Rats in Drains

Work out how the rats are getting from the drain into the building

A redundant open connection, broken underground pipe or failed toilet connection can matter more than the mere presence of rats in the sewer.

CCTV can help trace defects

A camera survey may show open connections, fractures or sections where rats have access to voids around the pipe. The purpose is to identify a route that can actually be sealed.

Find the route into the building before sealing anything

Replacing sound drainage simply because rats are present in the area is unlikely to solve the problem. The entry route needs to be demonstrated as far as reasonably possible.

Old unused connections can provide a route into the building

Extensions, removed outside toilets and altered kitchens can leave old branches that were never sealed properly. A redundant opening may provide a route from the drainage system into a floor void even when the main sewer pipe itself is sound.

When tracing rat access, the camera operator should look carefully at old side branches and redundant connections. The main drain can be perfectly sound while an uncapped branch gives rats a route into a floor void.