Drain lining is becoming a popular method to repair cracks in drainage pipes. Instead of a broken pipe being excavated and replaced, most pipes can now be repaired in situ by inserting a drain liner into the broken section of pipe. The drain liner adheres to the inside of the pipe and an effective seal is created.

Most cracks in drainage pipes can only be found after a CCTV survey has been carried out. The drain may be recurrently becoming blocked or foul odours may be noticed in the vicinity of the drainage pipe. When this happens the drainage professionals will have to carry out a full investigation of the drainage system so the cause of the problem can be located.

The best way that drainage professionals can look at the structure of the drainage system is to use a CCTV survey camera. The camera is inserted into the drain and images of the inside of the drainage pipe are relayed onto a computer screen, which can then be analysed by the drainage professionals.

When the location of the break in the drain has been found, an epoxy-resin liner can be inserted into the drain and blown to the damaged section of pipe. The liner then sets in situ and provides a water tight seal that no water or waste can penetrate.

There are many reasons why drains can become blocked, but one problem that drainage companies face on a regular basis is root infiltration into the drainage system.

Pipes can become blocked by roots when they find their way into the drainage system. They do this by finding tiny cracks in pipes and by working their way though corroded or damaged sections where pipes join together. Once the roots have entered the drainage system they quickly multiply due to the abundant source of water and can soon block the passage of waste water completely.

Drain maintenance engineers can get rid of the roots that may have entered your drainage network. They use a spinning root cutter, which is the same diameter as the pipe, to cut through any roots and associated debris. When the roots have been cut back, the pipe damage may be revealed. However, instead of a section of pipe having to be replaced, most drainage companies now use ‘no dig’ technology to repair the pipe.

One of the most common types of no dig repairs involves inserting a resin impregnated liner into the pipe and positioning it across the area of damage. When the liner sets, the pipe is completely repaired and its waste water carrying capacity is restored.

You might think that finding as good drain repair company in London would be a difficult task. And if you view all the companies in the local phone directory or on the internet it’s easy to see why the choosing process can become confusing .However, when you have a little information, making the choice becomes much easier.

Choose a London drainage company who offer 24/7 callout

If you use a drainage company in London which specialises in out-of-hours emergency callouts, you will be safe in the knowledge that whatever time you have a problem they will be at the end of the phone to assist you.

Choose a London drainage company who offer scale cleaning

Scale can be a big problem for the residents of London. Over years this mineral deposit lines the sewer pipes and can actually reduce their diameter. If left without treatment, the pipe’s inner surface can also become rough and be a haven for potential drain blockage sites. A London drainage company should always offer scale removal as one of their standard services.

Choose a London drainage company who carry out liner repair work

In many situations a drainage pipe can be repaired without the need for excavation. An epoxy coated drain liner is blown into the pipe and then inflated to the pipe’s internal diameter. When set, the liner serves as a permanent repair, meaning the pipe is as good as new.

One of the most common reasons for blocked drainage is the ingress of roots from trees and plants into sewer pipes.

When a sewer system is very old, it’s not uncommon for small hairline cracks to form in the pipes and the connections between the pipes. Small cracks don’t normally cause a problem to the integrity of the system until they become much larger or until roots from surrounding greenery find their way through these cracks.

The smallest roots can infiltrate a sewer system if they find their way in and can quickly multiply and grow, further damaging the waste pipe system. If this is allowed to go on unmonitored a pipe can become blocked by these roots in a relatively short space of time.

If a pipe has become blocked by roots, a drainage company in London can use root cutters to trim the roots back to the internal diameter of the pipe, without the need for excavation. They can then insert a pipe liner into the pipe so that there is no way for the roots to get back into the drainage system again.

It used to be the case that if a drainage pipe was found to be damaged, a team of drainage engineers would have to excavate the pipe and replace it in its entirety. This is however no longer necessary. Pipes that are found to be cracked or have suffered damage due to ground movement or root ingress can now be repaired in situ using a structural drain lining technique.

When drain pipe are cracked, water can get through into the surrounding subsoil which in the worst case scenario actually washes away from the outer surface of the pipe. This creates a void underground which can collapse, leaving a hole in the surface of the road or on your property. Pipes that have cracks or holes in them are also at the mercy of ingress of roots from surrounding trees and plants. When these roots find an easily accessible source of water, they can quickly multiply and cause a blockage in the drainage pipe.

Using a localised patch liner, drainage experts can instigate a repair without excavation. A resin impregnated liner is ‘blown’ down the pipe to the point of failure. When in position, this liner is inflated to cover the inner diameter of the pipe and when cured forms a watertight seal, so water can no longer escape through the pipe walls, reducing the chance of a pipe collapse.