How Much Should a Drain Repair Cost?

When it comes to drain repairs it can be difficult to know how much you should expect to pay. Drainage companies have a bad reputation when it comes to their pricing and their tactics. This article is designed to help you cut through the crap (no pun intended) so you can have an awareness of what to look out for when it comes to drainage companies saying you need your drains repaired.

This article has two parts, the first is a handy calculator we have created to help you work out whether your quote is roughly in the ballpark for what you should be expected to pay, and the second is a checklist of things to look out for when a company says you need a drain repair.

As a specialist drainage company in Liverpool we believe in fair and transparent pricing. Often, we hear horror stories from our customers about their previous experiences with other drainage companies quoting ridiculous prices, which is why we have created this article.

Our Handy Drain Repair Calculator

We have designed this calculator so you can have a rough idea of the cost of your drain repair. There are a lot of variables to consider, so it is not always straight forward, but this calculator should give you a rough idea so companies do not rip you off! Some quick notes is that this does not include VAT, as most companies exclude VAT on their quotes and should be thought of as a ballpark figure, 20% either way of the estimated cost is typically a fair estimate.

Your Repair Checklist To Make Sure You Aren’t Ripped Off?

There are a few basic pointers to consider when a company says that you need a drain repair. Below is a list of a few key points to make sure you need the repair they quote.

1. Camera Inspection – The first thing to consider is whether you have had a CCTV drain camera inspection? This is a very important point to consider, as without a camera inspection, it is very difficult to ascertain whether you need a drain repair. You should be very careful to accept any quote from a company that has not performed a camera inspection. This is for two reasons, the first being evidence, as without footage and photos you cannot be sure that you actually need a drain repair. The second reason is that without an inspection, how can a company know what needs repairing exactly? In short, they can’t! If they are not willing to give you appropriate evidence, be very dubious about them carrying out a repair. Get a second opinion from another company if you can, a £120 on a quick camera inspection can save you a lot of money in the long run.
2. Did You See It? – Something else to consider is did you see the damage yourself when the engineers attended the property. A good drainage engineer will show you the issues within your drains when they attend to your property, as experienced engineers ourselves we will always show our clients where possible issues are when we inspect a drain.
3. Is this your first blocked drain? – Repeated blockages are often a sign of a damaged drain or some type of underlying issue such as root within the drain. If this, however, is your first blockage, then it may be worth seeing whether it blocks again in the near future. The blockage may have been caused by something particular and not an underlying issue, such as the flushing of baby wipes down the toilet or a property being derelict for some time.
4. Can you see any of these signs? – When a company says there is a major issue often there can signs on the surface, such as subsidence or ground level changes. There may not always be but this is something to look out for.
5. Read the reviews! – A really important point to consider when you get informed you need a repair is the reputation of the company you got it from. Have a look in detail at their reviews, companies will often push their most highly rated review platform so take the time to have a look around at other review platforms and social media, this can also help in finding other customers. If you see a website that uses “Reviews.io” be aware that you can not leave a review for that company without invitation, this opens the door to companies only asking customers they know will leave a good review. “Trustpilot” is often a much better platform at getting an accurate picture of a companies reputation! If you want to look at our Trustpilot page for reference click me.

Common Reasons You May Need A Drain Repair

You may require a drain repair for a few different reasons, we have outlined below a few common reasons so that you can have a general awareness when reading a quote from a drainage company.

Displaced Drains

Displaced drains are often a cause of repeated blockages and often need repairing. In most properties in the UK, most drains have some type of displacement, it is the severity which dictates whether you actually need your drain replacing. A small lip of a couple of millimetres is unlikely to need excavation and replacement, sometimes these can require a patch repair. Large lips or dislodgement where you can see the whole thickness of the pipe are often when an excavation is required to repair the drain. Displacement in drains can cause debris to accumulate and cause blockages, or can cause an insufficient fall and lead to pooling.

Collapsed Drains

Collapsed drains, in our experience, are seen less than displaced drains. Displaced drains do not necessarily lead to a collapse in your drains as some companies would make out. Collapsed drains are typically the most serious problem that can arise in your drainage system. In this case, make sure that you see the footage and have some type of formal write up from the company giving you the quote. Companies know that this problem typically results in customers desperately requiring repairs, make sure you use our calculator if this is the case to check if the quote is fair. Also, it doesn’t hurt to get a quote from another company.

Cracked Drains

Another reason why you may need your drains repaired is due to cracking. All cracked drains should be repaired but not all require excavation, over time these cracks will result in issues arising such as collapses, which will require excavation. If you get a small crack, getting it patched repaired is quite important, this should only cost around £300, if it has not collapsed then a patch repair should be doable.

Insufficient Fall

As mentioned earlier, displacement in drains can lead to an insufficient fall, which means they aren’t steep enough to carry waste away effectively which can lead to problems. Typically, drains with an insufficient fall aren’t of a major concern, but they can cause repeated and frequent blockages. Unless your blockages are regularly occurring, sometimes the cost effective solution is to get it cleared every 6 or 12 months.

Root Infiltration

Something else that is worth mentioning is root infiltration. Strictly speaking, this isn’t a problem that requires major works as roots can often be removed with a root cutting procedure. However, root infiltration can quite quickly can cause other problems such as cracks, displacement and collapses, especially if the roots are well established in the drain. Watch the video above to see what a prolonged root infiltration can cause.

Some Examples Of What We Would and Wouldn’t Repair

Have a look at the photos below to see what we would recommend be repaired and what does not really need it, even though it may look like it may be in need of repair. If you have any questions about them stick a comment below and we will get back to you to help.