Scale forms as minerals precipitate out of water onto pipe walls, particularly in old cast iron and galvanised pipes where corrosion products add to the build-up. Over decades the effective diameter shrinks, flow slows, and rough surfaces catch debris.
Mechanical descaling — chain flails, high-speed cutters or aggressive jetting — restores the bore, often as preparation for relining.
A defect term for mineral encrustation inside pipes.
Old cast iron and galvanised drains, and hard-water supply areas.
A CCTV drain inspection is the standard way to confirm whether this is what's happening in your pipes: the camera shows the condition on screen, a locator pinpoints the exact position and depth, and you get a recorded report before any repair decisions are made.
A CCTV drain inspection shows exactly what's happening inside your pipes — no guesswork.