The request form on this page accepts messages 24/7. Mark your request urgent if water is rising, to help the engineer decide what to do first. Then use the questions below when the engineer replies.
The request form accepts addresses in Strensall and these nearby districts and villages:
Strensall is a village north-east of York, next to Strensall Common. The common is a protected nature site. About 6,050 people lived in the built-up area at the 2021 Census. Its drains serve both older homes and newer estates, so ages vary a lot.
Strensall falls in the City of York Council area. The council cannot help with shared sewers or pipes outside property boundaries. Yorkshire Water is the contact for those, while drains inside your boundary are yours. Keep that split in mind when you ask for help.
The River Foss flows through the Strensall area. Heavy rain can raise water levels near the river. Keep gullies and gutters clear, since storm water needs a way out of the garden. Check them after each storm.
Queen Elizabeth Barracks is a well-known part of the village. Some older homes may have older pipework. If you buy one, ask for any drain plans, because a camera survey may be wise. Ask for the footage and a written report.
The older village has older homes and farms. Owners may have changed their pipes many times. Newer estates on the edges usually have more modern drains, although the age of each home differs. A survey shows what you have.
A non-return valve on the main drain can stop sewage flowing back in. This matters most for low-lying homes near the Foss, since water settles there first. Ask the engineer whether one would suit your property. Ask how to keep it working.
Tree roots cause slow drains in many gardens. Roots seek water, so they enter small cracks in old pipes. Ask for a camera check if the problem keeps returning, since roots regrow. Clearing the blockage alone may not fix it.
If water sits in the pipes after rain, read drainage on the Ouse floodplain. Leaves, silt and roots can all block outside drains, as the page on why outside drains block and how they are cleared explains.
Strensall is in the City of York Council area. The council says it cannot help with shared sewers or pipes outside property boundaries, and it points people to Yorkshire Water, while drains inside your boundary are yours to look after. If you are unsure, ask the engineer to trace the fault.
Heavy rain can raise water levels near the Foss. Drains close to the river may then empty slowly, since the water has nowhere to go. Keep gullies and gutters clear before wet weather. Ask the engineer whether a non-return valve would suit your home.
Ask the seller for any drain plans and records. A camera survey shows the pipe material and its condition, while it also shows the route of each run. That helps you plan repairs before you move in. Ask for the footage and a written report.
Check before you plan an extension. If your plans go over a public sewer, Yorkshire Water has a build-over process. Approved Document H sets the national rules for drainage in building work. Ask for a camera survey first, since plans may be missing.
Only water, human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Put wipes in the bin, even ones sold as flushable. Yorkshire Water says wipes cause nearly 50% of blockages in Yorkshire. Keep fat and grease out of the sink, because it sets hard in cold pipes. A strainer in the sink catches food scraps.