Waste pipe replacement in Exeter
Professional waste pipe replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Leaking waste pipe under the sink? Dodgy drainage? I'll replace the damaged section with new plastic pipework - proper seals, correct falls, no more leaks or smells.
When Your Waste Pipe Gives Up
You open the cupboard under the sink and there's a puddle. Or worse - a slow drip that's been quietly rotting the cupboard for months. Or maybe there's no leak yet but you get a whiff of drain smell every time water goes down.
💡 Pro tip: Old waste pipes (especially the original lead or brass ones in Victorian houses) will eventually fail. Better to replace them before they leak through a ceiling or rot your cupboard.
What Goes Wrong With Waste Pipes
Simple really - they're plastic (or old metal), carrying water with bits in it, and eventually they fail:
| ✅ New Waste Pipe | ❌ Failing Waste Pipe |
|---|---|
| Watertight joints | Leaking at connections |
| Smooth flow, no smell | Slow drainage, bad smells |
| Proper fall angle | Pooling water in low spots |
| Clean, modern plastic | Corroded metal or perished rubber |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove old pipe | Disconnect carefully, check what it's joining to |
| Measure & fit new | Cut to size, ensure proper fall for drainage |
| Connect & seal | All joints properly sealed with washers and compression fittings |
| Test | Run water through, check for leaks |
📦 You're Left With
- New waste pipe, all joints sealed
- Proper drainage (correct fall)
- No leaks, no smells
- Old pipe removed and disposed of
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple under-sink waste | 1-1.5 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Basin waste with boxing | 1.5-2 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Bath or shower waste | 2-3 hrs | £135-£160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes standard plastic waste pipe and fittings.
Perfect For...
✅ Leaking under sink - cupboard getting damp
✅ Old lead or brass pipes - time to modernise
✅ Bad smells from drain - failed seals or dodgy joints
✅ Slow drainage - pipe not falling correctly
Why Choose Us for Waste pipe replacement in Exeter?
Stop leaks under sinks and basins
Eliminate bad smells from dodgy joints
Modern plastic pipes that last
Proper falls for good drainage
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess The Situation
I'll look at what needs replacing - just the visible section, or the whole run to the stack? Check what it connects to, what size pipe you need, what fittings.
Step 2: Remove Old Waste
Disconnect at both ends, remove the old pipe. You might get a bit of residual water and a brief smell when the trap comes apart.
Step 3: Fit New Pipe
Cut new plastic waste pipe to size, fit proper connectors, ensure it's falling correctly towards the drain (needs at least 1:40 gradient or it'll pool).
Step 4: Connect & Test
All joints sealed with rubber washers and compression fittings. Run water through - lots of water - and check every joint for drips.
🔧 DIY Tips
Waste pipes are actually one of the more DIY-friendly plumbing jobs if you're careful:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Hacksaw or pipe cutter
- Tape measure
- Adjustable spanner
- Spirit level (to check fall)
- New waste pipe and fittings (usually 40mm for sinks, 32mm for basins)
- Rubber washers and compression fittings
🔩 How to do it
- Turn off water (so sink's empty when you disconnect)
- Put a bucket under the trap
- Unscrew the old waste pipe at both ends
- Measure the new run - you want a fall of about 1cm per 40cm towards the drain
- Cut new pipe to size (measure twice, cut once!)
- Connect using compression fittings with rubber washers
- Hand-tighten, then a quarter turn with a spanner
- Run water and check every joint
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- No fall or negative fall (water pools in pipe)
- Over-tightening compression fittings (cracks the plastic)
- Forgetting washers (guaranteed leak)
- Wrong diameter pipe for the job
- Not supporting long horizontal runs (they sag over time)
💡 Pro trick: Always slope waste pipes downhill towards the drain at about 1:40. Too steep and you get a siphon effect (sucks water out of traps, causes smell). Too shallow and water pools, causes blockages.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Old house plumbing? Victorian and Edwardian properties often have original lead or brass waste pipes. They work for decades then suddenly corrode through. Replacing them with modern plastic is straightforward and they'll outlast you.
Shared waste stack? If your waste pipe joins a shared stack (common in flats and terraced houses), I need to make sure the connection's done properly. Building regs are fussy about how you join into shared drainage.
Washing machine or dishwasher waste? These can join into the sink waste if done properly with the right fittings. Saves having separate waste pipes running across the kitchen.
External waste pipes? Exposed to UV and weather, so they perish faster. If your outside waste pipes are old grey plastic (not black), they're probably brittle and due for replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my waste pipe needs replacing?
Visible leaks under the sink, damp patches in the cupboard below, bad smells (especially when water drains), or slow drainage. Sometimes the pipe's just perished, cracked, or the joints have failed. Old metal or lead waste pipes eventually corrode through.
Can you replace just the damaged section?
Sometimes, but waste pipes are cheap and usually it makes sense to replace the whole run from the sink to where it joins the main drain. That way you get all new seals, proper falls, and no dodgy joints. I'll advise what's best when I see it.
What about waste pipes in the wall?
If it's boxed in or inside the wall, I can sometimes access it from above or below. Worst case, we have to open up the boxing/wall to get at it - but better that than ongoing leaks causing damage. I'll always check for the least invasive route first.
Will it smell while you're working?
Briefly, yes - when I disconnect the old pipe you'll get a whiff of whatever's been sitting in the trap. I work quickly and the smell clears once the new pipe's connected. Definitely open a window.
Do you do external waste pipes too?
Yes - soil pipes, rainwater downpipes, external basin wastes. If it's coming off your property and draining somewhere, I can replace it. External pipes are often exposed to weather and crack over time.
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