Who do I call for a blocked drain?

If you’re wondering “Who do I call for a blocked drain?” you’re no doubt facing one of these frustrating problems:

• Slow drainage in the bath, shower, or sink
• Standing water in the sink
• A raised water level in the toilet bowl
• Unpleasant odours coming from the drains
• Gurgling sounds from drains or plugholes

While slow drainage in a blocked sink or shower is frustrating, waste or sewage coming back up the toilet or sink is a disaster. Not to mention, a serious health risk.

What happens if you don’t unblock the drain?

Rarely will a blocked drain fix itself. When a drain is left blocked up, it can have more serious consequences.

If water is unable to pass through the drain, it’ll cause a build-up of pressure. This can result in cracks and leaks, which can lead to damp, rot, and mould. It can also force the water and waste to flow back toward your home.

No doubt you want to avoid risking damage to your property, so who do you call for a blocked drain to get the problem fixed quickly and efficiently?

Who do I call for a blocked drain?

Depending on your particular scenario, it may be possible to unblock the drain yourself before calling in the experts.

How to clear a drain with DIY methods

Our guide on how to clear a drain provides step-by-step guidance on how to tackle common blockages in various types of drains.

It covers how to clear a drain both inside and outside the home and how to clear a drain with a traditional plunger, baking soda and vinegar, or caustic soda.

If in any doubt, contact a local plumber to help unblock drains within your home.

How to clear a drain outside your property

Generally speaking, you are responsible for the drains within the boundary of your property. Read our guide to clearing a drain outside in five key steps.

A blocked drain could however be caused by a broken pipe. This will need urgent attention from a specialist drain clearance firm to avoid further serious consequences.

If you share a drain with neighbours that are on a road or pathway, contact your local water company for assistance.

Who unblocks drains in an emergency?

Drain and sewer clearance companies offer 24-hour drain clearance services to ensure you receive the assistance you require without delay.

To find a 24-hour drain clearance company that comes highly rated in your local area, simply type your postcode into the search box below. All our members are checked and verified by us, so you know you’re dealing with a trusted and reliable expert.

My drain keeps blocking, what should I do?

If you’ve either unblocked your drain yourself or had the blockage cleared by a professional, what should you do if your drain keeps blocking?

Common reasons why your drain keeps blocking

Typically, if your drain keeps blocking, it’s most likely a result of what’s going down the drain. It’s therefore important to be mindful of what’s making its way down the plugholes in your home.

How to stop food debris going down the kitchen plug-hole

Always scrape food debris into the bin or food waste caddy before rinsing plates in the sink.

Then use a waste strainer in the plug hole to catch any rogue pieces of food debris.

Can you put cooking oil or fat down the drain?

Oil and fat will destroy your plumbing and lead to blockages, so do not pour it down the drain.

Instead, wait for the oil or fat to cool and solidify, place it in a sealed container, and put it in the waste bin.

How to stop hair from going down the shower drain

The best way to stop hair from going down the shower drain is to use a hair trap (sometimes known as a hair stopper).

This allows the water to flow down the drain but prevents the hair from following. Just remember to remove the hair after each use to keep your drain free-flowing!

How to keep garden drains from clogging

In an outside drain, leaves and debris can be a common cause of blocked drains, especially during autumn and winter.

It’s therefore important to check your outside drains regularly to ensure they’re not blocked, particularly after periods of heavy rain, wind, or a storm.

Contact a professional to help unblock your drains

Regularly flushing your drains with baking soda and vinegar can help to keep them clear and fresh. And having a plumber’s snake or drain rod to hand can help to keep on top of small blockages as and when they occur.

But who should you call for a blocked drain that you can’t remedy yourself?

For internal blockages, a plumber will be able to assist, but for blockages in external drains, it’s usually a job for a specialist drain clearance company.

To find trusted, approved experts you can rely on, enter your postcode into the box below to see who comes highly rated in your area.