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Blocked drains in Norwich

Drain cleaning in Norwich for blocked sinks, toilets and gullies

Slow drains, bad smells or water backing up in the garden? We clear the blockage, find the cause and tell you how to stop it coming back.

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  • Jetting, rodding and cutting
  • Camera checks when needed
  • Written quote before work starts
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Plumber jetting a drain through an open inspection chamber in a yard

What does drain cleaning involve?

Drain cleaning clears the blockage and leaves the pipe running freely. The method depends on what is blocking it and how far down the line it sits. For a basic sink or toilet blockage, we may use rods or a plunger and a drain machine. For heavier or repeated problems, we use high-pressure water jetting, which scours the inside of the pipe and flushes the debris away.

If you search for drain cleaning Norwich homeowners will see many offers. The important question is whether the person will find the cause as well as clear the symptom. After clearing a drain we may recommend a camera survey, where a small camera on a flexible rod shows the inside of the pipe. That tells us if the blockage was a one-off or if a crack, a displaced joint or roots are the real problem.

What causes blocked drains in Norwich homes?

Most blocked drains have a simple cause, but older houses and local conditions add a few extras.

  • Fat and grease poured down kitchen sinks, which cools and sets in the pipe.
  • Wipes and sanitary products. Even those labelled flushable do not break down like toilet paper.
  • Limescale. Hard Norfolk water leaves scale in waste pipes, which narrows them and catches debris.
  • Leaves and silt. Autumn leaves block gullies and gutters, especially on streets with mature trees.
  • Tree and shrub roots that enter old clay drains at the joints.
  • Collapsed or misaligned pipes, more common in older properties.

Many Victorian terraces in Norwich have shared drains, where several homes join one pipe. A blockage that affects neighbours as well points to a shared drain, so ask them too.

Who is responsible for a blocked drain?

This catches many people out. Inside your property, the pipes that serve only your home are yours to look after. In 2011, many shared drains and the lengths of private drain outside the property boundary passed to the water company. In Norwich that is Anglian Water.

In practice, a blockage inside your boundary on your own pipe is your responsibility. A blockage in a shared pipe or past your boundary may be the water company's. If you are not sure, a camera survey will show where the blockage is, and the water company can confirm who looks after that section. We will be honest if the problem is not one you should pay for.

If a pipe is damaged rather than just blocked, see our page on sewer line and drain repair.

We do not post prices online because every blockage is different. These points affect the quote:

  • Where the blockage is. A sink trap is simple. A blockage deep in an underground run takes more work.
  • The method needed. Rodding costs less than full jetting, and jetting costs less than repairing a broken pipe.
  • Access. A clear inspection chamber helps. A buried or covered one takes time to open.
  • A camera survey, which adds to the visit but can save repeat call-outs.
  • Repeat problems, where we advise a plan rather than another quick clear.

A straightforward clearance often takes an hour or two. Jetting a longer run and a camera check can take half a day. We give you a written quote before we start.

What should I expect on the day, and when should I call?

We protect the area, find the access point, clear the blockage and run water to test that everything flows. If we use a camera, we show you the footage and explain it. Then we tell you what we found, what we did and whether the pipe needs more work.

Call when sinks or baths drain slowly, a toilet gurgles or will not flush, there is a smell from a gully, or water rises in a manhole. Do not leave a backed-up drain, because sewage can come into the house. If water is spreading and you cannot stop it, see emergency plumbing.

To avoid blockages, bin fats and wipes, use a sink strainer, clear leaves from gullies before winter and have a camera check if the same drain blocks more than once. You can see all our services on our home page.

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  1. Call or tap for help

    Tell us what is wrong. We answer around the clock.

  2. Plumber dispatched

    The nearest plumber heads your way with a stocked van.

  3. Fixed with a written price

    You approve the price before any work starts.

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Questions about emergency plumber in Norwich

What is the difference between drain rodding and jetting?

Rodding pushes flexible rods with a cutting head along the pipe to break a blockage. It is good for simple blockages. Jetting uses water at high pressure to scour the pipe walls and flush debris out, so it suits grease, scale and silt. We choose the method that fits the problem, and explain why.

Why does my drain keep blocking?

A repeat blockage usually means there is a cause beyond what you can see. It could be grease building up, a root, a dip in the pipe where water collects or a damaged joint. A camera survey shows what is going on inside. Clearing the same drain again and again without finding the cause just wastes money.

Can I use chemical drain cleaner?

Chemical cleaners are best avoided. They can fail to clear a real blockage, they can harm older pipes and seals, and they are dangerous to anyone working on the drain afterwards. A plunger is a safe first step for a sink. For anything stubborn, a mechanical clearance is the better and safer route.

Is a blocked drain my responsibility or the water company's?

Pipes that serve only your property, within your boundary, are generally yours. Many shared drains and the lengths outside the boundary became the water company's responsibility in 2011. A camera survey can show where the problem sits, and the water company can confirm. Ask them before paying for work on a shared pipe.

How do I stop my drains blocking in the first place?

Put fat and oil in the bin once cool, use a hair catcher in the shower, and flush only toilet paper. Keep gully grids clear of leaves, especially in autumn, and flush kitchen sinks with hot water now and then. If a drain has blocked more than once, ask for a camera check.

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