Case Study 1 – Jim’s Gym
Jim Spencer contacted us for a CCTV drain survey for his fitness establishment, due to an undiagnosed drainage issue. Here is his story, and how we helped to resolve the problem.
Jim had been running a well-known gym and boxing club, on the outskirts of Guildford. With a loyal clientele and a bustling fitness space, the gym was a central hub for many local residents. However, over the past few weeks, Jim started noticing an odd problem — there was persistent water pooling around the shower area and, on busier days, around the bathroom sinks.
Initially, Jim thought it might be a one-off issue or perhaps the result of someone clogging the drains with soap or hair. But as days went by, the issue escalated. The water wasn’t just pooling anymore; it was slow to drain and sometimes even overflowed, creating a slipping hazard.
The situation worsened during the gym’s peak hours when the showers and sinks were used continuously. Jim’s growing concern turned into frustration when, one Monday morning, he walked into the gym to find that the main changing rooms had flooded.
Realising the problem was now beyond a simple fix, Jim contacted a local plumber to remove the blockage. After a few hours of inspection, the plumber couldn’t find the exact cause but suspected there might be a blockage deep in the drainage system. Not wanting to risk further damage or more expensive repairs, the plumber recommended Jim contact a drain specialist who could inspect the drainage system more thoroughly.
Jim was referred to Your Drain Experts, because we specialised in CCTV drain surveys. Within 24 hours of his call, a technician from Your Drain Experts arrived at Jim’s premises. Armed with advanced CCTV camera technology, Rob, our technician quickly set up to investigate the root cause of the drainage issues.
The CCTV drain survey was conducted by feeding a small, high-definition camera through the gym’s drainage system, allowing the technician to see exactly what was happening inside the pipes without needing to dig or disrupt the gym’s operations. Jim and his team watched the live feed on the technician’s monitor as the camera moved deeper into the pipes.
It didn’t take long for Rob to spot the problem. About 15 metres into the system, a large blockage of wet wipes, hair, and soap scum had built up, creating a solid mass that was restricting water flow. While Jim was surprised to see the extent of the blockage, the technician explained that this kind of build-up is common in high-traffic areas like gyms, where showers and sinks are in constant use. Wet wipes, in particular, are a notorious culprit because they don’t break down as easily as toilet paper. It was likely that the blockage had begun building up even before Jim had opened his premises 12-months prior.
With the blockage identified, Rob from Your Drain Experts recommended an immediate high-pressure water jetting service to clear the drain. The technician also suggested a chemical treatment that would break down any leftover debris and prevent future blockages. Jim agreed, and within a few hours, the drains were cleared and functioning perfectly.
The team at Jim’s gym was back to business the next day with fully operational showers and sinks. Jim was impressed with the speed and professionalism of the service, especially since the gym had only needed to close for one day to resolve the problem.
To prevent this from happening again, Rob the technician offered Jim some advice on how to maintain a healthy drainage system. They recommended placing signs in the staff and customer bathrooms asking users not to dispose of wet wipes or other non-flushable materials in the toilets. Additionally, they suggested scheduling a CCTV drain survey every 18 months to monitor the system for any developing issues.
Reflecting on the experience, Jim said, “I was really impressed with the speed and efficiency of Your Drain Experts. From the moment I called them, they knew exactly what needed to be done. The CCTV drain survey saved us a lot of time and money by pinpointing the problem without any unnecessary digging. We’ve taken Rob’s advice on board to prevent this from happening again, and I’ll definitely be using them for regular maintenance going forward.”
