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FEDURCO DRAINAGE

Problem guide

Blocked Drain

Slow drainage, gurgling, smells or water backing up are all signs a drain may be blocked. This guide helps you understand what might be going on — and what to do next.

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Gloved hands clearing a blocked outdoor drainage chamber

Recognise the problem

Signs the drain may be blocked

One symptom on its own does not confirm a blockage — but several together usually mean something is restricting flow.

  1. 01

    Slow drainage

    Sinks, baths or outside gullies taking longer than usual to empty.

  2. 02

    Water backing up

    Water rising in a toilet, sink or gully when another fixture is used.

  3. 03

    Gurgling sounds

    Air trapped by a restriction can make pipes gurgle after draining or flushing.

  4. 04

    Unpleasant smells

    Trapped waste and stagnant water can produce noticeable odours.

  5. 05

    Overflowing

    Water rising from an outside drain or inspection chamber is a clearer sign of a serious restriction.

Possible causes

What can cause a blocked drain?

These are common possibilities — the actual cause can only be confirmed by investigating the drain itself.

  • Build-up of grease and fat

    Kitchen waste can cool and solidify inside pipework, gradually narrowing the bore.

  • Wipes and sanitary items

    Items that do not break down in water can snag and collect other debris.

  • Scale and debris

    Mineral scale, silt and general debris can accumulate over time, especially in older pipes.

  • Tree root ingress

    Roots can enter through cracks or displaced joints and catch passing waste.

  • A structural defect

    A cracked, displaced or collapsed section can trap debris and cause repeat blockages.

Symptoms alone cannot confirm which of these is responsible — that is why diagnosis matters before any repair.

Lifting an outside drain cover to check whether the chamber is full

Before you call

Can you clear it yourself?

If only one fixture is affected, the restriction may be local — for example a blocked trap under a sink, which can sometimes be checked and cleaned safely.

If several fixtures are affected, or an outside drain is full or overflowing, the problem is likely further down the system. At that point, avoid chemical drain cleaners and makeshift tools — they can damage pipework and rarely reach the real cause.

Stop adding water to the system and get advice before the problem escalates.

Drain camera being fed into an inspection chamber

How Fedurco approaches it

Clear it first. Find out why it happened.

The first priority is restoring flow safely. Once the drain is clear, the question is why it blocked — because if the cause is still there, the blockage may return.

Where a blockage keeps coming back, a CCTV survey can show whether roots, scale or a defect in the pipe is responsible, so any repair is based on evidence rather than guesswork.

You receive a quote before any work begins.

Drain Unblocking service

Related services

Services that may be relevant

Does the blockage keep coming back?
Repeated clearing may only be treating the symptom. Read the guide to recurring blockages.

Drain Keeps Blocking guide →

Common questions

Blocked drain questions

If only your property is affected, the problem is often in your private drainage. If neighbours are affected too, it may be the public sewer — the water company is usually responsible for that. We can help you work out which is likely.

Not always. Slow drainage can be an early sign of restricted flow, but it can also have simpler causes. If it is getting worse or affecting more than one fixture, it is worth investigating.

We would advise caution. Chemical cleaners can damage some pipework, are hazardous to handle, and often do not reach the real cause of a blockage deeper in the system.

Occasionally a minor restriction clears on its own, but a genuine blockage usually gets worse as more debris collects. Early attention is normally simpler and cheaper.

We assess the symptoms, clear the blockage using the appropriate method, and — where it makes sense — check why it happened. You get a quote before any work begins.

A blockage that keeps returning usually has an underlying cause, such as roots, scale build-up or a defect in the pipe. A CCTV survey can show what is going on so the right fix can be planned.

Next step

Need the drain cleared?

Our Drain Unblocking service finds where the blockage is, clears it with the right method and checks the flow afterwards.

Drain Unblocking

Get a quote

Tell us about the blockage.

Your problem is already selected — just add your postcode and details.

Prefer to talk?

0800 677 1321

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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