Drainage guide
Blocked outside drain: what to do first →A blocked outdoor drain may send wastewater back towards the house. Learn what the warning signs mean and who should deal with it.
Blocked drains • UK homeowner guidance
Drain blocked? Find out what to do next.
Toilets backing up, sewage in the shower or a manhole overflowing? Understand what might be happening and find a local drainage specialist if you need one.
Which drainage problem have you got?
Start with the problem you can see. Our in-depth guides explain urgent sewage overflows, blocked outside drains and why blockages return even after a clearance.
Drainage guide
Toilet Blocked and Water Rising? →A blocked toilet can overflow quickly. What to do straight away, what not to flush and when to call a drain specialist.
Drainage guide
Sewage Coming Up Through the Shower Drain →Why flushing a toilet may send wastewater into a shower tray and what to do before it overflows.
Drainage guide
Drains keep blocking? Find the cause →Repeated drain blockages deserve investigation. Find out why clearance alone may not solve the underlying problem.
Drainage guide
Sewage overflowing from a manhole →What an overflowing inspection chamber means and how to decide who to contact.
Drainage guide
Do You Really Need a CCTV Drain Survey? →When a drain camera survey is worthwhile, what a report should show and what to question.
Before you arrange a drain clearance
1. Stop adding waterIf wastewater is rising, avoid flushing or emptying other appliances into the affected pipe.
2. Check responsibilityIf a shared or public sewer may be involved, ask your sewerage company whether it is theirs to clear.
3. Explain the symptomsTell the contractor what is affected, whether there is sewage, and if the drain has blocked before.
Not every drain blockage needs excavation
A simple obstruction might be cleared without digging. But if a drain keeps blocking, the important question is why. A camera inspection can sometimes reveal roots, a displaced joint or another fault that routine clearance will not repair.
We explain the differences without pretending that every damp patch, gurgling sink or overflowing gully proves a major underground problem.
Important: sewage backing up?
Stop using connected appliances where practical. Keep children and animals away from the wastewater. Do not open or enter a drain chamber.
If the flooding affects a public or shared sewer, contact your sewerage company promptly.
More problems worth checking
Drainage guide
Why Do My Drains Smell of Sewage? →Sewage smells indoors or around the garden can have several causes besides a blocked drain.
Drainage guide
Gurgling Drains When You Flush the Toilet →Gurgling can be a clue to restricted flow or a ventilation problem. Here is what to look for.
Drainage guide
Drains Blocked After Heavy Rain →Why drains may overflow during storms and how to distinguish blocked pipes from overwhelmed surface water drainage.
Drainage guide
Tree Roots in Drains: Do You Need to Dig? →How roots get into drains and why the visible evidence matters before expensive repair work.
Drainage guide
Could Your Underground Drain Have Collapsed? →A collapsed drain is serious, but recurring blockages do not prove collapse. Understand the clues and checks.
Drainage guide
Is High-Pressure Drain Jetting Always Necessary? →Drain jetting can be effective, but it is not the right solution for every blocked sink or damaged pipe.
Strange drainage problem?
Sewage in the shower
Outside gully overflowing
Water escaping from manhole
Sewage smell in gardenWhy does the toilet gurgle when you run the bath? Why is the driveway sinking near a drain? Explore 30 unusual drainage problems and what they may mean.