Drain Unblocking London

Common causes of a blocked drain

Domestic blockages are usually wet wipes, sanitary products, cooking fat poured down a kitchen sink, or a build-up of soap scale and hair. Outside, the usual culprits are leaves and silt in a gully, tree roots that have found a cracked joint, or a bedding fault causing solids to settle. Commercial kitchens block almost exclusively because of fats, oils and grease. Identifying the cause matters, because the cure is different for each.

How we clear the blockage

We lift the nearest manhole covers to find where the run is holding water, which isolates the blocked section quickly. Rods clear simple obstructions; a high-pressure jetting hose with the correct nozzle scours the pipe wall clean of fat and scale; a root-cutting head removes ingress. Once the flow is restored we run water from the property to confirm the whole line is clear.

• Manhole inspection to isolate the blocked section
• Jetting or rodding, chosen for the type of blockage
• Flow test from every appliance served by the run
• Camera check to identify any underlying defect

Recurring blockages

If a drain blocks more than once in a year, something structural is usually wrong: a displaced joint catching debris, a section with insufficient fall, or roots re-growing through a crack. We include a camera check after clearing, and if a defect is found we quote for a permanent no-dig repair rather than selling you a repeat clearance visit every few months.

Preventing the next one

Simple habits stop most repeat call-outs. Never pour cooking fat down the sink — let it set and bin it. Fit a strainer to shower and bath wastes to catch hair. Bin wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products rather than flushing them. Clear leaves from external gullies each autumn. Commercial kitchens should run a planned jetting schedule and service grease traps regularly.