Signs Your Drain Has Collapsed (and What to Do Next)

A collapsed drain rarely announces itself with one clear sign. Instead, small problems build up until something gives. This guide lists the common warning signs, what else might cause them, and how to find out for sure.

The common warning signs

None of these proves a collapse on its own. Still, if you see two or three together, it is worth a closer look.

• Blockages that keep coming back. A drain that blocks again soon after clearing often has a fault in the pipe itself.
• Slow drains across the house. When sinks, baths and toilets all drain slowly, the problem may sit further down the main run.
• Foul smells outside. A broken pipe can let sewage gases escape into the ground and the air.
• Damp patches or soft ground. Water leaking from a broken pipe can soak walls, lawns or the ground near a path.
• A dip, sinkhole or cracked paving. Leaking water can wash soil away, so the ground above a run may sink.
• Rats in or near the house. Rats in drains can get into a home through broken pipes.

What else could it be?

Many of these signs have other causes. For example, a slow drain may just have a build-up of grease. Damp may come from a leaking gutter or a failing soakaway, while a smell may come from a dry trap.

That’s why guessing is risky. Digging up a drive for a drain that only needed clearing would waste a lot of money.

How to confirm a collapse

A CCTV drain survey is the clear way to check. The camera shows whether the pipe has cracked, slipped out of line or caved in, and where. It can also show how long the damaged section is, which shapes the repair.

Ask for footage and a coded report. You can then compare quotes, or send the report to an insurer if you plan to claim.

Why drains collapse

Drains collapse for a few common reasons: age, tree roots, ground movement and heavy loads above the pipe. Ground movement matters more in some areas, for example on former mining ground in Stoke-on-Trent. Steep falls bring their own problems on Sheffield’s hilly streets, while heavy clay strains pipes under Black Country terraces in Wolverhampton. The list of cities covered links the rest.

What happens next

If the survey confirms a collapse, the fix depends on how bad it is. A short, partial collapse can sometimes take a liner, while a full collapse usually means digging out the failed section. The collapsed drain repair page explains both routes.

For figures, see what a collapsed drain costs to fix. If you are buying a home and the survey finds a collapse, you can still go ahead with buying a house with a collapsed drain, but settle the repair before you exchange.

What to do in the meantime

If sewage is backing up, stop using water in the house and keep people and pets away from it. Since a collapse can get worse, avoid driving or parking over the suspect area if you can.

The bottom line

Repeat blockages, damp, smells and sinking ground can all point to a collapsed drain. A camera survey can confirm it, so you can pay for the repair the pipe needs rather than a guess.

Send us your postcode and we’ll pass your request on straight away. Say if sewage is backing up, and ask for a written quote before any work starts.