Reactive Drainage Solutions.

Bad Smells Coming From A Blocked Drain, Toilet, Sink, Bath Or Shower?

Is there a bad smell coming from your internal/external drain?. Is your sink or toilet taking a while to drain?, then you may have a blocked drain. If this is the case then you may be able to unblock the drain yourself so may be able to save money without having an engineer call out. Before you try and sort a blocked drain is it your responsibility? If the drain is within your properties boundary then it is up-to yourself to keep the drain in good working order.

.

If there is an external drain that you share with a neighbour , or the drains manhole you share with your neighbours is blocked, then it could be down to your water company. These companies will be able to help if you have an issue with running water or a shared blocked drain.

If they were unable to help you then we will run through the most popular issues we find our customers have with blocked drains in their home and how to avoid them occurring as-well as explain your responsibilities owning your home and who can help.

Blocked drains: Frequent problems

We shall now go through the frequent problems experienced with blocked drains on a daily basis internal and external to the property. There are a few ingredients that can help you work out if the blockage came from your home or there is greater issue affecting your shared drain.Firstly have a chat with your neighbours and ask them: “Do you have any complications with water draining at your property?” If they are not experiencing any issues, or your internal drain is blocked and the external drain is okay, then it is unfortunately your responsibility.

External blocked drain

If you experience any of the below, it is imperative you act quickly:

External blocked drain
Your drain could be blocked with leaves and other materials from outside the property, or from internally with baby wipes or sanitary products. This may not just be down to you.

Blocked outside kitchen drain
You have a blocked outside kitchen drain that is not part of the public drain, so it’s your responsibility to clear it.

Bad drain smells external to the property
The bad smell is usually a tell tale sign – inspect further and you may locate all types of items causing your blocked drain.

Outside drain overflowing
If your drain is overflowing, then the chances are very high that you have a blocked drain. 

Blocked Drain inside

If you have a blocked drain inside, there’s no obscurity here; it is down to yourself to unblock it. Some of the frequent reasons for blockages in your kitchen sink are putting fat and oil from your amazing roast dinners, or coffee ground, down the sink. If your shower, sink or bath drain is blocked, then it is 9 times out of 10, hair or soap that builds up leading to a blockage. 

Why do I have a blocked outside drain?

It’s important to keep your outside drain in good health and avoid frequent oversights that can lead to major problems. The usual reasons for a blocked outside drain are leaves, branches, mud, moss, bin rubbish and other outdoor materials. Nonetheless, the substances you pour or flush down the drain inside can be just as detrimental if not more troublesome.

As with a blocked drain inside, pouring fats and oils or coffee grounds down the sink does not help the health of your outside drain with them not being able to handle such substances. Furthermore, flushing baby wipes and sanitary products down the toilet, or letting hair and soap build up in the shower, generally is bad news. You should set out to fix these problems, and take into account preventative actions like drain covers that protect yourself from blockages in the future. Call us for help and support in the event of a blockage on 0800 024 5484.

Top tip to prevent a blocked drain outside

 Keep your outside drains clear with a brief burst with a hose every now and then. 

Responsibility for a blocked drain

The culpability of a blocked drain leans on how the network of drains is set out in your area. Around 2010, Our government amended regulations in a high volume of areas, moving the care for private sewers and lateral connecting drains to water & drainage companies like Severn Trent as-well as others. This meant clear guidance and better long-term maintenance of the sewer lines.

Take a look at the diagram to see the various cases for the different types of properties. So if a blocked drain you have located is affecting a public drain. And is not a public drain, it will be upto yourself to repair it – or you can call us to do so.

How do I know if my drain is shared?

It’s imperative to contact your local water company if you have a shared drain that needs unblocking, as the source of the blockage may be from another property and your own fixes will not clear the issue in the long term. To seek if your outside drain is shared, contact your water company. You can also check the title of your property or give the council a call.

How to unblock a drain outside

First, you will need to calculate where the blockage is located and therefore who is responsible for unblocking it.

• Contact Yorkshire Water or your equivilent so they can tell you if it is your responsibility. They will attend a blocked drain if appropriate.
• You can follow our guide below if is is a blockage that is your responsibility as a home owner, and you need a quick fix.

If this below does not work for you and the blocked drain still remains or you need help immediately then you can call us for help.

How to fix a blocked drain outside

There are ways you can fix an external blocked drain on your own, as long as you have a small issue and you do not have a shared drain. If you do not know, call our drainage expert who have the tools needed in order to unblock the drain as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Please do not attempt anything you are not too sure about.

Unblock a drain

With the correct equipment, take these steps:

1. Take the drain cover off
    You’ll need a flat screwdriver in most occasions. It is quite heavy, so if it does not work, tie something to the cover as leverage. Please make sure you are careful not to let the cover fall down the drain.
2. Locate the blockage
   Wear gloves and a face-mask and try to remove anything blocking the drain. You might then be able to use a drain rod to remove the rest. Keep a bucket or bags near and ensure you dont breathe in through your nose and just think of how much you are saving by sorting the blocked drain yourself!
3. Use a drain rod
    Push the rod into the drain and rotate the rod into the blockage in a clockwise motion, making sure you are using some pressure. Keep plunging and rotating – the blockage may be stubborn. The easier it feels means you are a bit closer to removing the blockage.

My drain is full of water!

Try remove as much as you can before trying to remove parts of the blockage with your hands, the drain hose pipe should still be affective through water.

Other tips for a blocked drain?

Try clearing the drain blockage with the below.

1. Use a bucket of boiling water by putting it down the drain
2. Use a cup of bicarbonate of soda
3. Use a cup of vinegar and watch it the drain react by frothing
4. Put the drain cover back on loose and let the ingredients work their magic. Do this and leave the blocked drain for a few hours and repeat until you make an impact.

Deter against blocked drain problems

It’s important to keep your drains clear to avoid these blockages. If you’re still having trouble our trusted, experienced professionals will be able to help to sort things out.

Blocked drain FAQ’s 

Who is responsible for drains on your property?
All internal drains on your property, as well as your immediate outside kitchen drain, are the responsibility of the

owner. If it’s an external or shared drain, you can find out whose responsibility it is by contacting Yorkshire Water or your equivalent dependant on area.

Who is responsible for drain covers?
If a drain, including its cover, is inside the boundaries of a property you own, then it’s your responsibility to maintain it. Your local water company is responsible for lateral drains and sewers

Who is responsible for blocked road drains?

Your local authority or council is responsible for road drains, including those on country roads. As a homeowner, your responsibility for drains usually extends to the boundary of your garden or driveway.

How much does it cost to unblock an outside drain?
The cost of unblocking an outside drain depends on what type of blockage you have, how deep it is in your system and what method or equipment will be needed to unblock it. You can unblock drains yourself by following our guide. Professional drain cleaning can cost from £129 for drain jetting, while drain rodding ranges from £80 to £129 and a full system scrub can be up to £175.

Concerned With An Emergency Drainage Situation?

Hire a professional to handle all your drainage needs. You'll save money & gain peace of mind. 

We're available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.