Blocked Drains | Drain Unblocking and Drain Surveys in London
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Experts engineers specially equipped to unblock drains
What blocked drain problem do you need help with?
Locating faults and blockages or detailed mapping of a drainage system
We can offer same-day repairs to damaged or worn out drainage pipes
Our experts use powerful cleaning equipment to clean drains and remove debris
Blocked Toilets & Soil Pipes
No matter what your toilet is blocked with we have the equipment to clear it
Blocked Sinks & Wash Basins
Our drainage experts carry specialist equipment for unblocking sinks
Blocked Shower & Bath Drains
We're frequently unblocking the drainage pipes of showers and bath tubs
Emergency Drainage Engineers
We have drainage engineers on call 24/7 to respond to any drain emergency
We know how stressful it is to have a blocked drain at your property. That’s why we aim to have one of our specialists to you quickly if you need a drain unblocking.
The fact that a blocked drain can easily overflow and cause a health hazard means there’s little time to wait. Our team of specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help with unblocking your drains. Whether you’re a commercial or residential property owner, we can help wherever you are in London or around the M25.
We fix problems with drains at hundreds of residential properties in London every month. Our work also includes commercial properties, such as offices, restaurants, schools, hotels and retail. As one of London’s largest drainage contractors, we’re experienced at resolving the problems that homes and businesses face in keeping their drain network clear, free-flowing and problem free.
Knowledge sharing and diagnosing
All our experts are reliable and professional. They’ll share their knowledge with you on-site so that you know exactly what’s going on at all times. This means you’re never in the dark, and you can make informed decisions for the best results.
Our ability to diagnose and solve drain problems comes from 16 years of professional experience, and we’ve seen it all. For prevention tips, investigations and problem solving, our team is ready.
Because we know the problems that commercial properties can face on a daily basis, we offer preventative maintenance contracts. Regular checks and cleaning will keep your drains working properly and help reduce the risk of blockages. How often you need them cleaning will depend on your property; get in touch with us today to discuss how we can help.
Using high quality camera equipment, we can perform full mapping of drainage systems. This will highlight any problem areas and repairs that need attention. Mapping will provide a detailed plan of the network, including depth, location, and direction of the pipes.
You’ll also be able to see the condition of existing pipes. All of this is vital information when planning and carrying out construction work on any property.
We offer pre-purchase surveys for prospective home-buyers. CCTV cameras will show the condition of the property’s drains and pinpoint any potential issues. Repair costs can mount up and that isn’t ideal when you’ve just moved in. Remove the uncertainty with a drain survey.
Internal drainage issues pose many inconveniences. As a fully accredited drainage contractor, all our tradespeople are equipped with the best machinery to tackle blockages in sinks, showers, toilets and baths. From toilet augers to drain rods, our experts have the right equipment to clear your blocked drains of stubborn debris.
For those external problems, some more heavy duty equipment is required. Our engineers have rods, high pressure water jets and high velocity coring equipment which can tackle hardened cement, solidified construction adhesives, and more.
Came late at night, worked hard to deal with pipe blockage (and flood) in the flat but main blockage was further down i.e. responsibility of building manager - told us exactly what to say to the manager to get it sorted! Many thanks.
Anne, Camden, NW1
What a great and fast service from Aspect in our time of need. The drain engineer was with us within 2 hours - knew his stuff - not at all daunted and he got the drain running free again. Thank you ever so much for helping us out. Will not hesitate to recommend.
Kavanagh, Borehamwood, WD6
Excellent service. I called this morning at 8am and a technician was out by 12:30. Reece was polite and friendly and sorted out the clogged drain in no time flat. Would absolutely call Aspect again and recommend them highly.
Van, Greenwich, SE10
If your drains are slow running, it’s advisable to get them cleaned and avoid them becoming fully blocked. However, if your drains need unblocking our engineers can fix the problem, no matter what type of drain clearance you need:
Hard water areas, including London, are particularly prone to blockages due to build-up of mineral content (scale). Solid deposits of minerals can form over time, leading to narrowing of pipes and eventually to blocked drains.
Wet wipes are one of the most common causes of blockages, along with sanitary products like tampons. They’re both commonly flushed down the toilet, as are cotton buds and cotton pads. Any man-made products that aren’t designed to break down quickly in water can cause blockages.
Kitchen paper and tissues can cause blockages if they’re flushed down toilets. Toilet paper is specifically designed to break down quickly in water.
Though small amounts seem harmless at the time, grease and fats can harden together when they get rinsed down the kitchen sink. These build-ups are often found in drains around blocks of flats or house conversions. This is because the extra volume produced by multiple homes connected to the same drain system.
The drains can’t match the extra demands being placed upon it from multiple residences.
External drains can get clogged up from garden waste and litter. Leaves, twigs, silt, stones and other garden debris can find their way in, as can plastic bags and other rubbish. This usually happens when they get caught up in rainwater flow.
Our drainage rates
Priority attendance within 1 hour
All of our engineers have a range of mechanical equipment and tools to carry out drain unblocking.
These machines are capable of breaking up any type of material that’s causing a blockage. The power of this equipment limits its use to secondary (external) pipework. This is because it could easily cause damage to primary pipework inside a property.
Electro-mechanical ‘sani-snakes’
The electric motors in these machines allow our engineers to push a rotating, flexible cable into pipework. Different attachments allow them to push through any type of blockage, including scale and fat deposits. They are portable and are ideal for unblocking internal, primary drainage pipework.
The more traditional rods are still a very effective way of unblocking external and secondary (internal) pipework. Sections of strong but flexible rod are attached together and pushed by hand into the drain. A range of different attachments can be fitted to the end depending on the blockage that needs to be cleared.
For the more stubborn unblocking jobs, such as scale build-up, a more powerful machine is needed. A coring machine can remove blockages in pipes with a diameter of up to 150mm. It does what it says – it cores through the blockage so that the drain can flow freely again.
If the location or cause of a blocked drain proves difficult to identify, CCTV camera equipment can be used. This equipment will clearly identify the blockage, and record any defects in the drainage network that could be causing it. For example, places where tree roots have broken through a fractured pipe.
Cameras are also used to show customers their blockages have been properly cleared.
Our drainage rates explained
We have two rates based on the type of drainage work required:
Wastewater £47.50 per half hour ex VAT – this rate includes pipes connected to sinks, baths, showers, washing machines and dishwashers, also known as primary drainage.
Soil Water £47.50 per half hour ex VAT – this recently reduced rate is applied to “secondary” drainage work, including toilets and external pipes. Soil water rates also apply for CCTV and mini jetting in wastewater pipes.
Please note: If a wastewater booking requires work on soil water pipes, the soil water rate will be charged from the point at which the work moves from wastewater to soil water.
Building waste blocking drains
Another common reason for our tradespeople to be called out is unblocking drains following building or renovation work. Often, left behind materials from extensions or refurbishments get hosed away and washed down an external drain. Ideally, this should be avoided and the waste should be collected into a skip for proper disposal.
Building materials that cause blockages include:
Our drain specialists can remove all of this debris. Even if cement, plaster, and other adhesives have solidified we can still remove them from drains using high velocity boring equipment.
We’re fully trade accredited. Aspect is registered with the National Association of Drainage Contractors (NADC). When you book an Aspect drainage specialist you can count on getting the professional expertise you’re looking for.
Need more info before booking? Someone from our team can call you. Request a callback
Westminster & Chelsea
Knowledge sharing & research articles
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With more than 80% of people saying their workplace is “unpleasant”, our research team looked into the main complaints. Find out how drainage problems ranked against other issues such as temperature, lighting and noises... Maintenance issues at work