What is Drain Tracing?
Drain tracing is most often used when weâre looking to diagnose a problem you have with your drains, much like our CCTV drain surveys. If youâve been experiencing any issues in your system that you canât explain or see the root cause for, these could just be the solution you need to ensure theyâre fixed right away.
We will fit a Sonde, otherwise known as a transmitter, to the head of a camera weâd normally use for our CCTV drain survey services. This will be sent into your drains in the direction required. The Sonde will then send out a sonar pulse in a circular or arch configuration, which will be followed above ground by our specialist drainage engineer using a receiver, or digital locator. They will know they have reached the point directly above the Sonde when the adjusted receiver has minimal signal.
As a result of this work, our engineer will be able to locate your underground drain or supply service exactly, as well as determine its depth.
Alternative Drain Tracing Methods
If you would like to carry out drain tracing without the need for professional equipment, it is also possible to purchase fluorescein-based drain tracing dye instead. Drain dye is often a solution if youâre looking to check the flow in your water pipes, or detect leaks into a local water supply or water course from drain damage or contamination. This is because the dye is available in a range of colours which can be spotted easily in the water, while fluorescein offers minimal environmental impact.
However, it must be noted that fluorescein-based drain dyes do not offer the same levels of accuracy as sonar drain tracing. When you need to know what is happening with the drains themselves, from the possibility of a blockage somewhere underground, to a crack or damage in a pipe section, sonar technology can offer you the exact location of the problem. This means that we can then get it taken care of faster, whether you need specialist drain repair services or need a drain unblocked.
