Drain unblocking and repairs in Ware

What are Ware's buildings like?

Ware grew up beside the River Lea, and the old malting trade left its mark on the town. The streets near the centre are packed with Georgian and Victorian houses, former inns and converted maltings, and much of the middle of town is a conservation area. Later Victorian and Edwardian terraces fill the roads around it, and newer estates spread to the edges of the town and out to the villages.

What drain questions come up in older Ware houses?

Terraces built close together often share a drain. A single pipe may run along the back of several houses before it reaches the sewer, and a blockage there can affect neighbours who have never met. Since October 2011 a drain shared by more than one property has generally been the water company's responsibility, while a pipe serving only your house, within your boundary, is yours. In Ware the sewerage company is usually Thames Water, even if your bill comes from Affinity Water, and the bill shows who handles your sewerage.

Older pipes in the town are often clay, with plenty of joints, and these can crack, shift or let roots in. Ware sits close to the river, and some low-lying ground stays wet, so a gully that does not drain quickly is worth looking at.

Can I get a drain survey on a Ware house I am buying?

It is worth considering, because many of the older houses have drains that were laid long ago and altered since. A CCTV survey can show what a solicitor's search will not: the condition of the pipes. Arrange access to the inspection chambers with the seller early, and keep in mind that a drain shared with a neighbour may need their permission to open.

What about the villages around Ware?

Some outlying homes, such as farm cottages and converted barns, have their own treatment arrangement instead of a mains sewer. A septic tank or small treatment plant needs a different kind of engineer, so say at the outset how your home is drained.

What should I mention in my enquiry?

Say whether the home is a terrace, a flat or a business, which fixtures are affected and whether the drain is shared. Add anything you have already tried.

How does an enquiry from Ware work?

You fill in one form. With your consent, it goes to one local drainage engineer who covers your postcode, and to nobody else. If nobody covers it, we say so and your details stay with us. The engineer then agrees the job and the cost with you directly, and enquiring costs nothing.