Drain Survey Putney
7 Hidden Drain Problems Local Homeowners Don’t Know About
Gurgling sinks, lingering bad smells, or water draining more slowly than usual are the warning signs most Putney homeowners experience at some point. That’s when a Drain Survey Putney can reveal whether it’s more than “just a blockage”.
In reality, in an area packed with Victorian and Edwardian properties, clay pipes, heavy London plane trees and reactive clay soil, those symptoms are usually hiding much bigger drain problems. Putney residents only discover once they invest in a proper drain survey in Putney.
At Absolute Plumbing Ltd, we carry out dozens of CCTV inspections every month across SW15 and the surrounding areas, and the same serious (but hidden) issues appear again and again. Here are the 7 most common problems we find, and why booking a drain survey in Putney is the smartest move you can make.
First, What Actually Happens During a Professional Drain Survey?
A professional drain survey involves pushing a high-definition CCTV camera through your drainage system from an existing access point (usually a manhole or soil pipe). The camera records in real time, allowing us to see every inch of pipework, every joint, and every chamber without lifting a single paving slab.
You receive a full colour video recording, annotated photos, and a written report that explains exactly what’s wrong (and, just as importantly, what’s still in good condition). The entire process normally takes 60–90 minutes for an average 3–4 bedroom house.
The 7 Hidden Drain Problems a CCTV Drain Survey Putney Reveals
Hairline Cracks That Turn Into Catastrophic Breaks
Old pitch-fibre and clay pipes develop tiny fractures that are invisible from the surface. Water escapes, washes away the surrounding soil, and the crack rapidly widens. We’ve seen hairline cracks become complete collapses in under 12 months. A drain inspection in Putney spots these early, allowing patch lining instead of full excavation and drain repairs in Putney that can easily become very expensive.
Aggressive Tree Root Intrusion
Putney’s tree-lined streets are stunning until the roots from those mature trees find the smallest joint gap or crack and force their way in. Once inside, roots expand dramatically and can reduce a 100 mm pipe to a 10 mm gap in just a couple of seasons. Homeowners are often shocked when our CCTV Drain Survey Putney shows a solid mass of roots 10 metres from the nearest tree.
Dropped, Misaligned or Fully Disconnected Joints
London’s clay soil shrinks and swells with the weather, and older properties settle over decades. This movement pulls pipe joints apart, creating perfect escape routes for wastewater and entry points for soil and debris. These misalignments are the number-one cause of recurring blocked drains in Putney, we see week after week.
Fat, Oil, Grease and Scale Build-Up (The Silent Flow Reducer)
Every Sunday roast, takeaway curry and a washed plate adds another thin layer of grease inside your pipes. Over the years, it hardens into concrete-like fatbergs, and limescale narrows the pipe bore. Standard rodding only clears the middle; the walls stay coated. Only high-pressure jetting guided by a camera (a component of most modern surveys) provides effective blocked pipe solutions.
Fully Collapsed Sections of Original Clay Pipework
Many Putney homes built before 1930 still rely on the original salt-glazed clay drainage. After 100+ years, ground movement, nearby building works, and even heavy refuse lorries can cause entire sections to cave in. A routine drain survey in Putney identifies weakening sections long before total collapse.
Rodent Access Points Hidden Underground
If you’ve started hearing scratching in the walls or found droppings with no obvious entry point, the rats are almost certainly travelling through your drainage system. They squeeze through cracks as small as 15 mm. Our cameras regularly find missing chamber lids, cracked pipes and failed non-return valves that act as open doors.
Illegal or Incorrect Drainage Connections
Over the decades, many Putney properties have had extensions, loft conversions and new bathrooms added, often by builders who connected surface water (rainwater gutters, patio drains) directly into the foul sewer. This is now illegal, and Thames Water are cracking down hard. A drain survey in Putney proves exactly what is connected where, protecting you from surprise bills and neighbour disputes.
Why Putney Homes Are Especially Vulnerable
Putney combines three perfect ingredients for drainage disasters:
- Expansive London clay soil that moves seasonally
- Hundreds of large mature trees with aggressive root systems
- A huge stock of Victorian and Edwardian properties with original clay or pitch-fibre pipes
Add modern life, more bathrooms, more cooking fat, heavier vehicles on driveways, and it’s clear why preventative drain maintenance Putney homeowners carry out is so important.
Why Choose Absolute Plumbing Ltd for Your Putney Drainage Services?
When you book your CCTV Drain Survey in Putney with us, you get far more than just a camera pushed down a pipe. We use the latest HD crawler cameras with 360° pan-and-tilt functionality and location tracking, ensuring every detail of your drainage system is inspected accurately. After the survey, you receive a full digital report complete with video footage, a site plan, and clear recommendations, all delivered the same day.
Our service is transparent and reliable, with fixed pricing and no hidden extras or scare tactics. Wherever possible, we offer no-dig repair solutions such as patch lining or full relining, minimising disruption to your property. Backed by over 15 years of experience specialising in Putney drainage, we also provide a genuine 24/7 emergency response across the SW15 postcode. We’re proud to be the Putney drainage company that homeowners and local estate agents trust most.
Don’t Wait for a Drain Disaster, Act Today!
Whether you’re buying, selling, extending, or simply tired of slow drains and odd smells, a professional drain survey gives you certainty and control.
At Absolute Plumbing Ltd, we do far more than just drain surveys; we’re your local one-stop team for general plumbing, drain lining, drain cleaning, drain surveys, boiler installation, leak detection, gas and heating services, radiator installation, and smoke testing across the entire Putney and SW15 area.
Visit Absolute Plumbing Ltd’s website and book your drain survey with us today!