Question 1

What areas do you cover for emergency drainage and water main callouts?

Accepted Answer

As one of the West Midlands' longest-established multi-disciplinary contractors, our rapid-response mobile engineering teams cover Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Coventry, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire. If you are uncertain whether your postcode is covered, call our 24/7 operations desk immediately on 0121 706 5507.

Question 2

Do you offer emergency callouts 24/7, including nights, weekends, and bank holidays?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. Drainage failures, collapsed sewers, and burst water mains do not respect office hours. We operate a fully staffed 24-hour emergency response team 365 days a year. When you call our hotline at 2:00 AM or on a bank holiday Sunday, you speak with our local dispatch team—not an overseas call centre.

Question 3

How quickly can an SOS engineer reach my property in an emergency?

Accepted Answer

For urgent domestic and commercial emergencies—such as active internal sewage overflow or substantial water main bursts—our target average on-site response time is between 60 to 90 minutes across the Greater Birmingham and Solihull conurbation. All our service vans are tracked via GPS telematics so the closest qualified technician is immediately dispatched.

Question 4

What should I do immediately while waiting for an emergency engineer?

Accepted Answer

First, isolate the problem: if you suspect a burst clean water pipe, turn off the internal stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) or the external boundary meter valve. If experiencing a sewage overflow, immediately discontinue using all toilets, sinks, washing machines, and showers to prevent additional surcharge. Keep pets and children away from standing waste water, and phone our emergency dispatch.

Question 5

How do I know if my underground drains are blocked or compromised?

Accepted Answer

Common indicators include: foul smells emanating from internal plug holes or external gullies; slow-draining water in sinks, baths, or toilets; strange gurgling noises inside the pipework when emptying water; water levels rising in the toilet pan; or damp patches and sewage pooling around external inspection manhole covers. Prompt attention avoids expensive ground contamination and internal flooding.

Question 6

What methods do you use to clear blocked drains and sewers?

Accepted Answer

We select the least invasive, most effective technique for your specific pipe material: van-mounted high-pressure water jetting (up to 4,000 PSI) to cut through compacted fatbergs, grease, silt, and heavy scale; electro-mechanical rotary rodding for stubborn internal pipe blockages; and heavy-duty vacuum tanker suction for septic systems, road gullies, and commercial pump chambers.

Question 7

What are the benefits of a CCTV drain survey for homeowners and homebuyers?

Accepted Answer

A CCTV drain survey uses specialist crawler and push-rod cameras with 360-degree pan-and-tilt optics to inspect underground pipework without digging up your driveway. It pinpoints hidden fractures, root ingress, joint displacement, collapses, and rodent breach points. For homebuyers, a pre-purchase drainage survey prevents discovering thousands of pounds in undisclosed sewer defects after completion.

Question 8

What is 'no-dig' drain relining, and when can it replace open excavation?

Accepted Answer

Drain relining involves inserting an epoxy resin-impregnated felt liner into the damaged pipe and inflating it to cure in place (CIPP). This creates a rock-solid 'pipe within a pipe' with an expected lifespan exceeding 50 years. It seals cracked clay, root-punctured joints, and leaking pitch fibre without excavating patios, landscaped gardens, or commercial tarmac.

Question 9

How often should commercial drains and grease interceptors be serviced?

Accepted Answer

For commercial kitchens, restaurants, and hospitality premises, grease traps should be inspected and emptied every 1 to 3 months, with annual high-pressure flushing of the main lateral runs. For residential properties or multi-occupancy blocks with a history of scale or root ingress, a preventative clean every 12 to 18 months guarantees peace of mind.

Question 10

Can you repair older pitch fibre and Victorian salt-glazed clay drainage systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many properties throughout Birmingham, Solihull, and Warwickshire date from the Victorian or post-war eras. We specialise in re-rounding deformed pitch fibre pipes using mechanical winches before installing structural liners, and we repair displaced Victorian clay joints without disturbing the historic structural foundations above.

Question 11

What is trenchless impact moling, and why is it superior to open trench digging?

Accepted Answer

Impact moling uses a compact, pneumatically driven reciprocating hammer to bore a subterranean channel underground between two small inspection pits (typically 1m x 1m). The new blue MDPE water pipe is pulled directly through the bore. This technique leaves paved driveways, manicured lawns, brick paths, and roadways virtually untouched, cutting project duration in half.

Question 12

How do I know if I have old lead water pipes, and why should they be replaced?

Accepted Answer

Properties built before 1970 commonly have incoming lead water supply pipes. Lead is a dull grey, soft metal (it scratches easily with a coin to reveal shiny silver underneath). Lead poses serious health risks, particularly for infants and pregnant women, and old lead pipes frequently suffer from severe scaling, low water pressure, and chronic pinhole leakage. Replacing them with modern 25mm or 32mm MDPE immediately restores full mains water pressure and pure water quality.

Question 13

Are your engineers accredited to connect new supplies directly to Severn Trent Water?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our water engineers hold EUSR Water Hygiene Blue Cards and operate in full compliance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and the WIAPS / WaterMark framework. We install the new boundary connection point, external stopcock, and internal meter tail to the statutory specification required for immediate sign-off by statutory water undertakers like Severn Trent Water.

Question 14

What warranty do you provide on new MDPE water main installations?

Accepted Answer

All new medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) underground pipework installed by SOS Group Services is certified to British Standards (BS EN 12201). The material boasts a design lifespan of 100+ years, and we provide our clients with a comprehensive written workmanship guarantee upon project handover.

Question 15

What types of groundwork and foundation packages do you undertake?

Accepted Answer

We deliver full substructure packages: site clearance and mass bulk excavation; strip, pad, trench-fill, and reinforced concrete raft foundations; installation of foul and surface water drainage manifolds; highway drop kerb crossings (Section 184 / Section 278); retaining walls; concrete hardstandings; and commercial car park construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What areas do you cover for emergency drainage and water main callouts?

Do you offer emergency callouts 24/7, including nights, weekends, and bank holidays?

How quickly can an SOS engineer reach my property in an emergency?

What should I do immediately while waiting for an emergency engineer?

How do I know if my underground drains are blocked or compromised?

What methods do you use to clear blocked drains and sewers?

What are the benefits of a CCTV drain survey for homeowners and homebuyers?

What is 'no-dig' drain relining, and when can it replace open excavation?

How often should commercial drains and grease interceptors be serviced?

Can you repair older pitch fibre and Victorian salt-glazed clay drainage systems?

What is trenchless impact moling, and why is it superior to open trench digging?

How do I know if I have old lead water pipes, and why should they be replaced?

Are your engineers accredited to connect new supplies directly to Severn Trent Water?

What warranty do you provide on new MDPE water main installations?

What types of groundwork and foundation packages do you undertake?

Are your excavator drivers and plant operators fully licensed and certified?

Do you handle local authority highway permits (Section 184 / 278) for dropped kerbs?

Do you offer Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) for commercial property portfolios?

Can commercial maintenance be scheduled outside trading hours?

Do you provide free, transparent quotations before starting work?

Will my buildings insurance cover underground drain or water pipe repairs?

Are you accredited to tender for public sector and local authority frameworks?

Do I need local council planning permission to repair or install new drains?

Have a Specific Project or Framework Enquiry?

Facing an Urgent Drainage or Water Main Emergency?