Rodents in Your Home Often Enter Through Damaged Drains
If you are hearing scratching noises in the walls, spotting droppings in the loft, or noticing signs of rodents around your property, the first instinct is to call pest control. While this can help with the immediate problem, it rarely addresses the underlying cause.
Across Derby, Hilton, Mickleover, and Burton, one of the most common entry points for rats is the drainage system. Rats travel through sewers and enter homes through cracked pipes, displaced joints, redundant drains, or broken connections. Unless the drainage issue is identified and repaired, the rodents will return no matter how many times pest control visits.
A Rat Detection CCTV Drain Survey is the most effective way to locate entry points and prevent recurring infestations.
Why Rats Use Drains to Enter Homes
The sewer network provides rats with food, moisture, warmth, and protection. When there is a weakness in the drainage system, the rodents follow the path of least resistance and enter your property.
Common reasons rats enter through drains include:
Cracked or broken underground pipes
Displaced joints caused by ground movement
Redundant or unused drains that were never sealed
Faulty connections from past extensions
Old clay drainage systems that have deteriorated
Defects that allow rats to climb upward into kitchens, lofts, and wall cavities
These issues often go unnoticed by homeowners until the signs of infestation appear.
Why Pest Control Alone Is Not Enough
Traditional pest control deals with the symptom, not the cause. Rats may be removed temporarily, but if the drain defect remains, they will reappear.
We regularly work with pest control teams across Derbyshire who rely on our drainage surveys to support long term treatment plans. Only by sealing the entry point can the infestation be permanently stopped.
What a Rat Detection Drain Survey Involves
A Rat Detection CCTV Drain Survey uses specialist equipment to inspect all accessible drainage lines. Our high definition camera systems follow the route rats use to access the home and identify structural weaknesses.
Your survey includes:
HD internal footage
Condition grading for each pipe section
Mapping of the drainage layout
Identification of cracks, voids, displaced joints, or redundant lines
Confirmation of entry points used by rodents
A detailed written report with recommendations
Optional follow up treatment to block access permanently
This approach provides clear evidence of the problem and ensures the right repair method is chosen.
Common Drainage Defects That Allow Rat Entry
Across Derbyshire, we frequently identify drainage issues such as:
Cracks in old clay pipes
Missing caps on redundant branches
Broken interceptor traps
Faulty non return valves
Holes created by corrosion or root damage
Disconnected or poorly installed pipes from past renovations
Rats exploit even the smallest gaps. A professional survey is essential to detect these defects accurately.
Treatments That Permanently Block Rat Entry
Once the entry point is identified, we offer various solutions to protect your property:
Drain relining to seal cracks without excavation
Patch repairs for isolated damage
Installation of non return valves to stop rats travelling upward
Sealing redundant connections to prevent access
Root cutting to remove entry points created by roots
Excavation and pipe replacement when severe damage is found
These treatments ensure your drainage system is secure and rodent proof.
Why Drain Surveys Are Essential for Older Properties
Period properties in Derby, Allestree, Duffield, and Burton often have clay or pitch fibre pipes that deteriorate over time. Movement in the ground, weathering, and tree growth all weaken these systems, creating perfect rodent entry points.
Newer developments can also experience problems due to poorly installed pipework, incorrect connections, and inadequate sealing of redundant drains.
A drainage survey is the only reliable way to assess the true condition of the system.
Signs You Need a Rat Detection Drain Survey
You should book a professional survey if you notice any of the following:
Scratching noises in walls, floors, or lofts
Droppings in the property or garage
Rats appearing in the garden or around drains
Bad smells caused by stagnant water or damaged pipes
Recurring infestations despite pest control visits
Evidence of soil disturbance around manholes
Old pipework or recent extension work
The sooner the survey is carried out, the easier it is to prevent further damage.
Why Choose Derby Drain Surveys
With over 20 years of experience in drainage and construction, we are trusted by homeowners, letting agents, and pest control companies across Derbyshire.
Clients choose us because we provide:
Detailed rat detection surveys
High definition imaging and reporting
Fast turnaround times
Clear recommendations for repair
Effective long term prevention
Local expertise in Derbyshire drainage networks
We help stop infestations at the source, not just temporarily.
Put an End to Rodent Problems for Good
If rodents are entering your home, do not rely on temporary solutions. A Rat Detection Drain Survey identifies and eliminates the cause, protecting your home and preventing future infestations.
Click here to book your Build Over Drain Survey or
learn more about our professional CCTV drain inspections for home extensions in Derbyshire.
📍 Serving Derby, Hilton, Mickleover, Burton, Allestree, and surrounding areas.
