Drain surveys in NW8 have a habit of happening at the worst time. We run a genuine round-the-clock service covering St John’s Wood and Maida Vale, with fixed prices confirmed before any work starts.
What we cover in NW8
Our coverage of NW8 spans St John’s Wood and Maida Vale, in City of Westminster. Since we work the surrounding postcodes as well, we can deal with both ends of a shared run.
St John’s Wood and Maida Vale are mansion blocks and large stucco villas, much of it managed rather than owner-occupied. Communal drainage and porter access shape how jobs here are booked.
Common causes in NW8
Throughout NW8, the usual culprits are:
- Repeat blockages in the same place, which usually means a physical defect
- A purchase in progress, with mature trees close to the run
- An insurance claim needing documented evidence
- An extension being planned, where the run has to be located first
Signs worth reporting
What tends to prompt the call in NW8:
- Water sitting in a drain outside hours after the last discharge
- More than one appliance backing up, not just one
- A glugging noise from a plughole when the bath is let out
- Foul odour around a chamber that is stronger in warm weather
How the visit works
This is how a visit works:
- Flush the run so the camera can read the pipe
- Record the entire line
- Record where each defect sits, and how deep
- Give you footage plus a report an insurer will accept
Before we arrive
In the meantime, a couple of things make a real difference:
- Hold off on taps, showers and appliances, particularly appliances on a timer
- Move children and pets away from the affected area
- Make sure the chambers can be reached
- Note which fittings are affected so we arrive prepared
Who pays for the repair
The first question on a shared drain is whose it is. A private drain serving one building is the owner’s; past the boundary it is normally Thames Water. You get that in writing.
What it costs in NW8
A CCTV drain survey is a fixed £300 plus VAT, footage and written summary included. Prices are fixed rather than hourly, so a difficult job in NW8 does not become an expensive surprise.