Pipe & sewer terms explained

• Drain / Sewer Cleaning: Drain cleaning is the professional removal of deposits, grease, sludge and root intrusion from wastewater sewers and property drains.
• Pipe Cleaning: Pipe cleaning refers to clearing blockages and deposits in the drain pipes of kitchens, bathrooms, toilets and house connection lines.
• Pipe Renovation: Pipe renovation is the permanent repair of defective pipes – usually trenchless, i.e.
• Sewer Renovation: Sewer renovation restores damaged wastewater sewers without replacing them entirely.
• Trenchless Renovation: Trenchless renovation (also 'no-dig') refers to all methods that repair pipes and sewers from the inside without excavating the ground.
• Sprayliner Method: In the Sprayliner method, an epoxy resin is applied evenly to the inner pipe wall using a rotating spray head (coating thickness approx.
• Inliner (CIPP Liner): An inliner is a resin-impregnated fabric liner drawn into the defective pipe and cured in place (Cured-In-Place-Pipe, CIPP).
• Short Liner (Partial Liner): The short liner (also part liner) is a short liner section for the localised repair of individual defects such as cracks or leaking joints.
• Robotic Renovation: In robotic renovation, a remote-controlled milling and grouting robot carries out precise repairs inside the sewer.
• Sewer TV / CCTV Inspection: Sewer TV inspection (CCTV survey) examines the condition of pipes and sewers with a high-resolution camera.
• Leak Detection: Leak detection is the precise location of leaks in pipes – for example using camera, smoke, pressure or acoustic methods.
• High-Pressure Flushing: High-pressure flushing (hydromechanical cleaning) dissolves deposits with a water jet of up to 200 bar.
• Drain Auger / Plumber's Snake: The drain auger (plumber's snake) is a flexible, motor-driven steel cable with interchangeable heads for electromechanical cleaning.
• Blockage / Clog: A blockage occurs when grease, hair, hygiene products, limescale or roots partially or fully obstruct the drain.
• Root Intrusion: Root intrusion refers to tree and shrub roots penetrating the pipe through leaking joints and cracks.
• Manhole Renovation: Manhole renovation restores leaking, corroded or damaged inspection and access manholes.
• Manhole Emptying: Manhole emptying removes sludge, sand and solids from sludge traps, gullies and inspection manholes.
• Relining: Relining is the umbrella term for the trenchless renewal of a pipe by inserting a new inner pipe (liner).
• Pipe Joint / Socket: The joint (socket) is the connection point between two pipe sections.
• Downpipe / Stack: A downpipe (stack) is a vertical wastewater pipe that carries foul or rainwater downwards within a building.
• Underground Drain: The underground drain is the buried wastewater pipe beneath the floor slab that carries wastewater to the public sewer.
• House Connection Line: The house connection line links the property drainage to the public sewer.
• Nominal Diameter (DN): The nominal diameter (DN, 'Diamètre Nominal') describes the approximate internal diameter of a pipe in millimetres, e.g.
• Epoxy Resin: Epoxy resin is a curing two-component polymer used in pipe renovation as a coating and carrier material (e.g.
• Backflow / Backwater: Backflow occurs when wastewater is forced back into the building from an overloaded or blocked sewer – often during heavy rain.
• Riser / Stack Renovation: Riser renovation renews the vertical supply and drainage stacks (down and rising pipes) of a building – usually in apartment buildings.
• Drain Unclogging: Drain unclogging clears blocked outlets from sinks, showers, toilets or floor drains.
• Camera Survey: A camera survey is the run of a sewer camera through the pipe to record its condition – the core of a sewer TV inspection.
• Interior Pipe Renovation: Interior pipe renovation is the umbrella term for renewing pipes from the inside – without excavation.
• Auger Cleaning (Electromechanical): In electromechanical auger cleaning, a motor-driven coil with an interchangeable head mechanically penetrates the blockage.
• Backwater Valve: A backwater valve (flap or lifting station) prevents wastewater from flowing back into lower-lying rooms during backflow.
• Leak / Tightness Test: A tightness test proves whether a pipe is watertight – using air or water pressure.
• Gully / Catch Basin: The gully (catch basin or road drain) collects rainwater and retains sand and solids in a sludge trap before the water reaches the sewer.
• Gradient / Slope: The gradient is the slope of a wastewater pipe that ensures flow by gravity.