CCTV Drain Survey to Diagnose Bad Odours at a Medical Clinic, Weybridge.
A busy private medical facility in the heart of Surrey, required some help to identify the source of some bad odours coming from their drainage system. To diagnose the problem, our team undertook a CCTV drain survey at the Weybridge clinic.
For the clinic’s manager, Sarah Thompson, maintaining a clean and welcoming environment was a top priority. However, in recent months, a persistent foul odour had begun to permeate the clinic’s main reception area.
At first, she thought it was just a temporary issue, maybe from something in the kitchen or the surrounding area, but as the weeks went by, the smell worsened, and patients began to complain. Sarah initially brought in a cleaning team to deep clean the entire building, including the kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas, but the smell persisted.
The clinic’s reputation was on the line. The last thing our client wanted was for patients to associate the clinic with poor hygiene, so she had her in-house maintenance team inspect the drains. They tried using chemical drain cleaners, thinking that the source of the smell was a blockage, dead rodents, or buildup in the pipes, but nothing worked. The smell seemed to come and go, sometimes faint, sometimes overpowering, but always present. It was then that our client realised she needed professional help.
After researching local drainage specialists, Sarah came across Your Drain Experts, because we had a solid reputation for resolving drainage issues through the use of advanced technology like CCTV drain surveys. Given the urgency of the problem, Sarah called us in to assess the situation.
The following day, we sent a technician to the clinic, loaded with all the equipment required to conduct a CCTV drain survey. She was relieved to see how thorough and professional the team was. They carefully explained how they would use the CCTV cameras to inspect the clinic’s drainage system from the inside. This non-invasive approach was crucial, as Sarah didn’t want any disruptive work happening while the clinic was open to patients.
The technician inserted the camera into the drains via the nearest access point and began systematically exploring the entire drainage network. Sarah was able to observe the live footage as the camera travelled through the pipes. It didn’t take long for the issue to reveal itself. About 10 metres into the system, the camera identified a significant crack in one of the underground drainage pipes. This crack was allowing wastewater to seep into the surrounding soil, which had built up over time and begun to rot, creating the foul smell that was permeating the clinic.
The technician explained that while the water wasn’t backing up into the clinic, the cracked pipe was leaking into the soil under the building, and the trapped moisture was the root cause of the odour. As the soil became more saturated with wastewater, it released a pungent smell, which, on warmer days, became more noticeable in the clinic.
Once the issue was identified, the technician provided Sarah with a few options for fixing the problem. The most effective solution was to replace the damaged section of the pipe. While this would require some excavation, Your Drain Experts assured Sarah that the work could be done quickly and with minimal disruption. They also recommended drain relining as a potential long-term solution that would prevent further leaks and strengthen the existing system.
After reviewing the options, Sarah opted for the pipe replacement. Our team was able to carry out the work over a weekend when the clinic was closed, ensuring no impact on daily operations. They excavated the area, replaced the damaged pipe, and then conducted another CCTV drain survey to ensure the rest of the system was in good condition. Within two days, the job was done, and the clinic was back to normal.
The results were immediate. The foul smell that had plagued the reception area for months disappeared, and Sarah was finally able to focus on other priorities. Patients commented on how fresh the clinic felt again, and Sarah no longer worried about the impact on the clinic’s reputation.
Reflecting on the experience, Sarah said, “I can’t thank Your Drain Experts enough for their swift and professional service. The CCTV drain survey was an eye-opener—I had no idea how serious the problem was until we saw the footage. Their team made sure the repair work was done without any disruption to the clinic, and the smell is completely gone. I’d highly recommend them to any business dealing with drainage issues.”
