We have been clearing drains across London since 2013, and CR4 is well within our patch. That covers Mitcham.
What we cover in CR4
CR4 covers Mitcham, in the London Borough of Merton. Homes, flats and commercial premises are all covered, from single blockages to full drainage installations.
Mitcham is largely interwar semi-detached housing near the Wandle, on ground that holds water. Soakaways filling during prolonged rain and gardens that will not dry out are the common complaints.
Common causes in CR4
Throughout CR4, the common causes are:
- Sewage escaping at ground level
- The whole system at a standstill
- Sewage appearing in a ground-floor fitting
- A gully surcharging during heavy rain
Signs worth reporting
The symptoms worth reporting when you ring:
- Water sitting in a drain outside when nothing is running
- Several fittings draining slowly at once, which points at the shared run
- A glugging noise from a plughole as another appliance drains
- A drain smell outside that keeps coming back
How the visit works
Finding the cause comes before clearing it:
- We give you a realistic arrival time on the call
- Stop using water in the property until we arrive
- The aim is to finish it on the first attendance
- We are straight about whether clearing is enough
Before we arrive
Before the engineer arrives, there are two or three useful steps:
- Stop using water in the property, particularly appliances on a timer
- Keep people and pets away from any standing waste water
- Make sure the chambers can be reached
- Have your postcode and a description ready so we arrive prepared
Who pays for the repair
The first question on a shared drain is whose it is. Your own run up to the boundary is your responsibility; beyond that, and on anything shared, it is generally the water company’s. You get that in writing.
What it costs in CR4
Emergency attendance starts at a fixed £120 plus VAT, and we never charge for coming out. There is no call-out charge in CR4, at any hour. The price is confirmed before we start.