Drain Replacement
When a drain has collapsed, broken apart underground or worn down so badly that a liner has nothing sound to grip, a repair only puts off the problem. In these cases, replacing the damaged pipework is the only way to give your home a drain that works properly for years to come.
At Plumbco, our engineers carry out full and partial drain replacement for homes across Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. We start by surveying the drain on camera, so we know exactly what we're dealing with, then design the new run to meet current building regulations and lay it using durable PVCu or vitrified clay pipe. There's no callout fee to have us take a look, and because we don't charge extra for evenings, weekends or bank holidays, the fixed price you're quoted is the price you pay, whenever the work takes place. Every job is also backed by our 12-month written guarantee.
Get in touch by clicking the button below or giving us a call.
Our Drain Replacement Methods
Not every replacement means digging up the whole garden. We choose the method that suits the condition of your drain and the layout of your property, and we'll always explain our reasons before any work begins.
Full Drain Replacement
Where the whole run has failed, we dig out and remove the old drain and lay a new pipe system from your home to the point where it joins the sewer. We use 110mm or 160mm PVCu pipe, or vitrified clay where it's specified, laid at the correct fall so waste moves freely. New inspection chambers go in wherever the drain changes direction or meets another pipe, which makes future maintenance much simpler. Once the new drain is in, we put back every surface we disturbed, whether that's a lawn, driveway, path or internal floor.
Partial Drain Replacement
When the damage is limited to one stretch of an otherwise healthy drain, there's no need to replace more than the failed length. We dig out just that section, remove the faulty pipe and join new pipework to the existing drain using mechanical couplings. The new section is then tested to make sure it's watertight before the trench is filled in. Because less ground is disturbed, a partial replacement is quicker, tidier and more affordable than replacing the full run.
Replacing Drains Under a Building
Drains that run beneath your home need a careful plan, because the aim is to replace the pipe without affecting the structure above it. We combine small, targeted digs inside the property with access from outside wherever we can, which keeps disruption as low as possible. In some cases, relining the pipe from the inside (known as CIPP relining) may be a less invasive choice, so we'll set out both options side by side and let you decide.
Shared and Lateral Drain Replacement
When a drain serves more than one property, replacing it usually means working with your neighbours and often the local water company as well. We look after the whole process for you, from the camera survey and talking with neighbours to Section 106 applications, excavation, replacement and Building Control sign-off. If the drain turns out to be the water company's responsibility, we'll explain how to report it so the right people can deal with it.
When Does a Drain Need Replacing?
Most drain problems can be put right with a repair or a liner, but there comes a point where the pipe itself is too far gone for either solution to work. That point usually looks like one of the following:
- The Pipe Has Collapsed: Part of the drain has caved in, leaving a gap underground where waste gathers and nothing can flow past.
- Damage Runs Along Much of Its Length: When cracks, fractures and shifted joints appear across a long stretch, fixing each one separately costs more than replacing the whole section.
- The Pipe Material Has Broken Down: Pitch fibre, early asbestos cement and some older clay pipes can wear so badly that no patch or liner will bond to what's left.
- Repairs Keep Failing: If the same part of the drain has been fixed more than once and still gives trouble, replacing it deals with the cause rather than the symptom.
- The Drain is Too Small for the Home: Older properties often have narrow drainage that struggles with modern use, especially once an extension or loft conversion adds another bathroom.
If any of these sound familiar, the next question is how much of the drain needs to come out, and that depends on where the damage sits, and how far it spreads.
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How Drain Replacement Works
Camera Survey and Diagnosis
Design and Fixed-Price Quote
Utility Checks
Excavation and Removal
New Pipe Installation
Backfill, Reinstatement and Handover
Why Choose Plumbco?
Drain Replacement FAQs
The cost depends on how much pipe needs replacing, how deep it sits, how easy it is to reach, what surface lies above it and whether it runs under a building or a shared boundary. Because every drain is different, we don't guess. We carry out a camera survey first and then give you a fixed, itemised price, so you know the full cost before any work begins.
Arrange a Drain Survey
If you think a drain at your property may be beyond repair, get in touch and we'll arrange a camera survey to find out for certain. You can call our team on 0808 303 8888, where a real engineer will answer in under 60 seconds, or fill in our contact form and we'll get back to you to arrange a visit.
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Engineers on call 24/7
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A clear price before we start
