London drain unblocking

With thousands of rave reviews from satisfied customers, look no further than Happy Drains for all your London area drainage needs. Whether in London or the home counties, our network of engineers will get to you FAST.

Our engineers receive regular training to ensure we deliver to you the very best service. Experience and skill plus investment in the best equipment and latest technology helps us to to get your drains fixed good and fixed fast, simply the most highly rated drain and sewer services in the London area. 

How much does it cost to clear a London blocked drain?

Best value and service guaranteed for a London residential dwelling private drain unblock during normal working time. Our price includes jetting, unlike some London drain companies who'll try rods first then charge you extra for jetting.

Blocks of flats and commercial properties depend on complexities.

Please call us for a no-obligation quotation.

You may find lower prices elsewhere, but many London drainage firms will pile on the extras.If it sounds too good to be true it is!If you're comparing prices, make sure you get a fixed price including jetting as some London drain companies charge extra for jetting which we think is wrong. 

How long does it take to clear a London blocked drain?

The average London domestic blockage is fat and grease based. To unblock this type of job takes roughly 1-2 hours. Unblocking usually involves rodding or a snake to remove the blockage. For more stubborn blockages high pressure jetting may be the only option.

Best value and service guaranteed for a London residential dwelling during normal working time. Our price includes jetting, unlike some competitors who'll try rods first then charge you extra for jetting.

Who's the best drain company in London?

We'll let you decide that, but just take a look at the reviews that drain clearing companies receive from their customers and you'll see that Happy Drains are right up there as a leading provider of drain unblocking and drain repair services.  We have thousands of excellent reviews from very satisfied customers. Here's just a few of them:

5359 reviews = 9.8 out of 10

Drains were blocked.

"The gentleman arrived on time and was very pleasant and efficient."

Blocked kitchen drain

"I had a blocked drain from my kitchen sink which I has tried to unblock myself (took pipes apart, used drain unlocked chemicals etc) but was unable to remove the blockage so I called Happy Drains out to resolve. The technician was able to come out within a couple hours of my call and resolved the issue within 30 mins. Very quick and responsive! Both the person I spoke to on the phone and the technician who came out were friendly and professional. Would definitely use again!!"

There was a blockage, like a fatberg, in the internal pipe.

"We had a problem with the pipes in the flat and Tony was really good at working out how to clear it. We were told to ask for a 50m cable if it happened again as the pipe is very long. The work couldnt be guaranteed as the access is limited, but he did clear the blockage and from calling to solving the problem was all within 2 hours. I would definitely recommend."

Happy Days Happy Drains.

"There have been issues with our block's communal drain since 2017. Six blockages have resulted in dramatic floods that threatened to swamp the three basement flats in sewage. A different company couldn't do much as it was a 'communal drain', Thames Water couldn't do much as it wasn't 'their drain', the Residents Association wouldn't do much as they didn't want to spend much money - so had a prod with a rod every now and then. Happy Drains unblocked yet another block and importantly jet washed away troublesome, water flow slowing debris, and all for £150. Happy days Happy Drains!"

Very happy with Happy Drains

"Very happy with Happy Drains. After a quick inspection the engineer suggested no further work by him and to have inspection and jetting carried out by the water authority."

...for more great reviews visit Checkatrade >

London drain responsibility

It's not always obvious who's responsible for a particular section of London drain or sewer pipe, but here's our quick guide to establishing who's responsible for London drains when they get blocked or need repair.

Who's responsible for blocked London drains?

If the drain serves exclusively your property and the blockage in the drain is with your property boundary then that is the owner's responsibility. If it's shared or beyond the property boundary then it’s probably the responsibility of Thames Water.  Our diagram below makes this much clearer. If in doubt, please give us a call for advice.

Who do I contact about a blocked London drain?

Sometimes London drain issues can only be successfully be resolved by an industry professional. At Happy Drains, we're able to restore free-flowing drains to your home or workplace however serious the blockage. Give Happy Drains a call and our team of friendly, professional technicians can get your London drains back in full free flowing working order, from sinks, to toilets, to the main drains – we have skills and leading equipment to restore flow fast.

Do Thames Water unblock London drains?

Thames Water will only clear drains that are their responsibility i.e. shared London drains or beyond your London property boundary. See our diagram below to establish whether your drain could be shared.

How do I contact Thames Water for a shared London drain problem?

If you think you have a shared London drain blockage or problem, you can contact Thames Water via their websites, but check the diagram below first:

• Thames Water

If we find the drain is shared and a Thames Water issue we will charge for our site visit and we will refer you to them for further investigation and possible refund of charges.

Diagnosing blocked London drains

It's not always obvious if a drain is blocked or why it got blocked in the first place, but here's a few pointers to set you in the right direction.

How do you know if a drain is blocked?

An obvious indication that a London drain is blocked is a slow running sink or toilet. Sometimes the toilet over fills or the water even appears to have been sucked out the pan. That is a vacuum caused by a blocked drain downstream of the toilet. Water seepage in the yard or garden is also a likely indication.

Why do drains get blocked?

Never put fats down a London drain! Over time, this will always result in drain blockages. Likewise, paper towels, wet wipes & sanitary products should not be flushed down as they don’t breakdown and result in blockages. Too much paper and cat litter can also be the cause of blocked drains. Remember it’s a toilet not a bin!

Why does my drain keep getting blocked?

There are many factors, but something you need to consider first is professional London drain cleaning. This is because DIY solutions often just don’t work longer term. There could be underlying problems and further investigations are strongly recommended when experiencing regular drain blockages. Cracked or misaligned drains, root damage or accidental damage are common London drain problems that a professional company such as Happy Drains can help you with.

Can a blocked drain cause damp?

No, is the simple answer for a drain in good condition, but broken or cracked drains can cause damp. Drains are designed to be watertight. The water would seep out of a crack or failed joint to cause damp or numerous consequential damage issues. A flooded and overflowing drain will cause damp issues if left unresolved. Our CCTV survey can find all of these problems.

Repairing broken or damaged London drains

Sometimes London drains become blocked or leak due to damage which can result from many causes.

How do you repair a broken London drain?

The site condition would dictate the requirements, but the two main methods are either excavation or no dig technology such as a sleeve inserted within the drain. It depends which option is practical and cost effective based on appropriate investigations. A drainage professional would determine that after visiting site and undertaking a London CCTV drain survey.

DIY tips for unblocking a London drain

If you have the time and would rather spend your money on the more enjoyable things in life then we fully support DIY unblocking of London drains and here's our guide to help you with that. However, when all else fails, get in touch and rest assured our experts will resolve the problem FAST.

What can I use to unblock a London drain?

Try these tips and tricks for unblocking a London drain yourself:

1. If it’s a slow running sink, try hot water or a proprietary chemical from a DIY store.
2. Hire a set of rods, always try to push the blockage down to the next manhole or drain downstream.
3. If it's a blocked gully , it might be simply leaves blocking the grill. Get a broom handle and scrape the gully grill, that might just to the trick.

How do you clear a London drain downpipe ?

If you can safely dismantle the downpipe, it may be easier to give it a go and clear by hand. If that doesn't work or it's not safe, it may need high pressure jetting or an electromechanical snake. Give us a call and we'll give you the best advice.

What kind of vinegar unclogs London drains?

The acid in white wine vinegar can break down fats.  Pour some baking soda into the sink then a bottle distilled white vinegar into the London drain. Don't be surprised by the audible reaction that occurs. Then poor hot water into the drain, then repeat. This is best for a slow running London drains.

How do you clear a clogged drain at home?

For a sink, shower or toilet boiling water is a simple and effective method. Simply boil water in a kettle pour it carefully directly down the drain. Boiling water is one of the most effective London home remedies melting fats and grease, loosening debris to restore flow.

How do you clear a blocked sink U-bend?

The U-shaped pipe beneath a sink is designed to use water as a seal to stop smells and drainage gasses from drifting back up and out into your home. The shape of the trap also catches heavy debris and if this is allowed to build up it'll result in blockages. It's easy to clear it, and a lot cheaper than calling out a London drain company:

1. Empty the sink with a bucket, take the water and pour it down the WC.
2. Put the bucket in place under the trap.
3. Loosen the trap by undoing the plastic screw coupler, remove it and let the water out into the bucket.
4. Take a metal coat hanger and run it through the pipe and the trap to dislodge any debris.

Unblocking a London drain with a plunger

We recommend every London home should have one. The plunger one of the best home DIY tools for unblocking sinks and toilets. The toilet plunger is the bigger version. A sink plunger can be small or large, the bigger the plunger creates more plunge power – the magic ingredient.

For sinks, remove the metal strainer in the drain prior to plunging. The secret lies in creating a good seal between the plunger and sink or WC. Get the plunger in place and then get to work, with fast, sharp pumping motions. For toilets, the rubber disc must not be smaller than the U-bend. This is vital to successfully unblock a London toilet. Simply push the plunger up and down fast and hey presto.

Unblock a London drain with a hand driven snake

This simply works by pushing and twisting a thin snaking steel wire into the small-bore pipe work that serves sinks, showers and London baths. The cable is twisted and propelled forward by hand and when it hits the obstruction it dislodges the debris to restore the flow. This task takes a little time and perseverance, you will have to remove the trap before attempting to clear and drain using this technique (see our guide above) but make sure you place a bucket under the trap to catch the water.

How do you unclog a London drain without a snake?

Yes, the use of boiling hot water is often effective, and chemical drain cleaner can be also used. Kinetic force can also be effective, such as a water ram or a simple plunger. This uses the transfer of energy to push the blockage along the pipe. This is effective in a sealed system where there are no connections, so the force is focused forward to dislodge the blockage.

Using soda or cola to unblock a drain

You probably have a bottle or two around your home and it's perfect for unblocking drains. To be effective, your favourite bottle of fizzy pop should be at room temperature and should be full fat, not the diet or lite types. You may recall from science lessons at school what happens to a tooth if you leave in a fizzy drink. The same corrosive quality of your favourite cola does the same to a blockage if poured down the drain and left for an hour or two. Give this method a go. It's a little eco-friendlier compared to a dangerous chemical drain cleaner.

London CCTV Drain Surveys

Sometimes the only way to get to the bottom of a London drain problem is to go inside the pipe with a camera and for that, Happy Drains are the no.1 choice of partner to provide such specialist services.

What is a London CCTV drain survey?

A London CCTV drain survey is a detailed examination of your drainage system. The survey will determine the structural condition and the serviceability of the drainpipe. During the inspection we will note all defects and issues to allow you to understand how the drain works and its condition. We use high-tech CCTV cameras that are propelled through the drain to identify and report any issues that might be present.

What is a CCTV drain survey report?

Any professional drain survey should come complete with a written technical report using industry standard software. This details information such as the date, manhole numbers from & to, size of pipe, pipe material, shape, direction, distance (m), lengths, remarks and pictures of relevant observation.

All of this information should be evidenced via a video file for referencing and quality assurance purposes.