Blocked drains in Orpington, Bromley and Kent
Blocked-drain clearance and investigation for homes, landlords and commercial properties in Orpington, Bromley, South London and North Kent.
Slow water, gurgling, outside backups and recurring blockages can point to a blocked drain. Drain Relief Services can assess the symptoms and discuss the appropriate drainage work.
We handle blocked drains for homes, landlords and businesses in Orpington, Bromley, Bexleyheath, Dartford, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. Tell us the property postcode and we will confirm availability.
Blocked-drain work
Drain clearance
Work to clear a blocked drain and restore normal drainage where the fault is a blockage.
Recurring drainage problems
CCTV inspection or further investigation can be discussed where the same problem returns.
Repair work
Drain repairs may be needed if the investigation identifies a defect.
Signs your drain is blocked
Often the first sign of a blocked drain is water that takes longer to clear from a sink, bath or shower, or a toilet that rises before it empties. You may hear gurgling from plugholes when another fitting is used, or notice a sewage smell near an outside gully or manhole cover.
As the blockage builds, water can pool around the gully outside the kitchen, seep from under a manhole cover or back up into the lowest fitting in the house. If several fittings are slow at once, the problem is usually in the underground run rather than a single pipe.
How a blocked drain is cleared
The method depends on where the blockage sits and what it is made of. Many household blockages can be cleared with drain rods worked through an inspection chamber. Where grease, silt or wipes have built up along the pipe, water jetting can break the material down and flush it through, where the pipe is suitable.
If the drain keeps blocking, a CCTV camera can be run through the pipe to look for roots, displaced joints, a collapse or a dip where waste collects. That shows whether clearing is enough or whether repair work should be discussed.
What happens on the visit
We start by asking what you have noticed and which fittings are affected. We then locate and lift the manhole covers or access points to see which chamber is full and which is empty, which narrows down where the blockage is. We may need clear access to the front or back garden, a side passage or the driveway.
Once the blockage is cleared, we run water through the system and check the chambers are flowing. We will talk you through what we found, what is likely to have caused it and whether anything else is worth doing, such as a survey or a repair.
Blocked drains in Orpington, Bromley and nearby
We clear blocked drains at homes, rental properties and commercial premises in Orpington, Bromley, Bexleyheath, Dartford, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, and across South London and North Kent. Call, send a WhatsApp or email us with the property postcode and what is happening, and we will let you know whether we can help.
Questions about blocked drains
Is a blocked drain my responsibility or the water company's?
In England, a drain that serves only your property and sits inside your boundary is usually your responsibility. In October 2011 most shared private sewers and lateral drains transferred to the water companies, so a blockage in a pipe shared with neighbours may be theirs to deal with. We can help you work out where the blockage is.
Should I try a chemical drain unblocker first?
Shop-bought unblockers can sometimes shift a small build-up in a sink waste, but they rarely clear an underground drain. Some are caustic and can splash back or harm older pipes and fittings. If you have already used one, tell us what it was before we start.
Can I keep using the toilet and taps?
Use as little water as possible. Every flush, shower or washing machine cycle adds water to a drain that has nowhere to send it, and it can back up into the lowest fitting or out of a manhole. Hold off until the blockage has been cleared.
What usually causes a blocked drain?
Fats, oils and grease poured down the kitchen sink, wet wipes, nappies and sanitary products are the most common causes. Tree roots, silt and broken pipes also cause blockages, especially in older drains. If a drain blocks repeatedly, there is often an underlying fault worth checking.
Do I need a survey after the drain is cleared?
Not always. A one-off blockage caused by wipes or grease may simply need clearing. A survey is worth considering if the drain keeps blocking, if roots or broken material come out during clearing. We will tell you if we think one is worthwhile.
Discuss the drainage problem
Tell us about the problem
Tell us where the property is, what is happening and whether water is backing up.
Discuss the likely work
We can discuss whether this service, a survey or repair is the appropriate route.
Current service area
Drain Relief Services covers Orpington, Bromley, Bexleyheath, Dartford, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, and wider South London and North Kent.
Contact Drain Relief Services
Call, email or WhatsApp to discuss the drainage problem.