Blocked drains occur because of a build up of debris caused by something as simple wet wipes or foreign objects like food, grease or toys. Other reasons could be the external pipework has been compromised by an invasive tree root or the pipework has cracked. Sometimes poorly plumbed pipework is responsible.
Localised clogging of bath and sink holes are usually caused by hair, soap and foreign objects that have ended up in the U-bend before they get to the drains.
Getting the blockage diagnosed and fixed promptly is important to avoid further damage and those bad smells associated with drains.
If your sinks, baths or toilets are slow to drain or not even draining at all, you know it's time to call a drainage expert. There will probably be an odour and a strange gurgling sound if your drains are backing up when you flush the toilet.
Check your outside drain cover to see if it is overflowing. Then you will know the issue is drainage into the sewage system. If it's clear the blockage is in the property.
An experienced drains expert can quickly identify where your blockage is and how to fix it usually by symptoms alone. If they are unable to fix the problem using mechanical drain clearing then they might investigate further using a camera.
Drain companies will usually have a fee to unblock your drain and will not leave the property until they have cleared it. It is in their interest to diagnose the problem quickly and use the right tools to clear the blockage.
Sometimes a poke and a prod can clear the blockage but if your attempts to clear it don't work you can guarantee an expert has the right tools for the job.
Drain snakes or augers are the main tools used for unblocking drains mechanically. There are also specialist cutting tools that can be used if CCTV identifies a root problem in your external pipework.
Drain experts have high pressure water jetting equipment for stubborn drain blockages that are hard to shift. If mechanical clearing fails or you are worried about damaging the pipework, drain jetting is a safe and environmentally safe way to clear your drains.
Just using pressurised water up to 8000psi the drain expert has a variety of nozzles they can attach to the pipework depending on the size. Drain jetting can remove stubborn tree roots and is capable of clearing small fatbergs, nappies and bottles.
Drain jetting is also used routinely as maintenance to clean pipe work and avoid the blockages in the first place.
Sometimes roots from trees can penetrate through the pipe work and cause a build up of what you flush down the toilet and silt which causes a blockage at the down flow part of the drainage system.
If there is a leak caused by the damage it can saturate the ground underneath your house and possibly cause subsidence.
The first sign you will notice will be overflow at the drain covers that you cannot clear. You call the drain expert who will inspect the area and take a look using a CCTV camera.
If it is root damage they can either use drain jetting or a flexible cutting tool to remove the roots.
You may need to re-line the pipework if there is leakage in the area. This can be done with or without excavation.
Root damage is something that can be covered on your home insurance policy. It is something you should check you are covered for.
Repairing damaged drainage pipework can be done with or without digging down to the problem. This depends on the extent of the damage and access for the repair.
Common “no dig” repairs include, cured in place, patching and a pipe burst method. Your drainage expert will be able to advise on the best method for your problem.
Excavating a hole to access your pipework is a more expensive method but it might be the only solution in some cases.
Drainage experts have waterproof push rod cameras with lights that can navigate bends and junctions in smaller residential pipework. They have integrated sensors that can measure distance and depth via a transmitter to pinpoint problems.
As well pinpointing a blockage the camera can also be used to build up a schematic of your drainage network which is particularly useful for older properties if you are doing some groundworks or building changes.
Pre-purchasing drain surveys are popular when you are buying an older property and you want to make a thorough assessment of what you are buying into.
There are lots of commercial drain companies dedicated to unblocking and repairing drains. How much they charge depends on the complexity of the job and where you live.
Some companies have a flat fee call out charge that they expect you to pay and they guarantee to clear the blockage before they leave.
Others will charge based on the time they are at your property. So it is best to get a couple of quotes to see who is offering the best value for money to do the job effectively.
For a drain rodding service expect to pay around £220 to £300 and for a cctv survey from £250 per mapping.