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The Growing Concern When Julie B took over as operations manager at a Bridge Road Warehouse in Chertsey three years ago, she inherited what seemed like a well-run facility. The 15,000 square foot warehouse served as a regional hub for several retailers, handling inbound shipments and dispatching goods across Surrey and beyond. “It was a dream job at first,” Julie remembers. “We had a great team, reliable clients, and the warehouse itself seemed solid. But there was this one niggling issue that kept coming up – puddles in the yard after heavy rain.” Initially, Julie didn’t think much of it. A bit of standing water in a loading bay seemed like a minor inconvenience rather than a serious problem. But as the months passed and Britain’s weather became increasingly unpredictable, those puddles started turning into ponds. “Last October was the wake-up call,” Julie says, her expression serious. “We had three days of torrential rain, and the water in the main loading area was ankle-deep. Drivers were refusing to reverse their lorries up to the bay because they were worried about getting stuck. We had pallets of stock sitting on the warehouse floor that we couldn’t load because the area was flooded. I was losing business, and I knew I couldn’t keep making excuses to our clients.” The Failed Quick Fixes Julie’s first response was to tackle what seemed like the obvious culprits. She had her maintenance team clear all the gutters, unblock the visible gullies, and remove accumulated leaves and debris from around the drainage grids. “We spent a whole weekend cleaning everything we could see,” Julie explains. “The lads worked really hard, and I honestly thought we’d cracked it. But two weeks later, we had another downpour, and the flooding came back just as bad as before.” She tried a local drain clearance company who jetted the main drains and assured her they’d cleared some blockages. Again, it seemed to help briefly, but the improvement didn’t last. “I was getting increasingly stressed,” Julie admits. “Our insurance company was asking questions about why we kept reporting water ingress. One of our biggest clients – a homewares retailer – actually threatened to move their contract to a different warehouse if we couldn’t guarantee reliable loading and unloading. I was looking at potentially losing £200,000 worth of annual business.” The frustration was compounded by not knowing what was actually wrong. Surface-level interventions weren’t working, but Julie had no idea what was happening underground. Finding Proper Answers A fellow warehouse manager Julie met at an industry networking event in Weybridge mentioned he’d had similar problems the previous year and had used a company called YourDrainExperts to conduct a comprehensive CCTV drain survey. “He said it completely changed his understanding of what was wrong,” Julie recalls. “He’d been throwing money at the wrong problems because he couldn’t see what was actually happening in the pipes. The Chertsey CCTV survey showed him exactly what needed fixing.” Julie called us the next day. After explaining the flooding pattern – particularly how it worsened after prolonged rainfall and seemed concentrated around the main loading bays – we recommended a full CCTV survey of the warehouse’s drainage system. “I was quoted a price that seemed reasonable, especially compared to what I’d already wasted on fixes that didn’t work,” Julie says. “And they could come out within the week. At that point, I just needed answers.” The Investigation Our team arrived at the Chertsey warehouse on a grey Wednesday morning. Julie walked us around the site, pointing out the areas that flooded worst and showing us where water seemed to pool and refuse to drain. “The engineers were really thorough,” Julie remembers. “They asked loads of questions – how old the warehouse was, when the drainage was last upgraded, whether we’d had any ground works done, that sort of thing. They were building a proper picture rather than just turning up and sticking a camera down a drain.” We identified the main access points and began feeding our high-definition cameras into the drainage system. Julie watched the monitor as our cameras navigated through the underground pipes. “I’d never seen anything like it,” she says. “You could see the inside of the pipes so clearly. And you could see immediately that something was wrong.” The footage revealed that while the pipes weren’t completely blocked, they were significantly compromised. Years of accumulated silt, mud, and fine sediment had built up along the bottom of the drainage runs, particularly in the sections serving the loading bays where heavy vehicles constantly drove over the drains. “The engineer paused the footage at one section and said, ‘Look here – your pipe should have this much capacity, but the silt build-up has reduced it by about forty percent,’” Julie recalls. “He explained that during normal rain, the reduced capacity was just about coping, but during heavy downpours, the system simply couldn’t handle the volume of water. That’s why we kept flooding.” But the survey revealed additional problems that Julie hadn’t expected. Several sections of pipe showed hairline cracks and fractures – damage likely caused by the constant weight of fully-loaded lorries driving over the drainage runs day after day. “When they showed me those cracks, I felt a bit sick,” Julie admits. “The engineer explained that while they weren’t causing problems yet, if they got worse, we could end up with collapsed drains. That would mean excavation, road closures, the whole nightmare. We’d caught it just in time.” The Comprehensive Solution Our engineers recommended a two-stage approach. First, high-pressure water jetting to blast away all the accumulated silt and restore the pipes to their full capacity. Second, no-dig relining of the cracked sections to reinforce them and prevent future structural failures. “What really impressed me was how they explained everything in plain English,” Julie says. “No jargon, no trying to upsell me on things I didn’t need. Just: ‘This is what’s wrong, this is how we fix it, this is how long it’ll take, and this is what

A Problem That Wouldn’t Go Away Michael had been managing an office building in Addlestone for nearly seven years, and he’d always taken pride in running what he considered one of the town’s better commercial properties. The three-storey building housed a mix of small businesses – a digital marketing agency, an insurance brokerage, a couple of recruitment firms, and a small café on the ground floor that kept everyone caffeinated. “I like to think of myself as a hands-on manager,” Michael says. “When there’s a problem, I deal with it. I don’t ignore things and hope they’ll go away.” But the problem that started developing in late autumn was different. It wasn’t something he could see or easily identify – it was something he could smell. And so could everyone else in the building. “It started subtly,” Michael recalls. “Maybe mid-October. A couple of people mentioned a slightly unpleasant odour in the ground floor lobby. Nothing dramatic, just a bit off. I assumed someone had tracked something in from outside, or maybe the bins needed emptying more frequently.” He arranged for additional cleaning, had the carpets professionally shampooed, and made sure the waste was collected more regularly. For a few days, it seemed to help. But then the smell returned, stronger than before. “By November, it was unmistakable,” Michael says, grimacing at the memory. “Sewage. That’s what it smelled like. Not all the time, but particularly after heavy rain. It would get so bad that people working on the ground floor were complaining they felt nauseous.” “It was a dream job at first,” Julie remembers. “We had a great team, reliable clients, and the warehouse itself seemed solid. But there was this one niggling issue that kept coming up – puddles in the yard after heavy rain.” Initially, Julie didn’t think much of it. A bit of standing water in a loading bay seemed like a minor inconvenience rather than a serious problem. But as the months passed and Britain’s weather became increasingly unpredictable, those puddles started turning into ponds. “Last October was the wake-up call,” Julie says, her expression serious. “We had three days of torrential rain, and the water in the main loading area was ankle-deep. Drivers were refusing to reverse their lorries up to the bay because they were worried about getting stuck. We had pallets of stock sitting on the warehouse floor that we couldn’t load because the area was flooded. I was losing business, and I knew I couldn’t keep making excuses to our clients.” The Search for Answers Michael’s first instinct was to call in his regular maintenance contractor – a local handyman who’d helped with various issues over the years. They checked the toilets, inspected all the visible plumbing, examined the external waste pipes, and even climbed onto the roof to check the soil vent pipes. Nothing seemed obviously wrong. “They couldn’t find anything,” Michael explains. “Everything looked fine on the surface. The drains were flowing, there were no visible leaks, the vents were clear. But the smell was getting worse, not better.” The situation was starting to affect his tenants seriously. The recruitment firm on the ground floor reported that candidates attending interviews were commenting on the unpleasant odour. The café owner, Tony, was particularly distressed. “Tony called me one morning in a right state,” Michael remembers. “He said, ‘Michael, I’ve got customers asking if there’s a problem with the drains. I’m running a food business here – I can’t have people thinking my café smells like sewage.’ I could hear the panic in his voice, and I didn’t blame him. His livelihood was at stake.” The insurance brokerage on the first floor gave Michael an ultimatum: fix the problem within the month, or they’d start looking for alternative premises when their lease came up for renewal. “That’s when I knew I was out of my depth,” Michael admits. “This wasn’t something I could fix with air fresheners and professional cleaning. Something was fundamentally wrong, and I needed proper expertise.” Bringing in the Specialists A colleague in property management recommended YourDrainExperts, mentioning they’d successfully dealt with a similar mysterious smell at an Egham office building the previous year. Michael called us that afternoon. “The woman I spoke to on the phone was reassuring,” Michael says. “She didn’t seem surprised by what I was describing at all. She said they’d dealt with plenty of cases where smells appear after rain, and that usually means there’s something going on underground. She suggested a CCTV drain survey to get to the bottom of it.” We arranged to attend Station Court the following week. Michael met our team in the car park, where we began identifying the building’s drainage access points. “I’d never actually thought about what was under the ground before,” Michael reflects. “You just assume it all works, don’t you? Out of sight, out of mind. But watching them prepare to send a camera down into the drains, I realized how little I actually knew about the building’s infrastructure.” The Truth Beneath the Surface Our engineers fed the CCTV camera into the drainage system through the main inspection chamber. Michael stood with them, watching the monitor as the camera navigated through the pipes. “At first, everything looked okay,” Michael remembers. “Just pipes doing what pipes do. But then the camera reached a section serving the ground floor, and you could see immediately that something wasn’t right.” The footage revealed a substantial build-up of congealed fats, oils, and food waste coating the inside of the pipes. The accumulation had created a thick, sticky layer that was reducing the pipe’s diameter significantly – not enough to cause a complete blockage, but enough to slow drainage and trap organic matter. “The engineer explained that this was probably coming from Tony’s café,” Michael says. “Not through any fault of his – it’s just what happens when you’ve got a commercial kitchen. Fats wash down the drains, cool in the pipes, and gradually build up over time. And

When Success Attracts Unwanted Guests Rachel A had spent fifteen years building her property management portfolio at a riverside business centre in Walton-on-Thames. The converted Victorian building housed six small businesses – everything from a graphic design studio to a solicitor’s practice – and had maintained near-100% occupancy since she’d renovated it five years earlier. So when one of her longest-standing tenants, James from the accountancy firm on the first floor, called her on a Tuesday morning in September, Rachel initially thought it would be another routine maintenance request. “Rachel, I need to talk to you about something,” James said, his voice tense. “And I really don’t want to alarm you, but we’ve got a situation.” Rachel’s heart sank. In property management, “situations” were never good news. “One of my staff saw a rat in the kitchen area yesterday,” James continued. “At first, we thought maybe it had just wandered in from outside – the back door was open for deliveries. But this morning, we’ve found droppings in the storage cupboard. I think we might have a problem.” The Problem Escalates Rachel immediately contacted a local pest control company, and they attended the building that same afternoon. Traps and bait stations were strategically placed, and the pest controller assured her it was probably just an isolated incident – perhaps a rat that had found its way in from the nearby River Thames. For about ten days, everything seemed fine. The traps remained undisturbed, and Rachel started to relax. Problem solved, she thought. Then the phone calls started again. This time it was Sophie, who ran the marketing consultancy on the ground floor. “I’m not being dramatic, Rachel, but I heard something in the wall cavity near my desk yesterday,” Sophie explained. “A scratching sound. And this morning, I found droppings under the sink in our kitchenette.” Within the next week, Rachel received similar reports from three other tenants. The solicitor’s practice found evidence of rats in their document storage room. The web development company reported hearing noises in the ceiling void. Even the graphic designers – whose unit was at the opposite end of the building – discovered droppings near their waste bins. “I started to panic at that point,” Rachel admits. “This wasn’t one rat that had wandered in. This was an infestation. And with six businesses all experiencing the same problem, I knew I had to act fast before someone’s client saw something and word got out.” The pest control company returned and increased their efforts, but Rachel could see the frustration on the technician’s face. “Look, I can keep setting traps,” he told her honestly, “but rats don’t just materialise inside buildings. They’re getting in from somewhere, and until we find out where, we’re just playing catch-up. Have you considered checking your drains?” Finding the Root Cause Rachel had never thought about the building’s drainage system as a potential access point for rats. The Victorian property had been comprehensively renovated, including updated plumbing, so she’d assumed everything underground was sound. But the pest controller’s suggestion made sense. The rats were appearing inside the building, often near plumbing areas and waste pipes. They had to be coming from somewhere. After searching online for drainage specialists in Walton-on-Thames, Rachel found YourDrainExperts. She called that afternoon and explained the situation. “The person I spoke to was brilliant,” Rachel recalls. “She didn’t dismiss my concerns or make me feel like I was overreacting. She just said, ‘Let’s get a camera down there and see what’s actually going on.’ It was exactly what I needed to hear.” The Investigation Reveals All Our team arrived at the Riverside Business Centre two days later. Rachel met us in the car park, where we identified the main drainage access points serving the building. “I’d never actually watched a CCTV drain survey before,” Rachel says. “I stood there with the engineer, watching the monitor as the camera went through the pipes. It was fascinating and horrifying in equal measure.” The problem became apparent within the first fifteen minutes. Our high-definition cameras revealed multiple fractures and cracks in the older clay pipes that served the rear section of the building. Despite the interior renovations, the original Victorian-era drainage pipes had remained in place – and after more than a century of service, they were showing their age. “The engineer paused the footage at one particular crack,” Rachel remembers. “He said, ‘That’s your entry point right there. See how it’s opened up? A rat can fit through a gap smaller than that.’ It was like watching a crime investigation – we’d finally found how they were getting in.” But the survey revealed more than just the access points. Several sections of the drainage system showed substantial accumulations of organic waste and food debris – material that had washed down from the business kitchenettes over the years and had become lodged at damaged sections of pipe. “The engineer explained that we’d basically created a rat motorway with all-you-can-eat buffets along the route,” Rachel says with a rueful laugh. “No wonder they kept coming back. We weren’t just providing shelter – we were providing room service.” The Solution Takes Shape Our engineers outlined a comprehensive solution. The damaged pipes could be repaired using no-dig relining technology, effectively creating new, seamless pipes within the existing structure without the need for disruptive excavation. Following that, high-pressure water jetting would flush out all the accumulated debris, eliminating the food source that was attracting the rats in the first place. “I was worried about the disruption to my tenants,” Rachel admits. “They’d already been dealing with the rat problem for weeks, and I didn’t want to add building works on top of that. But the engineer assured me the work could be done with minimal impact.” Rachel approved the work immediately, and our team scheduled it for the following week. The entire process took three days – relining the damaged sections on day one, thorough jetting and cleaning on day two, and final

The Growing Problem David had been managing a Retail Park in Walton-on-Thames for three years, and he’d dealt with the usual array of maintenance challenges that come with overseeing a busy development of shops, cafés, and offices. But nothing had quite prepared him for the situation that developed over the summer months. “It started with the bins,” David remembers. “The waste collection area at the back of the units – you’d occasionally spot a rat scurrying away when you approached. Not ideal, but not uncommon in a commercial setting with food outlets. I arranged for the pest controller to come out, assuming it was just a straightforward vermin issue related to waste management.” The pest control company set traps and bait stations around the perimeter, and for a couple of weeks, things seemed to improve. But then the complaints started coming in from the tenants themselves. First, it was the café on the ground floor. The owner, Emma, called David in a panic after discovering droppings in her stockroom. Then the beautician next door reported hearing scratching sounds coming from behind the skirting boards. Within a fortnight, three different businesses had reported similar issues. “That’s when I knew we had a serious problem,” David says. “These weren’t just rats passing through the bin area – they were actually getting inside the units. I had Emma practically in tears, worried about what would happen if a customer saw a rat in her café. The reputational damage would have been devastating for her business and for the entire retail park.” The Search for Answers David brought the pest control company back, and they increased the number of traps and tried different approaches. But the rats kept returning. It was like fighting an invisible enemy – they could deal with the rats they caught, but more would always appear. “The pest controller was as frustrated as I was,” David recalls. “He said to me, ‘I can keep catching rats all day long, but if you’ve got an entry point we haven’t found, they’ll just keep coming.’ That’s when he suggested the problem might be in the drains.” David had never considered the drainage system as a potential issue. The retail park had been built in the early 2000s, and he’d never had any drainage problems. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense – the rats were appearing inside units, often near plumbing areas. They had to be coming from somewhere underground. A quick Google search for drainage specialists in Walton-on-Thames led David to YourDrainExperts. After explaining the situation over the phone, we suggested a comprehensive CCTV drain survey to investigate whether the drainage system was providing access routes for the rodents. “I’ll be honest, I was sceptical about whether it would show anything,” David admits. “I thought maybe we’d be throwing money away. But I was desperate, and we needed to rule it out if nothing else.” The Investigation Our team arrived at the retail park the following week with our CCTV equipment. David met us at the main access point and watched as we began feeding the camera into the drainage system that served the commercial units. “I didn’t really know what to expect,” David says. “I’ve never actually seen inside a drain before. But watching that monitor as the camera went through the pipes – it was eye-opening.” Within the first twenty minutes, our cameras revealed the problem. The footage showed multiple breaches in the drainage pipes – some were cracks that had developed over time, others appeared to be damaged joint seals where pipe sections connected. The gaps weren’t huge, but they didn’t need to be. A rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a pound coin. “When the engineer paused the footage and pointed out the crack, I could actually see daylight coming through from outside,” David remembers. “And then we saw something moving in the pipe. The engineer said, ‘There’s your problem – that’s rat activity right there.’ It was surreal seeing it on screen.” The survey revealed something else that explained why the problem had become so persistent. Several sections of the drainage system showed significant accumulation of organic matter – food waste that had been washed down from the commercial kitchens over the years. For the rats, the drains weren’t just an access route; they were a reliable food source. “The engineer explained it really clearly,” David says. “He said once rats find somewhere with easy access and plenty of food, they’ll establish it as part of their regular territory. They weren’t just passing through – they’d basically set up camp in our drainage system.” The Solution Our engineers recommended a two-pronged approach. First, repair all the damaged sections of pipe to eliminate the entry points. This could be done using no-dig relining technology, avoiding the need to excavate around the retail park’s car park and loading areas. Second, thoroughly clean the entire drainage system using high-pressure water jetting to remove all the accumulated waste that was attracting the rats. David gave us the go-ahead immediately. “At that point, I just wanted it sorted. Emma from the café was considering breaking her lease if we couldn’t resolve it, and I didn’t blame her. No business can operate with a rat problem.” Our team returned the following week to carry out the work. The relining process sealed all the cracks and damaged joints, essentially creating a new, seamless pipe inside the existing drainage system. The high-pressure jetting then flushed away years of accumulated debris, eliminating the food source that had made the drains so attractive to the rodents. The entire job took four days to complete, and the work was carried out with minimal disruption to the businesses. Most tenants barely noticed we were there. The Results The change was immediate and dramatic. Within a week, none of the businesses reported any further signs of rat activity. The scratching sounds stopped. No more droppings appeared. The pest control traps

The Crisis Unfolds Mark Henderson had been managing a popular Business Centre in Addlestone for nearly eight years, and he’d dealt with his fair share of maintenance headaches. But nothing quite prepared him for the situation he faced one grey November morning when the rain simply wouldn’t stop. “I arrived at about half seven, and the car park looked like a paddling pool,” Mark recalls. “At first, I thought it would drain away once the rain eased off, but by mid-morning it was getting worse, not better. That’s when the phone calls started.” Tenants from the ground floor offices were reporting water seeping into the corridor near the lift. More worryingly, the building’s basement – home to the server room and main electrical distribution boards serving the entire three-storey complex – was showing signs of water ingress. “That’s when I started to panic a bit,” Mark admits. “We’ve got about fifteen businesses operating out of this building, including an accountancy firm, a digital marketing agency, and a software company. If we lost power or damaged their equipment, we’d be looking at absolute chaos.” The building had been constructed in the late 1990s, and while Mark had always kept on top of routine maintenance, the drainage system had never given him cause for concern before. But the previous fortnight’s relentless downpours had clearly pushed something beyond its limits. Finding the Right Help Mark knew he needed expert help, and fast. A quick online search for emergency drainage services in Addlestone brought up YourDrainExperts, and the positive reviews from other commercial clients convinced him to make the call. “I spoke to someone straight away, no messing about,” Mark says. “I explained the situation – the flooding, the electrical concerns, the fact that I had businesses who couldn’t afford downtime – and they said they could get someone out to us that same afternoon for a CCTV survey at my Addlestone location.” True to their word, our team arrived within hours, equipped with high-definition drainage cameras and ready to investigate what was causing the persistent flooding. Uncovering the Problem Our engineers began feeding cameras into the drainage system’s access points around the car park and along the building’s perimeter. Mark watched the live feed on the monitor as the cameras navigated through the underground pipes. “It was actually quite fascinating,” he remembers. “You could see everything so clearly – it’s not something you think about normally, what’s going on under your feet.” The first issue became apparent quickly. Several sections of the drainage pipes, particularly those serving the car park area, were heavily blocked with accumulated leaves, silt, and debris that had been washed into the system during the recent storms. The sheer volume of material had created bottlenecks that were preventing water from flowing through properly. But as our cameras pushed deeper into the system, we discovered something more serious. One of the main drainage runs beneath the car park had partially collapsed – most likely due to a combination of age, ground movement, and the additional stress from the exceptional rainfall. The collapsed section had reduced the pipe’s diameter by more than half, creating a critical chokepoint that the system simply couldn’t overcome. “When they showed me that footage, my heart sank,” Mark says. “I was imagining weeks of digging up the car park, losing parking spaces, massive bills. The whole thing looked like a nightmare.” The Solution Our engineers quickly put Mark’s mind at ease. They explained that the blockages could be cleared using high-pressure water jetting, and the collapsed pipe could be repaired using no-dig relining technology – meaning no need to excavate the car park or cause major disruption to the businesses operating in the building. The plan was straightforward: first, blast away all the accumulated debris to restore flow; second, insert a resin liner into the damaged pipe section to effectively create a brand new pipe inside the old one, stronger than the original and capable of handling whatever Surrey’s weather could throw at it. “The way they explained it made perfect sense,” Mark reflects. “And the best part was they could start the next morning. I went home that night actually able to sleep, knowing we had a plan.” Getting Back to Normal Our team arrived early the following day and set to work with the high-pressure jetting equipment. The powerful water jets made short work of the blockages, flushing away months of accumulated leaves and debris that had been choking the system. With the pipes cleared, they moved on to the collapsed section. The no-dig relining process was surprisingly quick and completely non-invasive. Our engineers fed a flexible resin-impregnated liner through the existing pipe to the damaged area, inflated it to fit snugly against the pipe walls, and left it to cure and harden. The result: a seamless, structurally sound pipe that was actually stronger than the original. The entire job took just over two days. The car park remained accessible throughout, and the businesses in the complex experienced no disruption to their operations. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe how straightforward it all was,” Mark says. “Within 48 hours of them starting work, the water had completely drained away from the car park and basement. We had another heavy downpour the following week, and the system handled it perfectly. No flooding, no issues whatsoever.” Lessons Learned The experience has changed Mark’s approach to building maintenance. He now schedules annual CCTV drain surveys with YourDrainExperts as preventative maintenance, viewing it as essential insurance against future problems. “What I learned is that you can’t always see these problems developing,” he explains. “That pipe had probably been deteriorating for years, but it took exceptional rainfall to expose the weakness. If we’d caught it earlier with a routine survey, we could have dealt with it before it became an emergency.” For the businesses in the building, the swift resolution meant minimal disruption. The accountancy firm didn’t miss a single client meeting, the software company’s servers never went offline, and

Tree root ingress is one of the most common and potentially damaging issues affecting drainage systems in Walton-on-Thames. With the area’s abundance of mature trees and established gardens, many homeowners find themselves facing costly drainage problems caused by invasive roots seeking out water sources in underground pipes. The good news is that CCTV drain survey technology has revolutionized how we detect and diagnose tree root infiltration. YourDrainExperts now offers comprehensive CCTV drain surveys specifically designed to identify tree root problems for homeowners and businesses throughout Walton-on-Thames.

Investing in a professional drain mapping survey provides numerous advantages: 1. Planning Building Projects with Confidence If you’re planning an extension, conservatory, garage, or any other construction work on your Chertsey property, knowing exactly where your drains run is essential. The last thing you want is to accidentally damage a drainage pipe during excavation, which can lead to costly repairs and project delays. A drain map allows your builders and architects to plan around existing drainage infrastructure, ensuring your project proceeds smoothly without nasty underground surprises.

If you’re a homeowner in Chertsey, there’s a growing threat you need to be aware of – and it’s lurking beneath your feet. Rodent infestations entering properties through damaged drainage systems are on the rise across Surrey, and the problem is getting worse. The Scale of the Problem Recent UK research paints a concerning picture. Rat populations across urban areas have surged by 30%, with drainage networks becoming the primary access route into residential homes. According to the British Pest Control Association’s 2024 National Rodent Survey, call-outs for rat infestations increased by a staggering 32% compared to 2023 figures, with sewers and drainage systems identified as key pathways for property infiltration. Here at YourDrainExperts, we’re seeing this trend first-hand across Chertsey and the surrounding areas. We’re attending more rodent-related drainage issues than ever before, and the problem shows no signs of slowing down.

YourDrainExperts has witnessed a significant increase in emergency drain camera inspections across Addlestone this winter, as plummeting temperatures expose weaknesses in the area’s ageing drainage infrastructure. For properties throughout the town, particularly older homes with original or deteriorating pipework, winter conditions are proving to be the breaking point that transforms minor drainage issues into full-blown emergencies. The Perfect Storm: Cold Weather Meets Ageing Infrastructure Addlestone’s housing stock presents a particular challenge during winter months. The town features a substantial number of Victorian, Edwardian, and mid-20th century properties, many with drainage systems that have been in service for decades – or in some cases, over a century. When winter arrives, these ageing systems face their toughest test. Cold temperatures, ground movement from freeze-thaw cycles, and increased water flow from winter rainfall combine to stress pipes that may already be compromised by years of wear, root infiltration, or gradual deterioration. The result? A surge in drainage emergencies precisely when homeowners least need them. Why Winter Is So Damaging to Drainage Systems Understanding why cold weather causes such havoc with drainage systems helps explain why we’re seeing this dramatic increase in emergency inspections across Addlestone: Freeze-Thaw Cycle Damage When temperatures drop below freezing, water inside pipes can freeze and expand. This expansion exerts enormous pressure on pipe walls. While modern plastic pipes can flex to accommodate some expansion, older clay and cast iron pipes common in Addlestone properties are rigid and brittle. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles – temperatures dropping at night and rising during the day – cause progressive damage: A pipe that’s been gradually weakening for years often chooses the coldest week of winter to finally fail completely. Ground Movement Clay soil, common in parts of Addlestone, responds dramatically to moisture changes. During winter, saturated ground can shift and settle differently than in summer. This ground movement places stress on underground pipes, particularly at: Pipes that have been slightly misaligned or stressed for months may suddenly crack or separate when winter ground movement provides the final push. Increased Water Volume Winter brings higher rainfall and increased water flow through drainage systems. Gutters overflow more frequently, surface water drainage works harder, and the entire system handles greater volumes. For pipes already compromised by cracks, root infiltration, or partial blockages, this increased flow can: Fat and Grease Solidification During winter, fats and oils that have been poured down kitchen sinks solidify more readily in cold pipes. This accelerates the formation of blockages, particularly in pipes that already have some restriction from: What might have been a slow-draining sink in autumn becomes a completely blocked drain in January. Existing Damage Reaches Breaking Point Many Addlestone properties have been operating with compromised drainage for months or even years. Hairline cracks, minor root infiltration, or slightly separated joints may cause occasional slow drainage but haven’t yet created obvious problems. Winter’s additional stresses – cold temperatures, ground movement, increased flow – often represent the tipping point where these existing issues suddenly escalate into emergencies. The Cost of Emergency Inspections vs. Preventative Surveys The surge in emergency drain camera inspections highlights a critical issue: reactive drainage management is significantly more expensive than proactive maintenance. Emergency Inspection Costs When a drainage emergency strikes – sewage backing up into your Addlestone home, complete system failure, or flooding – the costs quickly mount: Emergency Call-Out Fees: Weekend, evening, and bank holiday call-outs carry premium charges, often 50-100% higher than standard rates. Urgent Investigation: Emergency CCTV inspections happen under time pressure, with limited flexibility for cost comparison or scheduled appointments. Immediate Repairs: Once the problem is identified, you need urgent repairs regardless of cost. You’re not in a position to obtain multiple quotes or wait for better pricing. Consequential Damage: By the time an emergency occurs, damage may have spread beyond the drainage system itself. Water damage to floors, carpets, decorations, and foundations adds substantially to costs. Temporary Accommodation: Severe drainage failures may make properties temporarily uninhabitable, forcing you to arrange and pay for alternative accommodation. Total Emergency Cost: A typical winter drainage emergency in Addlestone – from initial blockage through emergency inspection to urgent repair – can easily cost £2,000-£5,000 or more, depending on the severity and location of the problem. Preventative Survey Costs Compare this with proactive drainage management: Scheduled CCTV Survey: A comprehensive drain camera inspection conducted during a convenient appointment costs a few hundred pounds. Early Problem Detection: The survey identifies issues while they’re still minor – small cracks, early root infiltration, developing blockages. Planned Repairs: Problems can be addressed during dry weather, obtaining competitive quotes and scheduling work at your convenience. Preventative Maintenance: Simple interventions like high-pressure jetting or minor relining can prevent problems from developing into emergencies. Total Preventative Cost: An annual survey (£280-£600) plus addressing any minor issues identified (£300-£800 typically) amounts to a fraction of emergency costs while preventing the stress and disruption of system failure. Real-World Addlestone Examples This winter, we’ve attended numerous emergency call-outs across Addlestone that could have been prevented with regular surveys: Victorian Terrace – Bridge Street Area: Emergency call-out for complete drainage blockage during cold snap. CCTV inspection revealed collapsed clay pipe section due to root infiltration that had been developing for 2-3 years. Emergency excavation and repair: £4,200. A routine survey 12 months earlier would have detected the root problem when it could have been cleared and relined for under £1,000. 1930s Semi – New Haw: Sewage backing up into ground floor bathroom during freezing temperatures. Investigation showed pipe fracture from freeze-thaw damage to already cracked pipework. Emergency repair including internal cleaning and reinstatement: £3,800. Regular surveys would have identified the original crack before winter stress caused complete failure. Post-War Detached – Addlestone Moor: Total system failure requiring emergency inspection and immediate temporary repairs on a Sunday. Collapsed pitch fibre pipe (common in properties from this era) finally gave way after years of gradual deterioration. Emergency work plus permanent repairs: £5,500. An annual survey program would have monitored the deteriorating pipe and allowed planned replacement during summer at approximately

The Problem When Mrs M, owner of a charming Victorian guest house in Chertsey town centre, started noticing droppings near her kitchen bins, she initially thought it was an isolated incident. But within a fortnight, things escalated. A guest spotted a rat scurrying across the patio area during breakfast, and knew she had a serious problem on her hands. “I was mortified,” Mrs M recalls. “We pride ourselves on maintaining immaculate standards, and the thought of rats on the property was devastating. I was terrified about what this might do to our online reviews and reputation.” With several bookings already confirmed for the coming weeks, Mrs M needed answers fast – not just a temporary fix, but a proper solution that would identify exactly how these unwelcome visitors were gaining access to her property. The Investigation Mrs M contacted YourDrainExperts, hoping we could shed some light on what was happening beneath the surface. Our team arrived at the Chertsey guest house the following day to conduct a thorough CCTV drain survey of the entire property. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she admits. “I’d assumed it was just bad luck or maybe something to do with the building work happening down the road. I never thought it would be related to the drains.” Our cameras told a different story. As we methodically worked through the drainage system, we discovered significant damage to a drain inspection chamber at the rear of the property. The cast iron cover had corroded badly over the years, leaving gaps large enough for rats to squeeze through. Even more concerning, we found evidence of rat activity inside the pipes themselves – these weren’t just occasional visitors passing through; they’d found a reliable access route from the main sewer directly into the guest house grounds. The Solution Armed with clear video evidence showing exactly where and how the rats were entering, we got to work immediately. We replaced the deteriorated inspection chamber cover with a modern, secure alternative and installed a specialist rodent blocker – essentially a one-way valve that allows waste to flow out but prevents anything from coming back up the pipe. “The YourDrainExperts team explained everything so clearly,” Mrs M says. “They showed me the footage, pointed out exactly what needed doing, and got the work completed within a day. No fuss, no mess, just sorted.” We also recommended that our client engage a local pest controller to deal with any rats that were already present around the property, ensuring a complete resolution to the problem. The Results Three months on, Mrs M hasn’t seen a single rat on the premises. Guest reviews have remained glowing, with several visitors specifically commenting on the cleanliness and attention to detail throughout the property. “It’s such a relief,” she reflects. “I can focus on looking after my guests instead of worrying about what might be lurking in the drains. The whole experience taught me how important it is to stay on top of maintenance – even the bits you can’t see.” Mrs M now schedules an annual CCTV drain survey with YourDrainExperts, viewing it as essential preventative maintenance rather than an optional extra. “After seeing what was going on underground, I’ll never take my drainage system for granted again,” she laughs. “It’s worth every penny for the peace of mind.” Key Takeaways This Chertsey case demonstrates how quickly drainage defects can create serious pest problems, and why professional CCTV investigation is essential for identifying the true source of rodent issues. Surface-level pest control can provide temporary relief, but without addressing the underground access points, infestations will inevitably return. For business owners and homeowners in Chertsey dealing with unexplained rodent activity, a comprehensive drainage survey should be the first step – not the last resort. FAQs: Eliminating Rat Problems at Guest Houses in Chertsey A guest saw a rat on our property. How do I stop this from destroying my business reputation? I can only imagine the absolute panic you felt when that happened. Sarah Mitchell nearly had a breakdown when her breakfast guest spotted a rat on the patio – and I completely understand why. In the hospitality industry, your reputation is everything, and in the age of TripAdvisor and Google reviews, one bad experience can spread like wildfire. First things first: act immediately and be honest with affected guests. Sarah was mortified, but she handled it professionally – acknowledged the issue, apologised sincerely, and explained what she was doing to address it. Most reasonable guests will respect that you’re taking it seriously rather than making excuses. But here’s the critical bit: you need to fix the actual problem, not just the PR crisis. Sarah could have offered the guest a discount, brought in pest control, and hoped that was the end of it. But if rats keep appearing because you haven’t addressed the access points, you’re just delaying the inevitable bad review. What saved Sarah’s business was getting the CCTV survey done quickly and fixing the drainage access points properly. Within three weeks of that patio incident, the problem was completely resolved. No more rats, no more risk of guests seeing anything, no more lying awake at night worrying about what might appear tomorrow.Practical steps: Acknowledge the issue professionally with any guests who witnessed it Get a CCTV drainage survey booked immediately (don’t wait) Be transparent with future guests only if asked directly – but you can honestly say “we identified and resolved a drainage issue” Once fixed, consider getting a letter from the drainage company confirming the work – if you ever face questions, you have documentation Build up positive reviews after the fix to push any negative ones down The worst thing you can do is nothing. Sarah’s guest was understanding because she could see Sarah was genuinely horrified and taking action. The guests who’ll destroy you with bad reviews are the ones who see you’re not taking it seriously. Three months after the repairs, Sarah’s guest reviews were back to glowing. Several