Emergency sewer clearance near me

Whether a blocked sewer is causing bad smells or slow draining from your sink, bath, or shower, it’s time to call a specialist in sewer clearance near you.

How to find skilled and reputable emergency sewer clearance experts near me

Clearing a sewer is not usually something you can do yourself. You may want to try using chemicals that you pour down the sink. If, however, the sewer is blocked further along the system, you’ll need to contact a professional.

So, what's the quickest way to find emergency sewer clearance experts near your home? At Checkatrade, we have two easy methods to find fully vetted and approved providers close to you.

Option 1: Use our 'request a quote' feature

Let Checkatrade find sewer clearance experts for you. Just complete our simple 'request a quote' feature to get quotes straight to your inbox.

1. Complete your details using the online form

2. Include information about the problem

3. We'll search our trade directory

4. A selection of emergency sewer clearance companies near you will contact you to talk about fixing your issue

Option 2: Search our online trade directory

If you’d like to find sewer clearance specialists yourself, have a look through our directory of approved tradespeople. All you need to do is enter your postcode in the box below and hit search to find highly-rated emergency sewer clearance services near you.

Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*

* Eligibility and T&Cs apply

How do you clear a sewer blockage?

If your sewer is seriously blocked, you’ll need to contact a professional. They’ll have all the necessary equipment to quickly unblock your sewer.

Sewer clearance companies use a combination of extended rods and a jet flush machine to unblock a clogged sewer.

They will wear specialist PPE to protect themselves from contamination and use detergent to ensure any surrounding areas are fully cleaned once the sewer has been unblocked.

Have a read of our expert advice on what to do when your outside drain is blocked for more detailed information.

Who is responsible for blocked sewer drains?

This depends on where the blockage is located. If the blockage is close to your property and not on a shared drain, then it will be the homeowner’s responsibility.

When you think that the blockage is outside the property boundary or within a shared sewer with a neighbouring property, it may be the local water provider’s responsibility.

If you think that this is the case, it’s a good idea to contact them before you hire a sewer clearance specialist yourself.

Questions to ask a sewer clearance specialist

Finding out the causes of the sewer blockage and anything about the unclogging process can help you to avoid the problem in the future.

Here are some useful questions you might want to ask your emergency sewer clearance expert:

How long does it take to unclog a main sewer line?

A sewer clearance specialist will usually take between one and three hours to clear a sewer blockage. This time estimate could be longer depending on the size and location of the blockage.

A sewer clearance expert will usually use video inspection equipment to locate and identify the blockage. They will then clear the blockage with a high-pressure power flushing system.

How does a main sewer line get clogged?

Main sewer lines can become clogged when anything that shouldn’t be put down the waste pipe contaminates the system.

Some common causes of sewer blockages include:

• Food waste (potato peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds etc.)

• Greases, fats, and cooking oils

• Non-flushable cleaning wipes and baby wipes

A sewer clearance expert will tell you what has caused the blockage so that you can avoid it happening in the future.

How much does it cost to unblock a sewer drain?

Hiring a sewer clearance expert can be expensive. On average, sewer drainage call-out costs will be around £60 .

On top of this initial cost, drain rodding will be around £85. Power flushing will cost around £185. And a camera survey could cost up to £200.

Read our guide to the typical drain unblocking cost for more details, and always ask your sewer clearance specialist for a quote before starting work.

How do I find experienced sewer clearance specialists near me?

With a blocked sewer, you’ll want the problem resolved as soon as possible.

The ideal place to start is the Checkatrade professional trade directory.

Our professional trade directory is more than a list of local businesses. At Checkatrade, each of our members has a unique business profile so that you can easily find the best sewer clearance company in your local area.

Our member pages include:

• Business information

• Qualifications and credentials

• Areas of expertise

• Customer reviews

• Photos of previous work

Checkatrade member’s company profiles are designed to market their business. They are effectively an online showroom that showcases their professionalism, experience, and qualifications.

To become a Checkatrade member, our tradespeople must pass up to 12 checks. This ensures that all our members are highly skilled and fully vetted professionals.

On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.

The importance of online reviews

Checking a trader’s online reviews is a great way to find reputable tradespeople in your area.

Online searches will help you to check a sewer clearance company’s credentials, including their reputation and standard of work.

At Checkatrade, we only show honest and verified reviews from real-life customers. We carry out checks to ensure all Checkatrade reviews are fully verified and up to date.

Obtaining personal recommendations is another great way to check a company’s reputation.

You could ask your friends and family if they’ve had similar problems and how they were fixed. Once you have a recommendation, you can easily cross-check them by using the Checkatrade directory.

If they have a Checkatrade business profile, then you’ve got a skilled and personally recommended drain clearance company near you.

Type your postcode into the box below to begin your search and get your sewer unblocked today.