Question 1

How quickly can you clear a blocked drain?

Accepted Answer

For genuine emergencies — sewage backing up into the property, a toilet that can't be used, standing water at the gully — we aim for same-day across our Greater Manchester and Rochdale coverage. Non-urgent blockages are usually within 48 hours.

Question 2

Do you charge a callout fee?

Accepted Answer

No hidden callout — there is no call-out fee. A qualified local plumber attends, looks properly and gives you a fixed price before any work starts.

Question 3

What causes most drain blockages?

Accepted Answer

In UK homes, four things cause most blockages: cooking fat down the kitchen sink, wet wipes flushed as 'flushable', hair and soap scum in bathroom wastes, and tree roots at old clay joints on the mainline. We'll tell you which one you've got so you can stop it happening again.

Question 4

Rodding or jetting — which do I need?

Accepted Answer

Rodding is fine for a fresh blockage where the debris will break up. Jetting is required for hardened grease, scale, root fibres, or when the line needs cleaning back to full bore. If in doubt we rod first (cheaper) and only escalate to jetting if it won't hold.

Question 5

When do I need a CCTV drain survey?

Accepted Answer

Three cases: (1) blockage keeps returning within weeks, (2) buying a property and want to confirm the drains before exchange, (3) insurance claim requires evidence of the fault. Our reports include colour footage, chainage measurements, and a written summary that insurers accept.

Question 6

Is a blocked drain covered by my home insurance?

Accepted Answer

Not usually the blockage itself — that's maintenance. But damage caused by an escape of water, root ingress, subsidence-related pipe collapse, or 'sudden and unforeseen' failure often is. We prepare CCTV reports specifically to the format loss adjusters accept.

Question 7

Who is responsible for the drain — me or the water company?

Accepted Answer

Since 2011, most drains and lateral sewers outside the property boundary are the water company's responsibility (United Utilities in the North West). Drains inside your boundary are yours. If we open the chamber and the blockage is downstream of your boundary we'll tell you — and you can raise it with United Utilities free of charge.

Question 8

My drains smell — what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Almost always one of three things: a dried-out trap under a rarely-used bathroom, a partial blockage building up grease and slime, or a broken soil vent releasing gases. Run every tap for 30 seconds; if the smell returns, book a look — a survey costs less than repeatedly bleaching the drain.

Question 9

Can tree roots really break a drain?

Accepted Answer

Yes — clay pipework laid before the 1970s is especially vulnerable. Roots enter at joints seeking water, then thicken and fracture the pipe. A camera confirms whether we can cut and reline, or whether that section needs excavation. Long-term the answer is usually relining, not repeated cutting.

Question 10

Do you clear commercial and landlord drains?

Accepted Answer

Yes — restaurants, kitchens, HMOs and property portfolios. We can put a planned jetting schedule in place (quarterly for a busy kitchen, annually for most HMOs) which is far cheaper than emergency callouts and keeps you compliant.

Job	Typical range	What's included
Blocked toilet — plunge / auger	£85 – £140	Cleared on the first visit in most cases.
Kitchen sink / basin blockage	£85 – £160	Includes 30-min flush check after clearance.
External gully clearance	£95 – £180	Silt, leaves, patio debris — cleared and jet-flushed.
Mainline sewer blockage — rodded	£140 – £260	Access from chamber, jet if rodding won't hold.
High-pressure jetting (up to 1 hr)	£220 – £360	Grease, scale, roots. Report + before/after pics.
CCTV drain survey + written report	£180 – £320	Colour footage + report — accepted by insurers.
Root cut + camera confirmation	£280 – £520	Where roots have entered a clay joint.
Localised excavation & patch repair	£650 – £1,900	Depth, access and reinstatement drive the range.

Blocked Drains & Drainage — Cleared, Then Explained

What kind of blockage have you got?

What does drain clearance cost?

CCTV surveys & insurance claims

Drainage services we cover

Sewage backing up? Stop using water

Where we cover for drainage

Drainage — FAQs

Blocked drain — by town