When it counts as an emergency
- Dirty water rising in a sink, bath or shower tray
- An outside gully or manhole overflowing
- A toilet that fills up instead of flushing away
- More than one fitting draining slowly at the same time
Drain Unblocking: what the job involves
Drain unblocking clears pipes that have stopped flowing, both inside and outside your home. Inside, the usual trouble spots are sink traps, bath wastes and the soil stack. Outside, blockages build up in gullies, drain runs and manholes. Because the pipes join up, one blockage can affect several fittings at once.
The engineer first works out where the blockage sits. For example, if every fitting is slow, the problem usually sits in the main drain outside. They then clear it with drain rods, a drain snake or a jetter, depending on what caused it. Finally, they run water through each fitting to check it drains freely.
Around Wolverhampton, many terraced streets share a drain run at the back of the houses. As a result, a blockage in a shared section can back up into a neighbour's home as well as yours. Citizens Advice explains that shared lateral drains belong to the water company. Your engineer can tell you if the blockage sits in a part you look after.
What to do while you wait
- Stop using the blocked fittings
- Try a plunger on a single sink or toilet, but stop if water rises elsewhere
- Leave chemical drain cleaners alone, as they can splash and harm pipes
- Clear a path to your outside drain covers
How the request works
- 1
Send your request
Use the form with your postcode and a short note about the problem. Photos help if you can add them later. - 2
A local engineer contacts you
We pass your request to an engineer who covers your area. They call or email you to agree a time. - 3
Locate the blockage
The engineer checks which fittings are slow and lifts the drain covers. That shows where to start. - 4
Clear and flush
They clear the blockage and flush the pipe with water. They then test every connected fitting.
Typical drain unblocking costs
UK price guides put drain unblocking at about £80 to £250 outside London (Fantastic Services and UK Plumber Spot, 2026). MyJobQuote puts an average job at around £100, with outside drains at about £80 to £150. Heavy grease or long runs cost more. These are typical ranges, while your engineer quotes for your job first.
Drain Unblocking services we cover
External Drain Unblocking
Help with outside gullies, drain runs and manholes that back up. A local engineer lifts the covers, finds the blockage and clears the run.Internal Drain Unblocking
Help with waste pipes and soil stacks inside your home. A local engineer traces which fittings are slow and clears the pipe they share.Drain Unblocking: frequently asked questions
Should I try to unblock the drain myself first?
A plunger can clear a simple blockage near the plughole. However, stop if water backs up from an outside drain or more than one fitting. Forcing a shared drain can push the blockage further down the pipe.
How does an engineer unblock a drain?
Most jobs start with drain rods or a hand-held drain snake. For grease or silt, the engineer may use a jetter that cleans the pipe with high-pressure water. They then run water through every fitting to check it flows.
How much does drain unblocking cost?
UK price guides put drain unblocking at about £80 to £250 outside London (Fantastic Services and UK Plumber Spot, 2026). An outside drain often sits at around £80 to £150, says MyJobQuote. You can ask your engineer to confirm the price for your job before they start.
How do I request help?
Fill in the short form on any page with your postcode and a note about the problem. We pass your request to a local engineer, who contacts you to agree a time. Because we have no phone line, the form is the fastest way to reach us.
Can I send a request at night or at the weekend?
Yes, the form stays open 24/7, including bank holidays. Mark your request as urgent if water is still escaping. The engineer then knows to treat it as an emergency.
Is the quote free?
Yes, the quote request is free and there is no obligation to go ahead. You can ask the engineer to talk you through the likely cost before they start. However, if the job changes once they can see it, they tell you before doing more.
Further reading
If you are weighing up methods, read drain jetting vs drain rods for a plain comparison. Our guide on preventing kitchen drain blockages helps stop it happening again. For stubborn grease, our drain jetting page explains the next step.
Helpful guides
Drain Maintenance
The Real Warning Signs of a Blocked Drain
Blocked drains rarely happen overnight. Here are the early warning signs to watch for, backed by Water UK's national data, and a clear answer on who is responsible for the repair. Drain MaintenanceHow to Prevent Blocked Kitchen Drains: A Complete Guide
Kitchen drains block more than any other in the house. Learn the daily habits that prevent it, what Thames Water's 100-tonne fatberg tells us, and when to call a professional.Related services
Drain Unblocking by town
Drain Unblocking in WolverhamptonDrain Unblocking in WalsallDrain Unblocking in DudleyDrain Unblocking in BilstonDrain Unblocking in WednesfieldDrain Unblocking in WillenhallDrain Unblocking in TettenhallDrain Unblocking in CodsallDrain Unblocking in Cannock