Rectifying a Collapsed Drain in Mossley Hill, Liverpool
Expert removal of a buchan trap at a property in Mossley Hill, Liverpool
When left unresolved, minor drainage issues can quickly advance into major system disruption that can require significant and often costly repairs.
At a domestic property in Liverpool, Merseyside, reoccurring foul odour and a blocked drain highlighted there could be further issues within the drainage system. Following initial CCTV inspection, engineers from Fast Fix Drains identified cracked clay pipework caused by root ingress and a failed buchan trap as the cause of the odours and frequent blockages. In order to rectify the issues with minimal disruption to the homeowner and the established flowerbeds at the property, a new inspection chamber was installed to ensure a no dig approach could be applied where appropriate to facilitate the removal of roots and lining of the cracked pipework for long lasting protection against future drainage issues.
Buchan traps are prominent across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area particularly in Victorian properties. Over time these systems can become vulnerable to ground movement and joint displacement.
The Issue – Identifying failed buchan trap and cracked clay pipework on a residential property
The homeowner had been experiencing persistent foul odors and recurrent blockages. Fast Fix Drains were called out and attended the property on the same day to clear a suspected blockage.
Once the engineer had cleared the blockage, a post CCTV inspection was carried out to identify the cause and discovered the underlying problem to be root ingress, cracked pipework and a buchan trap that had dropped causing holding water in the line restricting the flow through the drainage system.
A CCTV survey was then conducted to establish the extent of the damage to the drainage network to show the customer which could also then be sent to Fast Fix Drains office team in order for the most effective means to repair the system to be decided.
The survey was consistent with common defects found in Victorian drainage infrastructure where long time wear compromises the structural integrity of aging clay drains.
The Solution – Excavation and removal of buchan trap, installation of inspection chamber and cured in place pipe
Engineers from Fast Fix Drains were sent out the following week at the customer’s earliest convenience to carry out the remedial works. Engineers were equipped with excavation tools including a 1.5 tonne digger, breakers and disk cutters and specialist drain lining equipment consisting of an inversion lining drum, air compressors, drag in liner, a calibration hose, epoxy resin and catalyst.
The first step was install the inspection chamber
The engineers hand dug 0.6m onto the clay pipework to install the new inspection chamber to allow for access for the installation of the CIPP liner. Using the digger, a separate excavation was dug at the property boundary to a depth of 1m for the removal of the buchan trap.
The drains were then prepared for the installation of the CIPP liner where mechanical root cutting was used to remove obstructions from the line and prepare the surface for drain lining. The liners and resin were chilled using ice due to the high temperate on the day of installation before being cut to length.
The epoxy resin and catalyst were mixed and poured into the liner with wet out rollers and a vacuum pump for proper impregnation.
The liner was positioned into the clay drain with drainage rods and inflated to 2 bar of pressure using the calibration hose to ensure sufficient adhesion to the pipe. PVC pipework was then installed to replace the buchan trap with a straight section of pipework connecting to the mains with a CIPP patch. To backfill the excavation Pea Gravel was used to surround the pipework, topped with soil to reinstate back to surface level.
The inspection chamber was concreted in and a post CCTV survey carried out to ensure the correct application of the drainage liner. A full cleanup was completed to return the customer’s driveway and front garden to it’s pre-work condition.
Drian lining is a minimally invasive method of repair due to it’s speed of installation, it is more cost effective that a full excavation and less disruptive to customers and is more hardwearing than other materials and as it is one continuous length it protects the drainage system from root ingress.
The Result – Restoring drainage functionality after failed buchan trap in Mossley Hill, Liverpool
The works carried out by Fast Fix Drains reduces the risk of future drainage issues and the new inspection chamber allows for easier maintenance and access to the drains. The customer was left with fully a functionally drainage system and no more unwanted odours. By removing the buchan trap and installing the drainage liner, the customer’s drains are better equipped to withstand future root ingress and ground conditions experienced across Liverpool and Merseyside.
