Whatsapp Instagram Youtube Facebook Tiktok
CALL NOW: 023 8251 5737
southampton logo

What Drainage Pipe Is Best? A Guide for Southampton Homeowners

pitch fibre pipes comparisons

Table of Contents

🏡 Why Pipe Choice Matters in Southampton

When it comes to your property’s drainage system, the type of pipe you choose can significantly affect its durability, flow capacity, resistance to blockages, and long-term maintenance costs.

At Southampton Drains24, we’ve worked with every type of drain material — from outdated pitch fibre pipe to modern trenchless solutions. So what’s the best option for your home?

Let’s compare the most common drainage pipe types and their strengths and weaknesses, particularly in the context of issues like blocked drains in Southampton.

⚙️ 1. Pitch Fibre Pipe (1950s–1970s)

Originally used as a lightweight and cost-effective alternative to clay, pitch fibre pipes are made from compressed wood fibres soaked in coal tar pitch.

🔎 Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to install
  • Low cost at the time of use

⚠️ Cons:

  • Prone to collapse and blistering
  • Highly susceptible to root ingress
  • Common cause of blocked drains in Southampton
  • Not fit for modern drainage needs

➡️ Verdict: Outdated and problematic. If your home still has pitch fibre pipes, we recommend a CCTV drain inspection to assess the condition and consider relining or replacement.

🧱 2. Clay Pipes

Used for decades in both residential and public drainage, clay pipes are strong and naturally resistant to chemical corrosion.

🔎 Pros:

  • Durable under pressure
  • Long-lasting when installed correctly
  • Excellent for heavy soil conditions

⚠️ Cons:

  • Brittle — can crack or break under ground movement
  • Prone to joint dislocation
  • Difficult to repair without excavation

➡️ Verdict: Reliable but outdated. Modern homes often opt for plastic due to its flexibility and ease of repair.

🛠️ 3. PVC (Plastic) Pipes

Now the most widely used pipe for new installations and repairs, PVC (uPVC) pipes offer the best all-around performance for domestic drainage.

🔎 Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to install
  • Resistant to corrosion and root intrusion
  • Seamless sections reduce risk of blockages
  • Ideal for CIPP relining in modern repairs

⚠️ Cons:

  • Can deform under intense heat (rare in underground use)
  • Not suitable for extremely heavy-duty industrial loads

➡️ Verdict: Best option for domestic use. Most new systems or upgrades in Southampton now use plastic due to its low maintenance and cost-effectiveness.

🧱 4. Concrete Pipes

Used primarily in large infrastructure and commercial drainage, concrete pipes are heavy-duty and long-lasting.

🔎 Pros:

  • Incredibly strong and durable
  • Ideal for stormwater and public systems
  • Resistant to chemical and soil corrosion

⚠️ Cons:

  • Expensive to install
  • Requires machinery to handle
  • Overkill for most residential properties

➡️ Verdict: Great for large-scale infrastructure. Not practical for the average home in Southampton.

💡 Final Comparison Chart:

Pipe TypeDurabilityBlockage RiskRoot ResistanceCostBest For
Pitch Fibre❌ Poor❌ High❌ Low✅ LowOld builds (replace)
Clay✅ Good⚠️ Medium⚠️ Medium⚠️ MediumOlder properties
PVC/Plastic✅ Excellent✅ Low✅ High✅ LowHomes & extensions
Concrete✅ Excellent✅ Low✅ High❌ HighCommercial/public use

🧰 How Southampton Drains24 Can Help

If you’re unsure what type of drainage system your home uses, or you’re suffering from blocked drains in Southampton, we can help.

Our team offers:

  • CCTV Drain Surveys to inspect pipe condition
  • Pitch Fibre Pipe Assessments and CIPP relining
  • Full drain replacement or upgrades
  • Emergency 24/7 drain unblocking

We cover all areas including Portswood, Shirley, Millbrook, Bitterne, and Woolston.

📞 Book a Pipe Assessment Today

Don’t wait until a collapsed pipe floods your property. If you’re worried about pitch fibre pipe or just want to upgrade your system, contact Southampton Drains24 for expert advice and affordable solutions.

✅ Local engineers
✅ No call-out fees
✅ Trusted by homeowners across Southampton

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

  • 24/7 drainage call out Southampton 24/7 Drainage Support 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Access Points apartment drainage support appliance drain problems Bitterne blocked downpipe Southampton blocked drain diagnostics blocked drain southampton Blocked Drains Blocked Drains Eastleigh blocked drains portsmouth Blocked Drains Southampton Blocked Sink Solutions blocked soakaway blocked toilet Blocked Toilet Repair buchan trap removal Buchan Traps Building Regulations burst water mains CCTV Drain Inspection CCTV Drain Inspections CCTV drain inspections Southampton CCTV Drain Survey CCTV drain survey shirley CCTV Drain Survey Southampton CCTV Drain Surveys CCTV drain surveys Southampton CCTV inspection CCTV Inspections CCTV Pipe Inspection cctv pipe survey CCTV survey CCTV surveys Chandlers Ford Christmas 2024 christmas drain problems CIPP Drain Lining CIPP Drain Relining CIPP Lining cipp lining southampton city and guilds drainage training clay interceptor trap Cleaning Solutions Clogged Drain Prevention Clogged Drains coastal drainage issues collapsed drains commercial drain cleaning southampton Commercial Drainage commercial drainage services commercial drainage southampton Comprehensive Drainage Services Cost Savings cracked drains damp walls descaling Drain Care Drain Check-Up Drain Cleaning Drain Cleaning Chemicals Drain Cleaning Solutions Drain Cleaning Southampton Drain Clearance drain clearance shirley drain damage drain damage southampton Drain Health Southampton drain infrastructure Drain Inspection drain inspection southampton Drain Inspections Drain Installation drain jetting drain jetting certification Drain Jetting Southampton Drain Lining Drain Maintenance drain maintenance contracts drain patch repairs Drain Prevention drain protection Drain Rat Blockers Drain Relining drain relining southampton Drain Repair Drain Repair Services Drain Repair Southampton Drain Repairs drain repairs portsmouth Drain Repairs Romsey Drain Repairs Southampton Drain Replacement drain rodent prevention drain root removal Southampton drain root removal st anthony's hill drain safety drain services Salisbury drain services southampton drain servicing drain smells drain snakes Drain Survey Drain Survey Southampton drain surveys Drain Unblocking Drain Unblocking Romsey Drain Unblocking Services Drain Unblocking Southampton drainage clearance drainage company southampton drainage contractors southampton drainage emergencies Drainage Innovations drainage inspections drainage interceptor trap Drainage Issues drainage law uk drainage laws UK drainage maintenance drainage maintenance southampton Drainage Management drainage pipe types drainage problems drainage repair Southampton Drainage Repairs drainage repairs Southampton Drainage Responsibilities drainage responsibility Drainage Services Drainage Solutions drainage southampton Drainage Systems Drainage Technology Drains24 Drains24 Southampton driveway drainage driveway flooding Eastleigh Eastleigh Drainage Services Eastleigh Plumbing Eco-Friendly Plumbing Eco-Friendly Solutions Emergency Drain Repair Emergency Drain Repairs Emergency Drain Services Emergency Drain Unblocking emergency drainage emergency drainage company Emergency Drainage Services emergency drainage services shirley emergency drainage southampton Emergency Repairs Emergency Services Environmentally Friendly Solutions Epoxy Pipe Lining excavation drainage Expert Drainage Services FAQs Felt Pipe Lining festive plumbing issues Flooding flooding prevention Free Drain Quote Freemantle grease trap maintenance guaranteed drain repairs gurgling drains gutter overflow Havant Health and Safety Health Regulations Hedge End Highfield Hill Lane historic drainage HMO drainage checks HMO drainage services Holiday Drain Services Home Improvement Home Maintenance homebuyer drain survey Homeowners Guide house extension drainage Southampton Hydro Jetting innovations inspection covers insured drain company interceptor trap Itchen Kingston Upon Thames kitchen compliance laundry room drainage Legal Considerations Local Drain Experts local drain services local drainage company southampton Local Drainage Experts Local Plumbing Local Plumbing Services maintenance manhole interceptor manhole repairs southampton Manholes Marchwood Millbrook modern drainage issues Modern Drainage Solutions no dig drain repair no-dig drain repair no-dig drain repairs Non-Intrusive Repairs North Dorset Northam Ocean Village old drains Outdoor Drain Issues Pest Control pipe blistering pipe deformation pipe leaks Pipe Lining pipe relining Pipe Repair pitch fibre Pitch Fibre Drain Repairs pitch fibre drains pitch fibre pipe pitch fibre pipe repair Southampton pitch fibre pipes plastic vs clay pipes Plumbing Plumbing Emergencies Plumbing Issues Plumbing Services Plumbing Solutions Plumbing Tips Portswood portswood drainage Portswood Southampton pre-let plumbing checks pre-purchase drain inspection Preventative Maintenance Proactive Solutions Professional Drain Cleaning Professional Drain Repair Professional Plumbing Property Maintenance Property Management property management drainage Property Protection pub drainage Rat Control rat stoppers Redbridge Residential Drain Solutions Residential Drainage Residential Plumbing restaurant drainage restaurant drains rodent proofing root cutters Root Intrusion root intrusion drainage Southampton root intrusion repair Root Removal root removal southampton Routine Maintenance safe drain clearance Salisbury Drains24 septic systems Sewer Rodding Sewerage Systems shared drains shared freehold drainage solutions Shirley Shirley Southampton SIPP Lining Smart Monitoring SO14 Drainage Services soakaway flooding soakaway installation Soakaway Problems Romsey soakaway regulations southampton soakaway repairs southampton soakaways South Coast Drainage Southampton southampton drain maintenance southampton drain report Southampton Drain Services Southampton drainage repairs Southampton Drainage Services southampton drains Southampton Drains Copy Regenerate Southampton Drains24 southampton flooding drainage Southampton Homeowners southampton homes Southampton Plumbing St Mary's Southampton storm drainage structural drain restoration student landlords southampton student property drains subsidence and drainage SUDS requirements summer lets drainage surface water drains surface water drains southampton Surface Water Management sustainability Sustainable Practices Swaythling takeaway drain cleaning toilet blockages southampton Totton trained drainage engineers Tree Roots tree roots in drains trenchless drain repair Trenchless Technology victorian sewer system washing machine drain flood southampton waste management water company drains water jetting training water main repairs Water Pipes Winchester wja certified drainage southampton Woolston