Collapsed Drain Repair
Repeat blockages, sinkholes or sewage backing up can point to a collapsed drain. A camera survey can confirm it and show where it is, so you can get it fixed.
What is a collapsed drain repair?
Collapsed drain repair restores a drain that has broken or caved in. First, a camera confirms the collapse and shows where it is. The engineer then relines the pipe where its shape allows, or digs out and replaces just the failed section.
A collapsed drain is one of the more serious drain faults. It can cause blockages that keep coming back, foul smells, damp, and even subsidence or sinkholes. Since the signs are easy to misread, the first step should be to confirm and find the collapse on camera.
Where the pipe still holds its shape, relining may work. That can avoid digging, or keep any digging to the failed section.
For more detail, read the signs of a collapsed drain, what a collapsed drain costs to fix and drain relining costs per metre.
When you need a collapsed drain repair
- Blockages that keep returning despite clearing
- Sewage or waste water backing up into the property
- A sinkhole, dip or subsidence above the drain run
- Damp, foul smells or rats around the drains
- Several fixtures draining slowly at the same time
Why it matters
Accurate location
A trace shows where the collapse is, so any dig can stay small and targeted. You then only lose the part of your garden or drive that the repair needs.
Right method
Ask for relining where it will work, and digging only where it must happen. When the method matches the fault, you get the least disruptive fix that works.
Address the cause
Collapses often follow root damage or age. So ask for the failed section to get fixed, and for the rest of the run to get a check. You then deal with the real problem, not just today's symptom.
What it usually includes
Ask the engineer to confirm what their quote covers, since this varies.
- A camera survey to confirm and rule out a simple blockage
- Precise location and depth of the collapse, traced from the surface
- Repair by relining or a targeted excavation and replacement
- A post-repair camera check to confirm the run is restored (ask for it)
- A report you can use for an insurance claim if relevant
How it works
- 01
Confirm on camera
First, a survey confirms the collapse and rules out a simple blockage. The signs are easy to misread, so this step can save you an unneeded dig.
- 02
Locate precisely
Next, the engineer traces the exact position and depth, and marks them on the surface. They also work out whether the section can take a liner.
- 03
Repair
Finally, relining or a targeted dig and replacement restores the run. Ask for a camera check afterwards to confirm the drain is sound again.
How much does a collapsed drain repair cost?
The cost of a collapsed drain repair depends on whether the pipe can take a liner or needs digging out. The depth and length of the failed section matter too. A camera survey shows the extent first. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
What affects the price
- Whether the pipe can be relined or must be excavated
- The depth of the pipe and what is above it
- The length of the failed section
- Access and any surface that must be reinstated
Each job gets its own price. Send us the details, with no obligation. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
Request a no-obligation quote →Collapsed Drain Repair — your questions answered
How much does it cost to repair a collapsed drain?
It depends on whether the pipe can take a liner or needs digging out. The depth and length of the failed section matter too. A camera survey shows the extent first. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
How do I know if my drain has collapsed?
Common signs include repeat blockages, slow drains, foul smells, damp patches and, in bad cases, subsidence or a sinkhole. Still, only a camera survey can confirm it for certain.
Does buildings insurance cover a collapsed drain?
Sometimes. Many policies cover accidental damage, subsidence or collapse of private drains, so it is worth checking yours. Ask for a coded survey and report you can send with a claim.
Will the drain have to be dug up?
Not always. A partial collapse can sometimes take a liner, while a full collapse usually means digging out the failed section. Either way, ask for any digging to stay within the failed section.
Further reading
Get a collapsed drain repair quote
Tell us what you need and where you are, and we'll pass your request on straight away. There's no obligation. Ask for a written quote, then decide.