🧠 Did You Know? Fascinating Drain Facts You Probably Didn’t

Cool, Right?

💩 1. The UK Flushes Over 2 Billion Litres of Water a Day

That’s enough to fill 800 Olympic swimming pools — and most of it goes straight down the drain!

🧻 2. Wet Wipes Are the #1 Cause of Domestic Drain Blockages

Despite many claiming to be “flushable”, wet wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. They often bind together with grease and create huge blockages known as fatbergs.

🐀 3. Rats Can Swim Up Pipes and Hold Their Breath for Minutes

Rats are expert swimmers — they can hold their breath for up to 3 minutes, tread water for 3 days, and even climb vertically inside pipes. That's how they end up inside homes.

📹 4. Drain Cameras Changed Everything

CCTV drain technology has revolutionised how engineers work. No more guesswork — a camera gives a clear look at what's going on underground without digging anything up.

🔩 5. Most Properties Still Have Old Clay Drains

A lot of UK homes, especially those built before the 1980s, still rely on brittle clay pipes. These crack easily under pressure or with ground movement, making them a common cause of blockages.

🧼 6. Kitchen Drains Get Blocked by Soap Powder and Grease

It’s not just food waste — old soap powder, dishwasher tablets, and cooking fat combine into a sticky sludge that clings to pipe walls over time.

🏡 7. You Might Be Responsible for More Drains Than You Think

Most homeowners are responsible for any drainage that serves only their property — even shared drains up to the boundary can fall on you, depending on how they're connected.

🌧️ 8. Some Drain Smells Get Worse When It Rains

Rain changes air pressure inside pipes. If you’ve got a broken seal or cracked pipe, you might notice smells worsen in bad weather — a strong clue that something’s wrong underground.

🔧 Top 5 Signs Your Drains Might Be Damaged

Cool, Right?

Persistent Bad Smells – If it smells like sewage but there’s no visible blockage, it could be a cracked pipe or broken seal.
Slow Drainage – Water taking ages to drain, especially across multiple rooms? This is a classic sign of a deeper issue.
Rodents or Flies Indoors – These pests love damaged or open drainage. If you’re seeing them in the home, it could be drain-related.
Damp Patches or Sinkholes Outside – Water escaping from cracked pipes can cause ground movement or damp issues in walls.
Water Gurgling in the Wrong Places – Hear bubbling in the bath when you flush the toilet? That’s pressure escaping — something’s not right.

👉 Solution: A simple CCTV survey could confirm what's going on — and it might save you thousands later.

❌ Biggest Drainage Myths (That Cost Homeowners Money!)

Cool, Right?

“It’s just toilet paper, it can’t block the drain.”
→ It can, especially with rough or misaligned joints in old clay pipes.
“I can flush ‘flushable’ wipes.”
→ Nope. Marketing trick. Most wipes don't disintegrate — they bind together and cause blockages.
“If it drains slowly, I’ll just use some chemicals.”
→ Chemicals can damage pipe seals and usually don't solve the real problem — like roots or cracks.
“A bad smell just means I need to clean the bathroom.”
→ Not always. Persistent smells can mean a broken pipe or faulty air admittance valve.

🧠 Helpful Drainage Info – What Every Property Owner Should

🕳️ 1. Why Do Drains Block?

Blocked drains are nearly always caused by what goes down them. Baby wipes, grease, food waste, and even just excess toilet paper are the most common culprits. Add a bit of damage to the pipe and you've got a perfect storm.

🐀 2. Can Rats Really Get In Through Drains?

Yes — and it’s more common than you think. Rats often enter properties via broken or open drain pipes, especially if old connections haven’t been properly capped off (e.g., after a kitchen move or extension)

💷 3. Will a CCTV Drain Survey Save Me Money?

Absolutely. It can catch problems early, before they turn into collapsed pipes, flooding, or structural damage. It’s a small cost that could save thousands.

💨 4. What’s a Smoke Test?

A smoke test involves pumping safe, non-toxic smoke into your drains to identify leaks, cracks, or broken seals — often used when customers complain about bad smells indoors.

🔧 5. What’s the Difference Between a Drain Inspection and a Full Surve

Inspection = A quick "look and see", no report or paperwork.
Survey = A full CCTV check with video footage, mapping, and a written report — ideal for insurance, home buying, or build-over approval.

🏗️ 6. Planning an Extension?

If you’re building over a drain — especially a shared sewer — you’ll likely need a Build Over CCTV Survey. It’s a legal requirement in most cases.