A cracked, collapsed or displaced drain doesn't fix itself. Left alone, the ground around it quietly erodes until you've got a sunken inspection chamber or a flooded garden on your hands. If your drain's failed, it needs assessing properly before the damage spreads.
We handle drain repairs across Exmouth and the surrounding villages. CCTV confirms the fault first, then we repair it the right way: relining, patch lining, or targeted excavation where that's what the pipe actually needs. Nothing gets decided until we've seen what's there.
What we're likely to find
Most drain failures fall into a handful of categories, and the right repair depends entirely on which one you've got.
- Cracked or fractured pipe. Common in older clay runs, especially under driveways where ground movement or vehicle loading has done the damage.
- Root intrusion. Roots find hairline cracks, then widen them. Properties near established trees in Phear Park or the mature gardens of Withycombe Raleigh see this regularly.
- Collapsed or deformed pipe. Usually plastic pipe that's failed under load, or pitch fibre that's delaminating and peeling internally, restricting flow.
- Displaced or open joints. Where pipes have shifted apart. Water escapes into the surrounding ground at every flush.
- Corrosion and structural weakness. More common in commercial runs, but it turns up in older domestic properties in Halsdon and Hulham too.
How the repair works
We run a CCTV survey before any repair decision is made. Once we know the location, length and nature of the fault, we choose the right method.
| Method | When it's used | Excavation needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Full pipe relining (CIPP) | Long runs of cracked or root-damaged pipe | No |
| Patch lining | Isolated crack or joint failure | No |
| Pipe replacement | Collapsed section or pipe too deformed to line | Yes, targeted |
| Joint repair | Displaced joint with pipe structure intact | Usually no |
Relining isn't always possible. If the pipe's fully collapsed, severely deformed, or the access angles won't accept a liner, excavation is the right answer. We'll tell you which applies before work starts.
Remedial work including repairs, relining, pipe replacement and patch lining carries a 10-year guarantee on workmanship, rising to up to 20 years where the lining system's own product warranty supports it. We'll confirm exactly what applies to your job when we quote.
When to call us
Some signs are obvious. Others creep up slowly.
- Drains backing up repeatedly, even after jetting
- Persistent damp patches or sunken ground in the garden
- Cracking in nearby paving, or a driveway that's started to sink
- Sewage smell with no obvious blockage
- A CCTV report that's flagged a structural defect
If a survey's already been done and you've got a report with fault codes, we can work straight from that. If not, we'll carry one out before quoting the repair.
Where we work in and around Exmouth
Drain repairs are among the most common jobs we deal with across Exmouth's older housing stock. Clay pipe runs from the 1960s and 1970s in Brixington, Littleham and Marpool are at the age where joint failures and fractures are expected. The Point and Sandy Bay sit on ground that can shift with tidal and weather conditions, and drain joints in those areas tend to show it. Lympstone, Exton, Woodbury and Topsham all have properties with ageing drainage infrastructure that benefits from a proper repair rather than repeated jetting. We cover the full EX8 postcode and the surrounding villages regularly.
Pricing and getting started
Every repair is priced individually. Once we've seen the fault on camera, you'll get a clear price before anything's touched. No call-out fee, and you won't be committed to anything until you're happy with what's been proposed.
Engineers are available 24/7. Call 01395 201044 to book a survey, or describe what you're seeing and we'll advise from there.