Accidental Damage To Underground Services - Your questions answered:
 
 
 
 
How do I know when there is a problem with my drains?
Often the first sign of a problem is when the lavatory has been flushed but the waste does not clear. Sometimes, the water can also build up within the pan to a much higher than normal level and then slowly subsides. There will often be a smell of effluent from the overflow of the bath and wash hand- basin.  

What causes damage to drains?
There are several potential causes.

1. Pipes run underground and are, therefore, susceptible to movement in the surrounding ground. Many drains are of the salt glazed type. These are rigid in construction and, sometimes, the ground movement is sufficient to fracture the pipes or, at the very least, to cause the joints to open. More modern drains are often of a plastic type material which copes better with ground movement.  

2. Once there is a crack in the pipe, or joints have opened, nutrient rich effluent escapes into the surrounding ground. This moisture and source of food is sought after by plants and it is very common for fibrous roots to not only surround the broken/open pipe but actually to penetrate into the pipe run resulting in blockages.  

3. Direct accidental damage, such as occurs when a large load travels over pipe runs close to the surface causing compression and fracturing. Similarly, fence posts can be driven into the ground and, unwittingly, the drains can be punctured. Chemicals can also be wrongly utilised resulting in erosion of the salt glazed inner surface and eventual failure.  

4. Pitch fibre pipes can delaminate over a period of time due to the very nature of their construction with the result that, eventually, the pipe run loses it's round shape and is compressed resulting in a varying degrees of blockage. The above list is not intended to be comprehensive but gives a guide as to some potential causes.
 

Am I able to claim for repairs under my building's insurance policy?

The building's policy will provide cover in respect of accidental damage to underground services. It is, therefore, necessary for you, as the policyholder, to prove that the damage is accidental in origin rather than as a result of fair wear and tear/age. Failures which occur gradually and over a period of time are usually specifically excluded under most building's policies.  

How can I prove that the damage is accidental in origin when the pipe is below ground?

It will usually be necessary for some form of exploratory work to be carried out in order to prove that the damage is accidental. Often this can take the form of a television survey, which is recorded on video tape. This reveals the condition of the interior of the pipe and often indicates why the failure has occurred. If it is determined that the problem is accidental in origin, the insurer will meet the costs of drain clearance, the cost of the survey and the cost of repair. In the case of the service being shared by a number of properties, other owners/users may be required to contribute depending on where their service enters the main service, i.e. up stream or down stream of the problem. Very occasionally, it is necessary for exploratory pits to be dug and, again, the costs will be refunded if it is proven that the damage is accidental rather than due to any other cause.

If my insurers accept the claim as valid, what happens next?
Generally, repairs to underground drains and services should be undertaken by specialist contractors rather than general builders. This is not because builders lack the expertise but because the specialist contractors have specific equipment available to them. They will be able to provide alternative repair solutions which may not necessarily involve digging up and replacement of the original defective service. It may be that a new drain run can be put in place using a mole or other burrowing device or that the original drain can be lined within a inner sleeve thus restoring it's integrity.  

Where does my responsibility end?
In almost all cases, the responsibility of the house owner extends up to and including the saddle. This is the particular connecting device which allows the underground drain to connect to the main public sewer. Sometimes, it may be necessary for the local by-laws to be examined as, occasionally, the Local Authority will accept responsibility for the saddle itself. Because public sewers often run below public highways, the costs of repair can be considerable since a road opening licence will be required to excavate the public highway. Traffic lights and traffic management will often have to be put in place. Because of the depth of most public sewers, it will also be necessary for the pit to be sunk in stages with proper pit props and the like installed. Very strict health and safety precautions apply in such instances. What may at first be appear to be a relatively minor problem can, therefore, sometimes prove to be extremely costly to rectify.