We are a family-run firm covering London since 2013, with NW3 among the areas we attend most. That covers Hampstead, Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage.
What we cover in NW3
The area we cover in NW3 includes Hampstead, Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage, in Camden. Because we cover the neighbouring postcodes too, a drain shared between streets is not a problem.
Hampstead and Belsize Park have large period houses with mature gardens and a lot of basement excavation. Trees close to boundary runs and newly installed basement drainage discharging into old laterals are the two recurring issues.
Common causes in NW3
In NW3, these are the ones that come up again and again:
- Repeat blockages in the same place, which usually means a physical defect
- A property being bought, and no records of the drainage
- An insurer asking for evidence requiring footage and positions
- A structure going over the drain line, where the run has to be located first
Signs worth reporting
The signs that bring people to call us around NW3:
- Standing water in a yard gully hours after the last discharge
- Two or more fittings affected together, which points at the shared run
- Bubbling in the pan as another appliance drains
- A drain smell outside that is stronger in warm weather
How the visit works
Here is what happens when we attend:
- Remove debris so the footage shows the pipe, not the deposits
- Survey the whole run, not the first few metres
- Mark the position and depth of each defect
- Hand over the recording with a written report
Before we arrive
Useful steps before we arrive:
- Hold off on taps, showers and appliances, including the washing machine and dishwasher
- Keep people and pets away from any standing waste water
- Make sure the chambers can be reached
- Jot down what is draining and what is not for the call
Who pays for the repair
Before anyone invoices you, it is worth knowing where the fault sits. A private drain serving one building is the owner’s; shared runs and anything past the boundary generally are not. You get that in writing.
What it costs in NW3
A CCTV drain survey is a fixed £300 plus VAT, footage and written summary included. There is no call-out charge in NW3, at any hour. The price is confirmed before we start.