is an underlying problem. Anybody recommend a firm to do a CCTV inspection. I am in Surrey (Coulsdon).

I must admit I had not appreciated I was liable for problems with the pipe connect my house to the main sewer beyond the boundary of my property, something to bear in mind :-(.

[meeja]

ledger said:

I must admit I had not appreciated I was liable for problems with the pipe connect my house to the main sewer beyond the boundary of my property, something to bear in mind :-(.

In some cases you may NOT be liable.

If your house was built before 1937, and you share your sewer with your neighbours, then the water authority will be liable.

None of the *"drain doctor" type people will tell you that of course.....

We had two blockages cleared by local drainage companies, and only when one of the companies suggested that their may be a problem with out sewer pipe just before if left the boundary of our property, and they wanted £3.5k to dig the road up I decided to contact my water authority.

They turned up on the same day, informed me of the legislation relating to pre 1937 sewer constructions etc, and resolved the entire situation without it costing me another penny.


* No reference to any company called Drain Doctor is intended by this, I am using it as a generic term for all "specialists" from the sewer and drainage industry.

[egoboss]

ledger said:

had a nightmare over the weekend with blocked main drain. Eventually had the blockage cleared, but suspect there is an underlying problem. Anybody recommend a firm to do a CCTV inspection. I am in Surrey (Coulsdon). I must admit I had not appreciated I was liable for problems with the pipe connect my house to the main sewer beyond the boundary of my property, something to bear in mind :-(.

good luck had same problem a few tears ago; was a complex job because we had a stream at end of garden and the pipe ran under this and then across an adjacent field before joining the mains system at the next main road.

as i recall we used dyno-rod (can't swear to that) - the process of cctv'ing the drain was straightforward and the guy could then immediately play the tape on our tv and show us where the faults were. they can estimate the exact location requiring fixing pretty accurately. as it transpired in our case, the pipe where it went under stream had buckled and flotsam and jetsam was (ahem) was building up over the years until eventually it blocked.

we decided to leave it with just a cleaning 1st and then see how long it took to build up again and then decide whethere to dig it up and repair.

tok about 1yr to go again and repair cost £1,000, from memory.

once drain is cleared get the tape done 1st so can identify where fault lies, you are then entitled to the tape copy as part of paying for the cctv'ing and can show tape to potential vendors to quote for fixing. you've identified where fault is and all they need to do is the donkey work.

ttfn

[meeja]

ledger said:

house was built before 1937, but we don't share the sewer pipes. Had the local water authority look already (Thames Water). They have told me they are not liable.

Damn.

Was worth a shot!

For what it is worth, when you do have a CCTV survey done, ask for the survey to be recorded on VHS (Most of the companies who do this will have the facility to record) That way you have a record of any problems that do or do not exist.

[rako]

Takes me back this one...

If the pipe only serves your property only it's your responsibilty to maintain it to the point where it joins the public sewer which is the local Water Authority's responsibility.

If it drains you and your neighbours its shared responsibity, which means it's shared cost. If your neigbours won't pay, ie nothings done, and it becomes a health hazard the Enviromental Heath dept will clear it and charge those connected to the pipe.

If the properties were built before 1937 and the pipe drains more than one house (a section 22 sewer)the Water Authority will clear it for free as there were hardly any records of what was public/private before this date when the Public Health Act came in.

I know this is a boring subject but with a name like PLUMMER working for a water authority I had alot of laughs!!

[zetecuk]

I used Lanes for Drains - think they are a national company. Asked for survey and jetting, but after the survey they said it didn't need jetting - so bonus points for honesty and not just ripping us off.

Suprising how clean-looking poo pipes are on the inside.

[ledger]

well my buildings insurance have agreed to pick up the cost of the cctv inspection and will pay for repairs depending on the nature of the problem.

So just hoping that whatever they find is covered by my policy.