Professional drain engineers use plungers, hand augers, drain rods, high-pressure jetters, mechanical cutters and CCTV cameras, chosen to suit the blockage and the pipe. Here is what each tool does, when we use it, and which ones are safe to try yourself.
Need a drainage engineer? Call Drain 247 on 0208 387 5591. Answered 24/7, no call-out fee, and the price is agreed before we start. For grease and scale, see drain jetting in Watford and Hertfordshire.
1. Plunger
The simplest tool and often the right first step for a sink, bath or toilet. A cup plunger suits flat sinks; a flanged plunger seals better in a toilet. Block the overflow on a sink first so the pressure goes down the pipe.
2. Hand Auger (Drain Snake)
A flexible steel cable you feed into the waste pipe and turn to hook out hair and soap or break up a plug. Good for bathroom basins and showers.
3. Drain Rods
Screw-together rods with plunger, worm or scraper heads, pushed through outside drains from a manhole or rodding eye. Our guide how to use drain rods shows how.
4. High-Pressure Water Jetting
A jetter fires water through a nozzle that pulls itself along the pipe, scouring off fat, scale and silt and flushing it away. It cleans the full bore of the pipe, so the blockage is less likely to come back. See drain jetting.
5. Mechanical Cutters
Rotating cutting heads on an electro-mechanical machine cut through roots, hardened fat and scale that water alone will not shift.
6. CCTV Cameras
A waterproof camera shows what caused the blockage and whether the pipe is damaged. If a blockage keeps coming back, a CCTV survey usually finds the reason: a crack, a dip in the pipe or roots.
7. Tracing Equipment
A sonde on the camera or rods lets us locate the pipe from above, showing its route and depth before any digging.
Why Not Chemicals?
Strong drain chemicals rarely shift wipes or set fat, can damage older pipes and make the job hazardous if the drain has to be opened. Mechanical methods are safer and more reliable.
What Causes Most Blockages?
Water UK says 94% of blockages are caused by wet wipes, and Thames Water reports that 35% of people surveyed have had a blocked drain. Binning wipes and cooled fat prevents most of the jobs we attend.
Our Rates
Drain 247 prices start from £90 for manual clearance, £120 for jetting and £165 for mechanical clearance. Fixed price quoted upfront before we start, no hidden extras. No call-out fee. See drain unblocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Hire a Jetter Myself?
Small jetters are available to hire, but high-pressure water can injure and can damage weak pipes. For anything beyond a sink trap, it is safer to call a professional.
Why Does My Sink Keep Blocking?
Usually a build-up of fat and food in the pipe, or a fault such as a poor fall. See how to unblock a drain.
Need It Cleared Today?
Call Drain 247 on 0208 387 5591. We cover Watford, Hertfordshire and North West London.
