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A blocked drain can cause bad smells, slow-running water and even sewage backing up into your home. But how do you know if the problem is inside your property or in the public sewer outside? Understanding the difference can help you find the right solution and avoid unnecessary repair costs.
What Is the Difference Between a Private Drain and a Public Sewer?
Private drains usually transport the dirty water produced at your home to a public sewer system where the dirty water is collected from numerous homes and processed. Understanding if there’s a problem with a private drain or a public sewer can help determine who has the responsibility to resolve the problem.
The blockages can either occur within your home’s pipes or within the main sewer line depending upon how many of your sinks, toilets and/or drains have backed up. If you only experience a blockage in one sink, toilet or drain, then it is most likely a localised blockage. On the other hand, if you notice that multiple sinks, toilets and/or drains are backing up simultaneously, then there is a high probability that the blockage is located farther down the sewer line.
Signs of a Localised or Wider Drain Blockage
There are several signs of a localised or wider drain blockage that you can look out for.
- One drain is blocked: If your kitchen sink or bathroom drain is slow while everything else works normally, the issue may be local to that pipe.
- Several drains are affected: If toilets, sinks and outside drains are backing up together, there may be a larger blockage.
- Bad smells outside: Strong sewage smells or standing wastewater near drain covers can point to a drainage problem.
- Problems affecting nearby homes: When you have similar problems with other homes in your neighbourhood, there is a possibility that a shared drain or a public sewer system may be the problem.
These signs can help narrow down the cause, but a professional inspection may be needed to confirm the exact location.
Who Is Responsible for a Blocked Outside Drain?
Many homeowners ask, who is responsible for a blocked outside drain? The answer depends on where the blockage is and who owns the affected pipework. Homeowners are generally responsible for private drains within their property boundary, while the local water and sewerage company usually maintains public sewers. Shared drains can have different responsibilities, so it is worth checking with your local provider.
How a CCTV Drain Survey Locates the Problem
Knowing what to do after a CCTV drain survey is much easier when the CCTV drain survey locates the problem, helping you understand the issue and decide on the next steps. Mersey Rod has special cameras that can be inserted into the inside of the drainage pipes without having to dig into your lawn or driveway. After inserting these cameras into the pipes, they record video that shows their engineers if there are any problems such as blockages, cracks in the pipes, tree roots growing in the pipes, or damage to the pipes. Once the engineers have reviewed this recorded video, they will provide you with a written report explaining their findings and recommended repair options.
Mersey Rod offers expert drain survey, blockage removal and repair services for both residential and commercial properties. Whether you are looking for a drain survey in Southport or have a blocked drain in Warrington, Mersey Rod has the expertise to resolve your drainage issues. The company has been providing quality drainage solutions for more than 25 years. They provide a 24-hour emergency call-out service, a fixed-price structure, and a “no-fix, no-fee” guarantee on all blocked drain services. Their goal is to take away the stress associated with solving drainage problems.
If you are unsure where a blockage starts, contact Mersey Rod for expert advice and a proper inspection before the problem gets worse.