Blocked Drain in Barnt Green? Local Engineers, Fixed Price.

The 1930s properties that form the core of Barnt Green village were built with salt-glazed clay drainage and cast iron internal runs. After approaching 90 years in heavy Mercia Mudstone clay, the lime mortar joints between clay pipe sections have eroded, and cast iron surfaces have corroded enough to catch debris. Many of these properties have been extended over the decades, with PVC connections added to serve new kitchens, bathrooms, and conservatories. The junction between old and new materials is a common failure point. We carry CCTV cameras on every van and can survey the full run to pinpoint exactly where a problem sits, which is particularly valuable on properties of this size.

Bittle Reservoir and the sailing club sit at the heart of Barnt Green, and the land near the reservoir is lower and wetter than the surrounding village. Properties on the streets closest to the water have a higher water table, and during prolonged wet weather, groundwater can infiltrate the drainage system through cracked clay joints. This reduces pipe capacity and can cause slow drainage or backing up even when there is no physical blockage inside the pipe. We check for groundwater infiltration on every CCTV survey in this part of Barnt Green.

Barnt Green borders the Lickey Hills to the north, where the geology shifts from Mercia Mudstone clay to sandstone and quartzite. Properties on the northern edge of the village sit on ground that drains differently from the clay-heavy centre. The mix of ground conditions means that drainage behaviour can vary significantly from one end of the village to the other. Our engineers know the area well and carry the equipment to deal with whatever they find. For homeowners in the surrounding areas, our pages on drain unblocking in Lickey and drainage in Rednal cover the adjacent postcodes.