Most household drainage problems come down to five things: blockages, broken or displaced pipes, tree roots, smells and surface water that will not drain away. Here is how to recognise each one, what you can safely do yourself, and when to call a drainage engineer.
1. Blocked Drains
The most common problem by far. Kitchen sinks block with fat and food; bathroom drains with hair and soap; toilets and outside drains with wipes. Across the UK there are around 300,000 sewer blockages every year, and Water UK says 94% of blockages are caused by wet wipes.
Signs: slow-draining water, gurgling, water rising in the shower or toilet, or an outside manhole that is full.
What to do: try a plunger or clean the sink trap. Our guide how to unblock a drain covers safe DIY methods. If it keeps coming back, book drain unblocking.
2. Cracked, Broken or Collapsed Pipes
Older clay and pitch fibre pipes, common across Hertfordshire and North West London, crack, deform or shift at the joints over time. Heavy vehicles, subsidence and roots make it worse.
Signs: repeat blockages, damp patches, sinking paving, rats, or a smell outside. See signs of a collapsed drain and pitch fibre drains.
What to do: a CCTV drain survey shows the damage, and many defects can be fixed by patch or full lining without digging.
3. Tree Roots
Roots find their way into the smallest crack or joint looking for water, then grow and trap debris.
Signs: slow drains and blockages that return every few months, especially near trees or hedges.
What to do: roots need cutting out with mechanical equipment and the pipe lining to stop them coming back. Read tree roots in drains.
4. Smelly Drains
Smells usually mean a dried-out trap, a partial blockage, a broken pipe or a faulty vent.
Signs: a sewage smell inside or around a gully or manhole.
What to do: run water into rarely used sinks and showers to refill the trap. If the smell stays, see our smelly drains guide.
5. Surface Water That Will Not Drain
Puddles on the patio, a flooded drive or a garden that stays waterlogged usually point to a blocked gully, a failed soakaway or a paved-over garden.
Signs: standing water after rain, water running towards the house.
What to do: clear gullies, downpipes and channel drains (see why ACO drains block). If the soakaway has failed, it may need replacing; our soakaway vs French drain guide explains the options.
How to Prevent Drainage Problems
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Bin wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products, even those labelled “flushable”.
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Let cooking fat cool and put it in the bin, not down the sink.
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Fit hair catchers in showers and baths.
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Clear leaves from gutters, gullies and channel drains each autumn.
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Get older drains checked before problems start, especially before buying or extending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Responsible for a Blocked Drain?
You are usually responsible for drains inside your boundary that serve only your home. Shared sewers and pipes outside your boundary are normally the water company’s. Our guide drainage problem: who is responsible? explains more.
Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe?
Use them sparingly, if at all. They rarely clear wipes or fat, can damage older pipes and are dangerous if a professional later has to work on the drain.
Need Help?
Drain 247 has been fixing drains for homeowners since 1986. Manual clearance is from £90 an hour with no call-out fee. Call 0208 387 5591; we cover Watford, Hertfordshire and North West London.
