Are Your Drains Ready for Heavy Rain?

Millions of pounds are currently being invested in Leeds' sewer network as Yorkshire Water works to increase capacity and reduce the pressure caused by heavy rainfall. Two projects at Temple Avenue, near Temple Newsam, and Canal Road in Armley are adding a combined 547,000 litres of additional storage to the sewer network. More recently, work has also started on a £900,000 scheme in Farsley, adding further storage to help manage wastewater and rainwater during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

The scale of the investment highlights something we regularly see at CDC Draincare: capacity matters.

While these major projects focus on the public sewer network, the same principle applies to the drains serving individual homes and businesses. A partially blocked or damaged drain has less capacity available, and heavy autumn rainfall can quickly expose a problem that may have gone unnoticed during drier weather.

Why Is Leeds Increasing Its Sewer Capacity?

Many parts of Leeds have combined sewer systems. This means wastewater from homes and businesses can travel through the same network as rainwater entering from roads, roofs and other surfaces.

During prolonged or particularly heavy rainfall, considerably more water enters the system.

Yorkshire Water is currently investing £68 million across Leeds in projects designed to reduce storm overflow discharges, including additional storage tanks, sewer improvements and other measures to manage excess water.

At property level, drainage systems face a similar challenge. If a drain is clear and in good condition, water can move through it efficiently. If that same pipe is partially restricted, its ability to cope with increased flows is reduced.

Why Do Drains Block During Heavy Rain?

Heavy rainfall doesn't necessarily cause a blockage. Instead, it can expose an existing problem.

Grease, scale, silt, wipes and other debris can gradually build up inside drainage pipes. Tree roots can enter damaged joints, while cracks, displaced sections of pipework and structural damage can also restrict the available space.

During normal conditions, wastewater may continue passing through the remaining opening without any obvious problems.

Add a sudden increase in water during heavy rainfall, however, and the drain may no longer have sufficient capacity.

The result can be slow drainage, overflowing gullies, rising water in manholes or, in more serious cases, wastewater backing up towards the property.

How Do You Know If a Drain Is Partially Blocked?

A complete blockage is normally difficult to miss, but partial blockages can develop for weeks or months before reaching that stage.

Slow-draining sinks, baths or showers can be an early warning sign. You may also notice toilets rising unusually high when flushed, gurgling noises from plugholes, unpleasant drain smells or outside gullies taking longer to clear.

Another important warning sign is a problem that repeatedly appears during heavy rainfall.

If your drains struggle every time there is a significant downpour, simply clearing the immediate blockage may not tell you why it keeps happening. That's where a CCTV drain survey can be particularly useful.

CCTV Drain Surveys: Find Out What's Happening Underground

At CDC Draincare, we use specialist CCTV drain survey equipment to inspect drainage systems from the inside.

A camera can be passed through the pipework to identify restrictions and defects that can't be seen from above ground.

CCTV drain surveys can identify problems including:

• Root ingress
• Cracked or damaged pipes
• Displaced joints
• Partial collapses
• Scale and accumulated deposits
• Debris and other restrictions

Rather than repeatedly carrying out drain clearance without knowing why the problem keeps returning, a CCTV drain survey allows us to identify the underlying cause.

From there, we can recommend the most appropriate solution.

Can Drain Clearance Restore Capacity?

If a drain is restricted by grease, silt, scale or accumulated debris, professional drain clearance can restore the flow without requiring structural repairs.

At CDC Draincare, we use professional high-pressure water jetting equipment to clear blocked drains and clean the internal walls of drainage pipework.

This can be particularly valuable for drains that are flowing slowly or have experienced previous blockages.

For businesses, landlords and properties with drainage systems prone to accumulating debris, preventative drain cleaning can also reduce the likelihood of an unexpected blockage during periods of heavy rainfall.

What If the Drain Is Damaged?

Sometimes a blockage is a symptom rather than the actual problem.

If a CCTV drain survey identifies cracked pipework, displaced joints, root ingress or structural damage, repeatedly clearing the drain isn't necessarily going to provide a long-term solution.

Depending on what we find, CDC Draincare can provide drain repairs, pipe relining or excavation works.

Pipe relining can repair suitable damaged sections from within the existing drain, while more extensive damage may require excavation and replacement.

The important thing is establishing what's actually causing the blockage before deciding on the appropriate repair. Then you need to speak to a team of professionals with a fantastic local reputation,

just saying....

How Can CDC Draincare Help Prepare Your Drains for Wet Weather?

At CDC Draincare, we've been providing professional drainage services for more than 30 years. Our experienced drainage engineers work throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire, helping homeowners, landlords and businesses diagnose drainage problems and keep their systems flowing properly.

Depending on the problem, we can provide:

• CCTV drain surveys and reports to identify restrictions and structural defects
• Blocked drain clearance to restore normal flow
• High-pressure water jetting to remove grease, silt, scale and debris
• Professional drain cleaning and preventative maintenance
• Root removal where vegetation has entered damaged pipework
• Drain repairs and pipe relining
• Excavation where more extensive repairs are required
• 24-hour emergency drain clearance for urgent blockages and overflows

With significant investment currently taking place in Leeds' wider sewer network, autumn is a good time to think about the condition of the drainage system closer to home.

If your drains are slow, repeatedly blocking or struggling whenever there's heavy rain, CDC Draincare can help establish why and recommend the appropriate solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my drains block when it rains?

Heavy rain introduces additional water into drainage systems. If a drain is already partially restricted by grease, silt, roots, wipes or structural damage, the increased flow can overwhelm the available capacity and cause the drain to back up or overflow.

Can a CCTV drain survey find the cause of a recurring blockage?

Yes. CCTV drain surveys allow drainage engineers to inspect inside the pipework and identify problems such as root ingress, cracked pipes, displaced joints, accumulated deposits and partial collapses that may be causing recurring blocked drains.

How much does a CCTV drain survey show?

A CCTV drain survey provides a visual inspection of accessible drainage pipework. It can show the location and condition of restrictions, structural defects, roots and accumulated debris, helping determine whether drain clearance or repairs are required.

What is the best way to clear a blocked drain?

The correct method depends on the cause of the blockage. Professional high-pressure water jetting is commonly used for drain clearance where grease, silt, scale and debris are restricting the pipe. Recurring blockages may require a CCTV drain survey to identify the underlying cause.

Should I have a CCTV drain survey if my drain keeps blocking?

If the same drain repeatedly blocks after being cleared, a CCTV drain survey can help establish whether there is an underlying problem such as root ingress, damaged pipework or a displaced joint. Identifying the cause can prevent repeated temporary fixes.

Who can clear blocked drains in Leeds?

CDC Draincare provides professional blocked drain clearance throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire. Our engineers can clear the immediate blockage and, where necessary, carry out a CCTV drain survey to investigate why the problem occurred.

Professional Drain Support With CDC Draincare

CDC Draincare provides CCTV drain surveys, drain cleaning, high-pressure water jetting, blocked drain clearance, drain repairs and pipe relining for domestic and commercial customers.

Whether you want to investigate a recurring blockage or take a more preventative approach to your drainage system, contact our team to discuss your requirements.