How long will it take to unblock my drains?
Most household blockages take less than an hour to fix unless there is a larger problem within the system. The time it takes to unblock the drain also depends on the access that the engineer has to the issue such as manholes and external drains.
What are the signs of a blocked drain?
There are normally a number of signs that will tell you if your drains are blocked that you can use before it becomes a larger issue. Here are some common indicators:
- Slow Draining Water: Water pools around your feet in the shower, taking longer than normal to drain from sinks, or fills up the basin when running the tap.
- Unusual Gurgling Sounds: Unusual noises like gurgling sounds coming from sink or shower plug holes or toilets occur when trapped air is forced past a blockage in the pipework.
- Foul Odours: Growing smells like rotting food waste, sewage, or damp escaping from sinks and showers plug holes or outdoor drain gullies.
- Rising Toilet Water Levels: The water in your toilet bowl raising up higher than normal after flushing, draining away very slowly, or nearly overflowing.
- Soggy Patches of grass or Lush Lawns: Outdoor indicators include damp areas in the garden these often can be spongey and have very green grass caused by leaking water out of the pipework or standing water near gullies.
Catching a blockage early prevents costly drainage repairs, water damage, or difficult raw sewage blockages. If you notice any of these signs across multiple drains in your home, the issue is likely in your main drainage line and requires professional tools and expert help.
How do I unblock my drains?
It is possible on smaller blockages to unblock your drain yourself with a plunger. Wear gloves, eye protection and a mask to protect yourself from bacteria and properly disinfect the area.
Do chemical drain cleaners work?
Do not use Chemical drain cleaners on your blocked drains, they can often cause more damage to the pipes and make the issue worse. If you have used Chemical drain unblocker before calling out an Engineer let them know what you have used on your drain and show them the product so they can work safely.
What are the common causes of blocked drains?
- Kitchen Drains are mostly blocked by Grease and fat buildup from washing dishes and dish washers.
- Toilets in Flats are often blocked with Toilet Rim blocks, we recommend using stick on gel blocks over the containers that get stuck round the back of the toilet U-bend.
- Wet Wipes and Flushable wipes are a large cause of blocked drains as they don’t break down like toilet paper and get stuck in the drains or Manholes.
- Houses with gardens can have roots growing into the drains causing blockages and damaging the pipework.
- Older properties with Clay drains can have displaced or collapsed pipework potentially damaging the property.
Areas We Cover
We provide drain services throughout the North West, including:
- Warrington
- Northwich
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- Runcorn
- St Helens
- Wigan
- Chester
- Cheshire
Whether it’s a blocked drain in Warrington, an emergency drain unblocking in Manchester, or a CCTV survey in Liverpool, we’re never far away and won’t keep you waiting.
