Collapsed Drain Repair in Leicester

Signs of a Collapsed Drain

Persistent blockages that return straight after clearing; soft ground or a visible sinkhole over the drain run; multiple fixtures draining slowly at once; sewage smell in the garden; overflowing manholes. Any of these warrants a CCTV survey before anything else.

What Causes a Drain to Collapse

Ageing clay and pitch-fibre pipes are the main culprits across Leicester. Pitch-fibre was common in postwar construction — estates like Glenfield, Braunstone and Beaumont Leys — and it deforms and collapses as it ages. Clay is more durable but cracks under ground movement or sustained root pressure. Heavy vehicles parked or driven over a shallow drain run can also cause failure.

How We Repair It

CCTV to locate the exact failure point and measure the affected length → excavate only the failed section, not the whole run → remove and replace with modern PVC drain pipe → backfill and reinstate the surface (whether that's soil, tarmac or block paving). We can usually handle the full job in one visit.

Patch Repair vs Full Excavation

If only a short section has failed, a patch repair (excavating just the collapsed section) is far cheaper than a full pipe replacement. The CCTV survey tells us exactly how long the damaged section is.

Related services: Drain Relining · Drainage Repairs · CCTV Drain Survey