Collapsed Drain Repairs in Crewe
A collapsed drain is the one defect that lining cannot fix — the pipe has lost its shape or opening, so the failed section has to be dug out and replaced.
Signs of a collapse
- Blockages that return within days of clearing
- Ground sinking or a hollow along the drain line
- Persistent foul smells outdoors
- A camera survey that cannot pass a point
What the repair involves
Excavating down to the failed section, replacing it, and reinstating the surface. Depth and what sits above the pipe — lawn, driveway, extension — drive the cost more than the pipe itself.
Excavation, day by day
A typical single-section dig: day one exposes the failed pipe and confirms the survey; day two replaces the section, backfills in compacted layers and reinstates the surface. Under lawns that is often one long day; under drives, the reinstatement adds the second.
Cost by what sits above
The pipe is the cheap part. Expect roughly £1,000–£1,800 under soft ground, £1,500–£3,000+ under drives and paving, and specialist money where the collapse sits beneath a building — which is exactly where a structural patch or partial line gets explored first.
Signs of a collapse
A collapse usually shows warning signs: a dip or hollow appearing in the lawn or drive along the pipe’s line as soil washes into the break; every fixture in the house slowing together; gurgling as air is drawn past the obstruction; a patch of unusually lush grass over a leak that preceded the failure; sometimes a smell that arrives with rain. Any two of those together justify a camera before anything else — because the difference between ‘collapsed’ and ‘badly blocked’ is the difference between four figures and a jetting bill, and only a camera survey can tell them apart.
Get quotes for collapsed drain repairs in Crewe
Local water facts for Crewe
Water supply: United Utilities · www.unitedutilities.com · 0345 672 3723
Wastewater & sewers: United Utilities
Postcode districts covered: CW2, CW1, CW5, CW11, CW3, ST7, CW10
Water hardness: Soft (Low limescale risk). Hardness mainly affects supply pipework and appliances rather than buried drains. The exception is internal waste pipes: urinals, WCs and sink wastes in hard-water areas do scale up, which is what descaling addresses.
Most properties in Crewe are supplied by United Utilities, although this can vary by postcode. Water hardness in Crewe is typically Soft (Low limescale risk). Common local postcode districts include CW2, CW1, CW5 and nearby districts.
Who fixes what in Crewe: since the 2011 private sewer transfer, shared sewers and the lateral drain beyond your property boundary are normally United Utilities's responsibility, while drains serving only your property inside the boundary are the owner's. Contractors on WaterTrust quote for the private side; if the defect sits on United Utilities's side, they will tell you rather than charge you for it.
Common questions
Can a collapsed drain be lined?
No — lining needs a continuous bore to line through. A partial deformation can sometimes take a structural patch; a true collapse means excavation.
Will insurance pay?
Buildings policies often cover sudden accidental damage to drains you are responsible for, but not gradual deterioration. The CCTV report is the evidence either way. Some contractors are insurer-approved and can bill your insurer directly — if you are claiming, say so in the post.
How disruptive is excavation?
A single-section dig in a garden is usually a one-to-two-day job. Under a driveway or slab, allow more time and cost for reinstatement.
Can we use the drains during the works?
Usually, with care — contractors maintain flow or over-pump around the dig. Ask, and plan heavy laundry for after.
Insurer’s contractor or mine?
Most policies let you choose. An independent survey and quote keeps the decision honest — the same principle as leak claims.
Who is responsible for this work in Crewe?
Since the 2011 private sewer transfer, shared sewers and the lateral drain beyond your property boundary are normally United Utilities's responsibility, while drains serving only your property inside the boundary are the owner's. Contractors on WaterTrust quote for the private side; if the defect sits on United Utilities's side, they will tell you rather than charge you for it.
How do quotes work on WaterTrust?
You post the job once, free, with no account needed. Up to 4 vetted contractors covering Crewe and the wider CW2, CW1, CW5, CW11, CW3, ST7, CW10 area contact you with quotes — you are never charged. You deal with the contractor directly — WaterTrust makes the introduction; it never resells or subcontracts your job.
Ready to get quotes?
Post the job free in about a minute. Up to 4 vetted contractors reply with quotes — no obligation.
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