Blocked drains Guildford: finding what is stopping the flow
Blocked drains in Guildford show up in different ways, from one slow sink to water rising in a gully. Ring, say what you are seeing, and we'll work out where in the pipe the problem sits.
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Signs you have a blocked drain
Tap the one that sounds like yours to ring about it.
- 01More than one fixture draining slowly at onceCall
- 02Toilet gurgles when the washing machine emptiesCall
- 03A drain smell that comes and goesCall
- 04Water standing in a gully long after the rain has stoppedCall
- 05Water or waste showing at a manhole coverCall
- 06A damp patch in the garden along the pipe runCall
One slow sink usually means a blockage close to that sink. When several fixtures struggle together, the blockage is more likely in a shared pipe further along, and that changes both the way it is cleared and who may be responsible for the pipe.
Where along the pipe a blockage forms
The position of a blockage decides how it is cleared. It can also decide who looks after that stretch of pipe.
In the trap under a fixture
The U-shaped bend under a sink, basin or bath keeps a little water in place to stop smells. It is also where hair, grease and soap residue collect first.
In the branch from one fixture
A toilet, shower or washing machine each has its own short run to the main drain. A blockage here affects only that fixture, which is a useful clue when you describe the problem.
In the main run inside your boundary
Several branches meet here, so waste from the whole house passes through. A blockage in this pipe makes several fixtures struggle at the same time, and an outside manhole or gully may fill.
Beyond your boundary
Past the edge of the property the pipe may be shared with neighbours or may be a public sewer. Who is responsible depends on the pipe, so ring and describe what you can see.
Common causes of a blocked drain
A blockage is usually something that built up over weeks or months, not a single event. These are the usual suspects.
Grease and cooking fat
Warm fat looks like a liquid and slides down the plughole without any trouble. A few metres on it cools, hardens and coats the pipe wall, and soap scum and food scraps then cling to it.
Wipes, even ones labelled flushable
Many wipes don't break up the way toilet paper does. They gather at bends and rough joints and catch other waste.
Roots finding a joint
Thin roots can enter at a joint in an older pipe in search of moisture. Once inside they thicken and trap paper and debris.
Leaves, silt and garden debris
Gullies and yard drains collect whatever the rain washes in. After leaf fall they can clog quickly.
A pipe that has dropped or cracked
A sunken section or displaced joint leaves a ledge that catches waste every time. Clearing it helps for a while, but the blockage returns until the pipe itself is dealt with.
What happens after you ring about a blocked drain
- 1
Tell us where it shows
Say which fixtures are slow, whether anything is coming up outside and what changed recently.
- 2
The likely position is narrowed down
The pattern you describe points to the trap, one branch, the main run or somewhere beyond. A camera can confirm it where the cause isn't obvious.
- 3
You choose the next step
Clearing the blockage, cleaning the pipe or surveying it. You hear the options before any work starts.
Blocked drains questions, answered
How can I tell if the blocked drain is mine or the water company's?
Start with which fixtures are affected. If only your own fixtures are backing up, the blockage is probably in a pipe that serves your property. If neighbours have the same problem, or the trouble is in a pipe outside your boundary that serves several homes, it may be a public sewer. Ring with the details and we can talk it through.
Is a blocked drain an emergency?
A slow sink can usually wait for a phone call. Sewage coming back into the house, a toilet you can't use or water pouring from a manhole is more pressing. Stop using the fixtures that feed that pipe, keep children and pets away from any spill, and ring.
Why do my drains keep blocking?
Repeat blockages usually mean something is still wrong after the first clear-out: grease left on the pipe wall, roots at a joint or a damaged section. A camera look shows which, and the drain survey page explains how that works.
Can heavy rain cause blocked drains?
Rain doesn't block a pipe, but it exposes weak points. A gully full of leaves overflows, a cracked section lets extra water in, and a sewer shared with other homes can fill when it is busy. If a drain only backs up in wet weather, say so when you ring.
What should never go down a drain?
Cooking fat, wipes, nappies, cotton buds, sanitary products and kitchen roll. Only rainwater belongs in a surface water gully.
Blocked drain in Guildford? Ring now.
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