Emergency Plumbing & Boiler Repair · Wandsworth, London
Blocked Drains in Wandsworth, London
A blocked drain announces itself in unpleasant ways: a toilet that will not flush, water standing in the shower tray, a gurgling sink or a manhole that overflows in the garden. [24HR Boiler Repair & Plumber](/) answers on 07727 932887 at all hours and arranges drain clearance through independently owned partner companies across Wandsworth, Putney, Southfields and Earlsfield.
Most residential blockages are cleared by rodding or high-pressure jetting. Published London prices put drain unblocking at roughly £100 to £350, with most standard jobs between £120 and £300, and the partner company confirms its own price in writing before starting. A CCTV survey, where needed, costs extra but shows exactly what is wrong rather than guessing.
Wandsworth's ground and drains make blockages a local habit. Many homes in Earlsfield and Southfields were built on Victorian or Edwardian clay drains that crack, shift and let tree roots in, while the borough's own flood investigation found that sewers were likely overwhelmed by surface water in the Putney, Earlsfield and Clapham Common catchments, so a backing-up drain after a summer downpour is not always your own pipe's fault.
Responsibility matters. Since October 2011, Thames Water has been responsible for shared sewers and for lateral drains beyond the property boundary, while the drain within your boundary remains yours. The partner company works out where the blockage is and tells you who is responsible before you pay for clearing something that belongs to someone else.
Most blocked drains are preventable, and the cause is almost always something that was put down them. Fat poured down a kitchen sink sets hard in the pipe, wet wipes do not break down however they are labelled, and a plug of hair and soap in a shower trap builds slowly. A few habits and a cheap strainer save a call-out, though they cannot help with a drain that has cracked or collapsed.
What We Do
Drain Problems We Clear
Blockages come in three sizes: a fixture, a household drain and a shared or public sewer.
Sinks, Basins, Baths and Toilets
A single slow fixture usually means a local blockage in the trap or waste pipe, caused by hair, grease, soap scum or something that should not have been flushed. The partner company clears it with a plunger, auger or rods, and tells you what caused it. Kitchen sinks blocked by fat are especially common, and a cheap strainer prevents repeats.
Household Drains, Gullies and Manholes
When several fixtures back up, or a gully overflows in the yard, the blockage is in the household drain. Rodding clears most, while high-pressure jetting scours the pipe wall and removes grease and scale. In Putney, leaf litter and root intrusion into older clay pipes are frequent causes, and a CCTV survey can confirm damage that jetting alone will not cure.
Shared Drains and Public Sewers
In a converted flat or a terrace sharing a drain, a blockage may sit beyond your own pipe. Since October 2011 shared sewers and lateral drains beyond the boundary belong to Thames Water, so the partner company tells you when to report it to them instead of paying for it yourself. They will still clear the part on your side.
The Benefits
How a Drain Job Is Run
The sequence matters, because the cheapest fix is the right diagnosis.
Find the Blockage First
The partner company checks which fixtures are affected, opens an access point and works out how far along the line the blockage sits. Written quote follows before clearing starts.
Clear and Check
Rodding or jetting clears the blockage, and a flow test confirms the drain runs freely. If the pipe is damaged, a CCTV survey shows where, and a repair is quoted separately.
Stop It Coming Back
Where the cause is fat, wipes, roots or a collapsed pipe, you are told so, with advice on prevention or repair rather than another clear-out in a month.
Good to Know
Signs You Have a Drain Problem
Drains complain before they stop.
Early Warning Signs
Catch these and the fix is usually cheaper.
- Sinks, baths or showers that drain more slowly than before
- Gurgling sounds from toilets or plugholes when other fixtures run
- An unpleasant smell around a gully, manhole or bathroom
- Water backing up in a gully when the washing machine empties
- Damp patches or sunken ground along the line of a drain
What Not to Put Down a Drain
The usual causes of blockages in homes here.
- Cooking fat, oil and grease
- Wet wipes, including ones marked flushable
- Cotton buds, sanitary products and nappies
- Coffee grounds and food scraps in a kitchen sink
- Hair without a strainer or hair catcher
Why Us
Drain Clearance Across SW18, SW15 and SW19
Local ground, local drains.
Putney: Trees and Hills
Putney Heath and the tree-lined streets of West Putney drop leaves and roots into gullies and older drains, and the lower streets near the river are the first to feel storm sewers fill.
Southfields: The Grid
The Grid's terraces were built from 1891, with drains laid to match. Century-old clay pipes crack and shift, and shared runs between terraced houses are common.
Earlsfield: Near the Wandle
Earlsfield is one of the catchments named in the borough's flood investigation, so storm-related backing-up is a realistic call after summer downpours.
A blocked drain often goes with other emergencies, so see emergency plumbing and leak detection & repair. Water that backs up after rain relates to the flood catchments covered on our Earlsfield and Putney pages, and Southfields has its own drainage notes. Browse all services.
What Are Blocked Drains?
A blocked drain is an obstruction in the pipes that carry waste water from a home to the public sewer. It can sit in a single fixture's trap, in the household drain that serves several fixtures, or further along in a shared drain or public sewer, and each is cleared by a different method and may have a different person responsible.
Drainage in England is covered by Building Regulations Part H, which sets out falls, access points and materials. Many older terraces have clay pipes laid with cement joints that crack with age, which lets roots in and gives debris somewhere to catch, so a recurring blockage can mean a damaged pipe rather than bad habits.
What Affects the Price of Drain Clearance
Method and Location
Published London guides put drain unblocking at roughly £100 to £350, with most standard residential jobs at £120 to £300. Rodding a single fixture costs less than jetting a household drain, and a CCTV survey is priced on top.
Who Owns the Drain
If the blockage is in a shared sewer beyond the boundary, Thames Water is responsible, and the partner company will tell you so rather than charging you to clear it. That honest answer can save the whole call-out fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Wandsworth?
Published London guides in 2026 put drain unblocking at roughly £100 to £350, with most standard residential jobs between £120 and £300. Simple rodding costs less than high-pressure jetting, and a CCTV survey is an extra. The partner company quotes in writing after seeing the problem, and does not start clearing until you have agreed the price.
Who is responsible for a blocked drain: me or Thames Water?
Since October 2011, Thames Water has been responsible for shared sewers and for lateral drains beyond the property boundary, while the drain inside your own boundary is the owner's. A blockage in the public sewer is therefore Thames Water's job to clear. The partner company works out where the blockage sits and tells you whether to pay for clearing or to report it.
What is the difference between rodding and jetting?
Rodding pushes flexible rods with a cutting head along the pipe to break through a blockage, which suits most simple obstructions. Jetting blasts high-pressure water through the pipe and cleans the walls, which removes grease, scale and some roots. Jetting is usually more expensive but gives a more thorough clean. The partner company chooses the method after assessing the blockage.
Why does my toilet gurgle when I run the sink?
Gurgling usually means air is being drawn through the water seal because the drain is partly blocked, or because a vent is obstructed. It is an early warning of a blockage forming further along the pipe. Clearing the drain early prevents a full backup, so it is worth calling before the toilet overflows. If the gurgling comes with a slow drain or a smell, ring us before the blockage becomes a flood.
Can tree roots block a drain?
Yes. Roots seek out moisture and enter older clay pipes at joints, then grow into a mat that catches waste. Putney's tree-lined streets and Heath edge make this a realistic cause. Jetting can cut roots back, but a CCTV survey shows whether the pipe is damaged, in which case a repair or relining is needed to stop the problem returning.
My drain backed up after heavy rain. Why?
The borough's flood investigation grouped storm incidents in the Putney, Earlsfield and Clapham Common catchments, where sewers were likely overwhelmed by surface water. When the public sewer fills, waste can back up into low gullies, toilets and ground-floor drains. The partner company can clear and check the property side, but the sewer belongs to Thames Water, so report it to them as well.
Do I need a CCTV survey?
Not for every blockage, but it is useful when a drain keeps blocking, when roots or damage are suspected, or when you are buying a property. A camera shows the pipe's condition and the exact location of any fault, which avoids digging in the wrong place. The partner company quotes separately for it so you can decide.
What can I do to prevent blockages?
Do not pour fat or oil down the sink, bin wet wipes instead of flushing them, fit strainers on plugholes and keep gullies clear of leaves. In areas with mature trees, regular gully clearance helps. Persistent slow drains deserve a look before they block completely. If the cause is a damaged pipe, no amount of caution will help, and a repair is needed.
Is it safe to use harsh chemical drain cleaners?
Strong chemicals can damage older pipes, harm the person using them and make life harder for the engineer who has to work on the blockage afterwards. They also rarely clear a serious obstruction. It is usually better to use a plunger and then call for rods or a jet. If you have already used a chemical, tell the engineer, so they can wear suitable protection.
Do you cover the whole Wandsworth area?
Yes. Across Wandsworth Town, Putney, Southfields and Earlsfield, the partner company nearest to you that suits the job is sent, and the line is open all hours. Drain work in flats may involve shared pipes, so the partner will check and tell you who is responsible. See emergency plumbing for other water emergencies. Ring 07727 932887 and we will match the nearest partner company that suits the blockage.
Will clearing the drain damage my pipes?
Properly done, no. Rodding and jetting are standard methods, and an experienced operator adjusts pressure and equipment to the pipe's condition. Old clay or pitch-fibre pipes need particular care, and a CCTV survey beforehand shows weak spots. The partner company should tell you if the pipe looks fragile, so that you can choose between clearing and repairing.
Can I stop a drain smelling after it has been cleared?
A smell often means grease or debris is still stuck to the pipe wall, or that a water trap has dried out. Running hot water, cleaning the trap and checking vents helps, and high-pressure jetting removes build-up that rodding leaves behind. If the smell persists after clearance, say so, because it can point to a damaged pipe or a ventilation problem.
