CCTV Drain Survey
Camera inspections for homes, small businesses and small sites — footage and a written report you can act on.
Find out more
Drain Unblocking and Blocked Drain Clearance in Hertfordshire
What Drain Unblocking Actually Is
Drain unblocking is blocked drain clearance. Something is backing up now — a toilet, a sink, a bath, a gully, a manhole or an outdoor drain — and the job is to get the water moving again on this visit. That is the work people mean when they search for drain unblocking, blocked drain clearance, a blocked toilet, a blocked sink or emergency drain clearance in Hertfordshire.
It is not a planned wall-clean. If the same drain keeps coming back once the water has gone down, that is drain jetting — a different page. On an emergency call-out we may still jet to clear fat, silt or a fatberg; that is a clearance method, charged at the hourly rate below, not a kitchen maintenance booking. It is also not a tanker emptying an interceptor, and not a camera survey unless we need to see why it will not clear.
You call because it is blocked now. We agree a fixed price before we start, we clear it, and if we cannot there is nothing to pay. If the pipe itself is cracked we show you the footage and quote the repair separately, rather than charging you to clear a drain that will only block again.
Why Homes and Businesses Book Drain 247 to Unblock
A Real Person, Day or Night
The phone is answered at three in the morning, not an answerphone. Same rate overnight and at weekends as in the day.
Cleared on the First Visit
Rods first, then jetting or a cutting head if that is what it needs. The vast majority of call-outs are cleared without a second trip.
Nothing to Pay If We Cannot Clear It
No call-out fee. Fixed price before we start. If the blockage will not shift, you do not pay for the visit.
Indoor and Outdoor, One Call
Toilets and sinks inside the house. Gullies, manholes, ACO channels and rainwater outside. You do not need to guess which van to send.
A Camera If It Is Not Just a Blockage
If it still will not go, or it has blocked before, we survey on the same visit and quote a repair rather than another clearance.
Local Engineers, Older Pipes
Based in Watford. Pitch fibre and clay are common around here. We match the method to the pipe rather than forcing a standard head through it.
Book Drain Unblocking Today
Toilets, sinks, baths, gullies, manholes and outdoor drains — booked now, so the water is moving again rather than sitting overnight.
Call with the address and what is backing up. We tell you when we can be there and what it will cost. There is no call-out fee. The same rate at three in the morning as at three in the afternoon. After the first hour, time is billed in 15-minute intervals.
Most call-outs around Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth and St Albans are cleared on the first visit. If a tanker, a camera or a repair is the right job, we will say so before anyone leaves the yard.
Who Blocked Drain Clearance Is For
The job is the same: get the water moving. The reason you call is not. Indoor, outdoor, a house or a shop — this is the page, not a tanker and not a planned clean.
Homes
A toilet that will not flush, a sink that will not empty, a bath or shower backing up. We clear internal wastes without lifting floors or removing the pan wherever we can.
Outdoor Drains and Manholes
Gullies, rainwater, driveway ACO, chambers full to the cover. If water is pooling at the grate after rain, the run cannot clear. That is this visit, not a culvert.
Landlords and Managing Agents
A tenant with an overflowing toilet, or a block of flats with a shared drain backing up. Same-day where we can. One invoice, a clear note of what was found.
Shops and Small Commercial
A café sink, a washroom, a small unit overflowing now. That is clearance. A full interceptor empty or a planned kitchen wall-clean is a different page — say so when you call.
When You Need a Drain Unblocked
If it is backing up tonight, this is the page. If the water has gone down but the same drain keeps returning, that is jetting.
Overflowing Toilet
The pan will not go down, or waste is coming back up. Do not keep flushing. That is an emergency clearance, not a plumber with a plunger only.
Slow Sinks, Baths and Showers
Basins take longer than they used to, or more than one fitting backs up at once. That usually means the shared waste, not just the trap.
Gurgling and Bad Smells
Air forced back past a partial blockage, or waste sitting in the pipe. Catch it before the next overflow.
A Manhole Full to the Cover
Lift the lid: if the chamber is full, the blockage is downstream of it. We rod or jet from there rather than guessing at the sink.
Water Pooling Outside
A gully, driveway channel or rainwater drain that cannot take a shower of rain. Surface water sitting at the grate is a blocked run.
It Will Not Stay Clear
Cleared last month, blocked again. We still get the water moving on this visit, then camera it so we are not charging you for another hole through the same debris.
Blocked Toilets, Sinks and Indoor Drains
Most emergency calls start indoors. A toilet that will not flush, a kitchen sink standing full, a bath that empties overnight. We clear those from the fitting or from the nearest accessible waste, without lifting floors or taking the pan off wherever we can.
If more than one fitting is slow, the blockage is usually on the shared run, not in the trap you can unscrew. We work that pipe, not just the plug hole. Hair, wipes, fat and soap are the usual cause. If it is cracked clay or pitch fibre underneath, that is a repair — we will camera it rather than rod a broken pipe and leave.
Commercial washrooms and kitchen sinks that are overflowing now are the same visit. Planned urinal descaling and a kitchen wall-clean belong on drain jetting. Say which you have when you call.
What We Unblock
Every blocked drain we are called to: inside the property and out. One number, the right method on the visit.
Toilets
Blocked toilets cleared without lifting floors or removing the pan wherever possible. The most common emergency call we take.
Sinks and Kitchen Wastes
Kitchen and basin wastes, including the shared pipe when more than one sink is slow. Fat and food waste are cleared, not pushed further down.
Baths, Showers and Washrooms
Hair, soap and debris from baths, showers, bidets and commercial washrooms that are overflowing now — not a planned descaling visit.
Gullies and Rainwater
Yard gullies, rainwater drains and leaf-blocked grates. If water is sitting on the surface, the run underneath is the job.
Manholes and Main Runs
Chambers and the drain between them. We work from the cover that is full, then camera it if the cause is not a simple blockage.
ACO and Channel Drains
Driveway and patio channels lifted, cleared and reseated so surface water has somewhere to go.
Outdoor Drains, Manholes and Small Commercial Sites
A gully that will not take the rain, a manhole full to the lid, an ACO channel on a driveway — those are still blocked drain clearance. We lift the cover, rod or jet from there, and camera it if the chamber keeps filling. That is not a culvert and not a tanker job unless the volume is beyond a van.
Shops, cafés and small units call the same number when a sink or a yard drain is overflowing. We clear the run that is backing up. A full interceptor, a cesspit or a flooded basement is tanker work. A large-diameter watercourse is culvert work. If you are not sure, describe what you can see. We will send the right vehicle.
If the camera then shows roots or a collapse, we quote the repair on the visit. You decide. Nothing is done without that figure.
What You Receive
The point of blocked drain clearance is a drain that flows again today, at a price you already agreed, with nothing to pay if we cannot do it.
A Clear Drain on This Visit
The vast majority of toilets, sinks, gullies and manholes we attend are flowing before we leave. That is the job, not a look and a second booking.
A Fixed Price Before We Start
Manual clearance from £90 an hour. Jetting to clear a blockage £120. Mechanical cutting £165. No call-out fee on top.
Nothing to Pay If We Cannot Clear It
If the blockage will not shift, you do not pay for the visit. If the pipe is cracked, that is a separate repair quote, not a clearance charge.
Footage If It Is Not Just Blocked
A camera on the same visit when rods and a jet will not do, or when the same drain has failed before. You see the crack or the collapse, not a guess.
The Same Rate at Night
Weekends, bank holidays and the small hours are the hourly rates on this page. You are not paying a night premium to have a toilet that works.
Usually the Same Day
In Watford and the surrounding towns we can normally be with you the same day, often within a couple of hours. We give a real arrival window, not an optimistic one.
How an Unblocking Visit Works
Most plumbers only carry rods. We bring rods, a jetter and a cutting head, so the blockage is removed rather than pushed further down the pipe.
-
You Describe It, We Quote
Toilet, sink, outside drain or manhole. We tell you the likely method, when we can be there, and the hourly rate that applies. That figure is agreed before anyone leaves the yard.
-
Rods and Plunging First
Internal blockages, toilets and soft debris are often cleared this way. It is the least aggressive method, and always the first thing we try.
-
Jet or Cut If That Is What It Needs
Fatbergs, grease, silt and outdoor runs often need high-pressure water to clear. Roots and hard scale take a cutting head. That is still this visit — clearance, not a planned wall-clean.
-
Camera If It Still Will Not Go
If it is cracked, collapsed or not a simple blockage, you watch the screen and take a repair quote. You are not charged for a clearance we could not do.
Drain Unblocking or Drain Jetting?
People search both when the sink is slow. A lot of firms treat them as the same job. They are not. Mixing them up is how you pay for a planned clean when the toilet is overflowing, or an emergency call-out when the wall still needs scouring.
Drain unblocking is this page: get the water moving again, tonight, from a toilet, sink, gully or manhole. Rods will do if that is all it needs. If we jet on this visit, it is to clear the blockage, at the hourly rate below.
Drain jetting is the other page: high-pressure water that scours fat, silt and scale off the wall so the drain does not come back in six weeks. It is also the clean before we line a pipe, and the planned visit a kitchen books. If the toilet is overflowing now, stay here. If it keeps happening once it has gone down, go to drain jetting.
Drain Unblocking Prices
The price is agreed before we start. There is no call-out fee and no charge if we cannot clear it. After the first hour, time is billed in 15-minute intervals.
| Service | Best For | Typical Cost | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Clearance | Toilets, sinks and soft debris | £90 per hour | Book Now |
| High-Pressure Jetting | Fatbergs, grease, silt and outdoor runs | £120 per hour | Book Now |
| Mechanical Machining | Tree roots and hard scale | £165 per hour | Book Now |
These are the published hourly rates for emergency blocked drain clearance. A planned wall-clean or kitchen maintenance visit is quoted on the drain jetting page, not from this table.
If the Drain Is Still Backing Up
You do not need to decide between rods, jetting or a camera first. Describe the symptom and we will tell you the likely cause, when we can be there, and what it will cost.
What Our Customers Say
Brilliant service, they helped unblock my drain really quickly. Would definitely recommend!
An absolute pleasure to deal with. George arrived at my house quickly to take care of a blockage in my drain. He cleared it in less than an hour and was very knowledgeable.
I really needed someone to come and unblock my outside drain as it was causing flooding issues. I found these guys online and they came the same day. Very impressed.
Related Drainage Services
Drain Repair
Patch lining, full relining and excavation repairs for cracked, collapsed or deteriorated pipework.
Find out more
Drain Mapping
Drain mapping for architects, builders and homeowners — scaled plans, invert levels and connections before you apply.
Find out moreDrain Jetting
High-pressure water jetting that scours fat, silt and scale off the pipe wall — not a hole punched through it.
Find out more
Tanker Services
Vacuum tanker deployment for emptying, interceptors, and jobs too large for a van-mounted unit.
Find out more
Culvert Cleaning
Culvert cleaning, CCTV inspection and structural repair for farms, estates, councils and commercial sites.
Find out moreBlocked Drain Clearance Across Hertfordshire
Based in Watford. Drain unblocking and blocked drain clearance for homes, landlords and small commercial sites across Hertfordshire and north west London.
- Watford
- St Albans
- Hemel Hempstead
- Rickmansworth
- Bushey
- Croxley Green
- Abbots Langley
- Kings Langley
- Chorleywood
- Berkhamsted
- Bricket Wood
- Cassiobury
- Moor Park
- Borehamwood
- Elstree
- Radlett
- Harpenden
- Potters Bar
- Hatfield
- Welwyn Garden City
- Harrow
- Pinner
- Northwood
- Ruislip
- Harefield
- Stanmore
- Edgware
- Hendon
- Barnet
- Brent Cross
- Wembley
- Enfield
- Aylesbury
- Milton Keynes
Common Questions About Drain Unblocking
What Is Drain Unblocking and Blocked Drain Clearance?
The same job: get the water moving again from a toilet, sink, bath, gully, manhole or outdoor drain. Rods first, then jetting or a cutting head if that is what the blockage needs. It is the emergency visit, not a planned wall-clean.
How Quickly Can You Get to Me?
For an emergency in Watford or the surrounding towns we are usually with you within a couple of hours, and often sooner. We give a realistic arrival window on the phone rather than an optimistic one.
Will You Charge Me If You Cannot Clear the Drain?
No. There is no call-out fee, and if we cannot clear the blockage there is nothing to pay. If the drain needs a repair rather than a clearance we will show you the camera footage and quote separately for that work.
How Much Does Drain Unblocking Cost?
Manual clearance is £90 an hour, high-pressure jetting to clear a blockage is £120 an hour, and mechanical cutting is £165 an hour. After the first hour, time is billed in 15-minute intervals. The rate is agreed before we start, and it does not change at night or at weekends.
How Is Unblocking Different from Drain Jetting?
Unblocking is the emergency: get the water moving. Jetting is the high-pressure clean of the wall so fat, silt and scale are actually gone. We may jet on an unblocking visit to clear the blockage; a planned kitchen clean or descaling is drain jetting.
Do You Unblock Toilets, Sinks and Outdoor Drains?
Yes. This page covers all of it: toilets, sinks, baths, showers, gullies, manholes, rainwater drains and ACO channels. Indoor and outdoor, one call.
Who Is Responsible for the Blocked Drain, Me or the Water Company?
As a rule, pipework inside your property boundary is yours, and the shared sewer beyond it belongs to Thames Water. A camera survey settles the question quickly, and we will tell you honestly if the blockage is one you should not be paying for.
Do You Work at Weekends and Overnight?
We do. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and our out-of-hours rate is the same as our daytime rate.
Is Jetting on an Unblocking Visit Safe for Older Pipes?
Yes, when the pressure is matched to the pipe. Many Hertfordshire properties still have pitch fibre or clay. We assess the run first and reduce the pressure rather than putting a standard head down an old drain.
Do You Cover My Area?
We are based in Watford and cover Hertfordshire and north west London, including Bushey, Rickmansworth, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Borehamwood, Harrow and the surrounding towns. If you are not sure, say the postcode — we will tell you on the phone.
Blocked Drain Right Now?
Toilets, sinks, manholes and outdoor drains, cleared on the first visit in the vast majority of cases. Fixed price, 24/7.