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 a drain may become blocked, but most blockages can be solved quite simply by a team of drain cleaning experts.

Drain cleaners have a wealth of knowledge concerning many different types of drain blockages. They use this experience to their advantage and can often solve some of the most difficult drainage problems quite quickly.
Some of the services a drain cleaning company offers include:

• Drain unblocking
• Root removal
• Water jetting
• Scale removal
• CCTV surveys
• Pipe replacement

Many of the drainage problems which drain cleaners find are unfortunately caused by the homeowners themselves. Homeowners commonly dispose of items such as fat and food debris into their drain. This is not however the best thing to do, as the accumulation of these items can eventually block a drain completely.

When liquid fat is poured into a drain it cools and then solidifies. This can block a drain and cause waste to back up into a person’s home. Fat can be removed from a drain quite successfully by using high pressure water jetting. The water can blast through stubborn clogs and leave the drain free to carry waste again.

Blocked and overflowing drainage can be a real cause of concern for homeowners. Many problems with drainage occur when the homeowner fails to take adequate care of the drains within their homes. However, blockages can almost be completely eradicated when a homeowner has a drain maintenance contract in place.

The old adage prevention is better than cure is definitely true in terms of drains. And if a drain is well maintained the incidence of blockages can be dramatically reduced. It’s only when drains are neglected that problems occur, but this doesn’t have to be the case.

Drain maintenance is essential in every home and can be equally important for businesses too. There are many reasons why a drain may become blocked, some of these include:

• Pipe corrosion
• Pipe damage
• Scale build up
• Tree root infiltration
• Pipe collapse
• Ground movement
• Build up of fat or other food waste
• The presence of an non-disposable item

All these problems and more can be treated by drainage professionals in London, who with the help of a drain maintenance programme can put an end to drain blockages and keep your drains properly maintained.

Thames Water has just announced that a major project to increase the capacity of one of London’s major sewer works is now half-way to being completed.

The sewage works at Mogden has seen major refurbishments take place since August 2010 and when complete will be able to cope with an increased quantity of sewage. The upgrade at the site has long been overdue but the end result will see the sewage treated more efficiently and odour levels dramatically reduced. The increased quantity of sewage treated will reduce the chances of storm tanks becoming full at times of heavy rainfall and hence reduce the chances of a discharge into the River Thames.

The sewage works at Mogden are expected to coast in the region of £140m. The head of programme delivery at Thames Water, Nick Fawcett, stated:

“We have done the bulk of the construction work and we’d like to thank the neighbours for bearing with us.

“We’ve done everything we can to minimise disruption but the worst part is over, the foundations are in place and by spring this year half of the new works will be operating.

“We still have a 200-strong team working on the site but the focus of the activity is now shifting from civil engineering – such as building foundations and tanks, to mechanical engineering and electrical installation, which will help to get the tanks up and running.”

London’s drainage system now struggles to cope with the increased amount of sewage it sees on a daily basis. When the system was built in the Victorian era the population explosion in the city could not have been foreseen. However, the aged system is still expected to cope with the worst that London throws at it on a daily basis.

Drains in London are frequently blocked by the growth of scale and the disposal of liquid fats into the drainage system. Because of this they need to be cleaned on a regular basis so that they remain in a good working condition.

A few drain unblocking methods used by professional drain cleaners in London include:

Electro-mechanical cleaning

Mechanical cutters are inserted into the drainage network which cut scale from the insides of the drainage pipes. This restores the drain to its previous waste carrying capacity and helps to reduce the chances of a blockage occurring.

Water jetting

When water is directed into the drain under high pressure, it is usually enough to clear a stubborn clog. The water can also remove accumulated debris from the drain and can hence reduce the chance of future blockages.

Drain rodding

Drain rods can be inserted into a drain to manually push though a drain blockage. The rods push the clog to the nearest manhole where the debris can be removed.