Auckland Drainlayers: What Drainlayers Do

New buildings (residential and commercial) and renovated buildings (when required) must have a drain system for both stormwater and waste. A certified Auckland drainlayer will know the relevant local building code that must be adhered to so that any drainlaying work is compliant to those regulations.

All drainlaying in Auckland and throughout New Zealand must comply with the local Council Building Codes. Whenever Building Consent is required, the drainlaying work must be checked by a building inspector from your local Council. A code compliance certificate cannot be issued until this is done.

The most common malfunction of a drainage system is a blockage – often by plant roots but sometimes by a foreign object that has entered the system. Blockages can result in stormwater or sewerage backups and spillages which means it’s important to deal with them as soon as possible.

Septic tank systems can also overflow or backup when they reach capacity.

Once a blockage occurs in a drainage system it can cause significant damage and can be expensive to repair. For this reason, it’s a good thing to maintain rather than waiting until a repair is required. A drainlayer will check your existing drains, including septic tank systems, to ensure they are working at their optimal efficiency.

Drain blockages or leakages are not always easy to locate. Digging up the drain to locate the problem area is expensive. As Auckland drainlayers, we have access to the latest Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera technology. That means, with a CCTV drain inspection, we can quickly locate the cause of your drain blockage or leak and have things working 100% in no time.

A full drainage inspection is also required if you are undertaking drainage work in Auckland that requires Council consent.

The following is a list of services provided by most Auckland drainlayers:

• Drain laying – for new and renovation-related drains.
• Drain repair – for blocked, leaking and collapsed drains.
• Drain surveying – for renovations or new drain systems.
• Drain replacement – for older, damaged or ineffectual drains.
• Sewage connection – for new or renovated bathrooms, toilets and kitchens.
• Sewage repair or replacement.
• Stormwater and wastewater pipes.
• Septic tank systems (wastewater treatment stations).
• Drain inspection and maintenance.

If you are not registered as a drainlayer, you are not permitted to undertake any drainlaying work. You are permitted to clear blocked drains, but only if the task does not involve altering or repairing the inspection pipes or ventilation pipes in any way.

A drain blockage is the most common issue relating to drains. Clearing such a blockage is not considered to be drainlaying and so does not require a drainlayer. However, if the drain is opened, altered, repaired or extended in any way, a licensed drainlayer must be engaged.

That is to say, to install new drains or to alter existing drains, a person must hold a current drainlaying licence and be legally entitled to complete the work.

As mentioned above, a certified drainlayer is required for any work that results in a change to a drainage system on a residential or commercial property or to install a new drainage system. To ensure a specific Auckland drainlayer is certified, you can ask to see their certification card because it ensures their qualification and expertise.