Signs you have a blocked drain, not just a blocked sink
A blocked drain is a blockage in the pipe that carries waste water away from your home, rather than in a single sink or toilet. The difference matters for Essex homeowners because a blocked sink can often be cleared with a plunger, while a blocked drain affects several fittings at once and usually needs drainage equipment.
The signs that the problem is in the drain itself include:
- More than one sink, bath, shower or toilet draining slowly at the same time
- Water rising in the shower or bath when the toilet is flushed
- Gurgling noises from plugholes or the toilet
- An outside drain or manhole that is full of standing water or overflowing
- Persistent sewage smells inside or around the house
- Waste water coming up through a gully, shower tray or downstairs toilet
Any of these means the blockage is further down the system. Stop using water in the house where possible, as every flush and tap adds to the backlog.
What causes blocked drains in Essex homes
Most blocked drains in Essex homes are caused by things going down the pipes that do not break down, combined with the age and condition of the drain itself.
Wet wipes and sanitary products
Wipes labelled flushable still do not break down like toilet paper. They catch on joints and build into solid blockages, and they are one of the most common causes of blocked toilet drains.
Fat, oil and grease
Cooking fat poured down the kitchen sink sets as it cools and coats the inside of the pipe. Food scraps stick to it until the pipe closes up.
Tree roots
Roots find their way into small cracks and joints in older clay drains, then grow and trap waste. This is common in gardens with mature trees.
Leaves, silt and debris
Outside gullies and surface water drains fill with leaves and soil, particularly in autumn and after heavy rain.
Damaged or sagging pipes
Cracked, displaced or sunken sections of drain hold water and waste, causing the same spot to block again and again.
How we unblock drains
Unblocking a drain starts with finding where the blockage is. We lift the manhole covers and inspection chambers on your property to see which chamber is full and which is clear, which tells us which section of pipe is blocked. The right clearing method depends on what is causing it and where it sits.
Most domestic blockages are cleared with drain rods and specialist drain-clearing tools from the nearest access point. Once the drain is running, we flush it through and check that every fitting drains properly. If the same drain keeps blocking, or we find signs of roots or a damaged pipe, we will explain what we found and what the options are rather than clearing it and leaving you to call us again next month.
Drain overflowing now? Call 07356 067228, day or night.
Who is responsible for a blocked drain: you or the water company?
In England, a homeowner is generally responsible for the drains that serve only their property and sit within its boundary. Once a pipe joins with drains from neighbouring properties, or runs beyond your boundary, it is usually the responsibility of your local sewerage company.
If your inspection chamber is clear but the shared sewer beyond it is backed up, the problem is likely to be the sewerage company's to fix, and it does not usually charge homeowners for that work. We will check this on arrival. If the blockage is on the water company's side, we will tell you before doing any chargeable work so you can report it to them instead.
How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Essex?
Unblocking a drain with us costs our published hourly drainage rate, with no call-out fee. These are our drainage rates, excluding VAT:
| When | Drainage rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm | £120 per hour |
| Monday to Friday after 5pm, and weekends 8am to 5pm | £180 per hour |
| Weekends after 5pm | £220 per hour |
The time a job takes depends on how far the blockage is from an access point, how solid it is, and whether manholes are easy to reach and open. Any parts or materials are charged separately and agreed with you first. If a blocked drain can wait until the morning without risk of sewage entering the house, we will tell you, so you can book it at the lower daytime rate.
How to stop your drains blocking again
Most repeat drain blockages can be prevented with a few habits, because the main causes are things that go down the pipes rather than faults with the drain.
- Only flush toilet paper. Bin wipes, cotton buds, nappies and sanitary products.
- Let cooking fat cool and put it in the bin, not the sink.
- Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps in the kitchen.
- Fit hair catchers in showers and baths.
- Clear leaves from outside gullies and drain covers each autumn.
- Know where your manholes are, and keep them clear of planters and decking so they can be reached in an emergency.
Emergency blocked drain service across Essex
Our emergency blocked drain service covers homes across Essex from our base in Brentwood. Response times are fastest in and around Brentwood, and we will give you an honest arrival time when you call wherever you are in the county.
Areas we cover include Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton, Billericay, Ingatestone, Chelmsford, Basildon, Wickford, Rayleigh, Grays, Thurrock, Harlow, Epping, Southend-on-Sea, Maldon, Witham, Braintree and Colchester.
The service is run by Essex Home Plumbing Ltd, a locally owned company with a 5.0-star Google rating. Our team is fully insured with public liability cover, uses dust sheets and cleans up after every job, which matters when the job is a drain.
Blocked drain anywhere in Essex? Call 07356 067228 or WhatsApp us.
Blocked drains in Essex: common questions
Is a blocked drain an emergency?
A blocked drain is an emergency if waste water or sewage is backing up into the house, an outside drain is overflowing, or you have no working toilet. A single slow sink is usually not urgent and can be booked at the daytime rate.
Can I unblock a drain myself?
A blocked sink or toilet can sometimes be cleared with a plunger. If several fittings are affected or an outside drain is full, the blockage is further down the system. Avoid strong chemicals, which can damage pipes and rarely shift solid blockages, and call 07356 067228.
How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Essex?
Our drainage rate is £120 per hour on weekdays 8am to 5pm, £180 on weekday evenings and weekend days, and £220 on weekend evenings, plus VAT. There is no call-out fee and any parts are agreed with you first.
Who pays if the blockage is in a shared sewer?
If the blockage is in a sewer shared with neighbours or beyond your property boundary, it is usually the responsibility of your local sewerage company, which does not normally charge homeowners. We check this on arrival and tell you before doing any chargeable work.
Why does my drain keep blocking?
Repeat blockages are usually caused by wipes, fat or food going down the pipes, tree roots getting into older drains, or a cracked or sagging section of pipe holding waste. We will tell you what we find so the cause can be dealt with, not just the blockage.