Blocked Drain Clearance

Blocked drains are the UK's most common plumbing problem — affecting over 3 million households every year. Left untreated, a blocked drain escalates from a slow-clearing sink to a sewage backup in your bathroom or garden. Professional drain clearance resolves the blockage completely, not just temporarily, using equipment that removes the root cause rather than pushing it further down the pipe.

What is included

CCTV drain surveys
High-pressure water jetting
Root removal
Preventive maintenance plans

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Gas Safe Registered Avg. response: 12 min 4.8/5 from 2,847 reviews

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Blocked Drain Clearance

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What is Blocked Drain Clearance?

Drain clearance covers unblocking of any internal or external drain — from kitchen sinks and bathroom wastes to external inspection chambers and main sewer connections. Methods include high-pressure water jetting, mechanical rodding, and CCTV survey for persistent or recurring blockages. Most blockages are cleared on the first visit.

When Do You Need Blocked Drain Clearance?

Sink, bath or shower draining slowly

Toilet flushing but not clearing properly

Gurgling sounds from drains when water runs elsewhere

Smell of sewage inside or outside the property

Water backing up into bath or shower when toilet is flushed

Inspection chamber lid lifting or overflowing

Multiple fixtures blocked simultaneously — main drain issue

What the Service Involves

1Inspection of accessible drain access points
2Identification of blockage location and type
3High-pressure water jetting to clear blockage
4Mechanical rodding for stubborn or root-based blockages
5CCTV survey if blockage cause is unclear
6Clearance verification — running water test
7Report on condition of drain and recommendations

What Affects the Job?

—Location of blockage — internal waste vs external main drain
—Severity — partial restriction vs complete blockage
—Cause — grease, roots, collapsed pipe, or foreign object
—Access — some drains require excavation
—Whether CCTV survey is required to locate the fault
—Time of call-out — emergency rates for out-of-hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unblock a drain myself?

For minor sink blockages, a plunger or drain cleaning product may clear it. For anything beyond a single slow-clearing waste — particularly if multiple fixtures are affected or there is sewage smell — call a professional. DIY attempts on main drains can push blockages further and make the problem worse.

What causes blocked drains?

In kitchens, the main culprit is cooking fat and grease solidifying on pipe walls. In bathrooms, hair and soap build-up. In external drains, tree roots are a major cause — particularly in older clay pipe systems. Wipes, nappies and sanitary products flushed down toilets are a growing cause of main sewer blockages.

Will you need to dig up my garden?

Rarely. High-pressure jetting clears the vast majority of blockages without any excavation. Excavation is only needed when a pipe has collapsed or when a root intrusion has caused structural damage that jetting cannot resolve.

How do I prevent blocked drains?

Never pour cooking fat down the sink — let it solidify and bin it. Use a hair catcher in the shower. Never flush wipes, even "flushable" ones. Have your drains CCTV surveyed every 3-5 years if you have mature trees near your property.