Drains & sewers
Start with the pattern, not the plunger
Which fixtures are affected, and in what order, tells us more than any description of the smell or the sound. This page is built around that diagnosis.
Decision guide
One blocked fixture, or something shared?
This is the single most useful distinction in drainage. Work through it and you will know whether you are dealing with something local or something further down the line.
Step 01
Which drains are affected?
The pattern is the most useful diagnostic information you can give us before anyone arrives. Choose the description that fits best.
Step 02
What that usually means
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Causes are confirmed on site, and we will not tell you what is wrong with a buried line before we have looked at it.
Conditions
What we deal with, and how each is read
Each condition below includes the questions we would ask you first — worth thinking about before you call.
- 01
Slow drains
Water leaves, but reluctantly. Usually a partial restriction rather than a full blockage.
What we would ask
- Is it one fixture or several?
- Did it change suddenly or gradually?
- Any gurgling from nearby fixtures?
- 02
Recurring clogs
The same line blocks repeatedly. Clearing it again is treating the symptom.
What we would ask
- How often does it recur?
- Same fixture each time?
- Has the line ever been inspected?
- 03
Main-line blockages
Multiple fixtures affected, often the lowest ones first. Prompt attention is warranted.
What we would ask
- Do basement drains surcharge?
- Does upstairs use make it worse?
- Is there a cleanout available?
- 04
Sewer backups
Waste water entering the building. A health matter as well as a plumbing one.
What we would ask
- Stop using water immediately
- Keep people and pets clear
- Call rather than sending a form
- 05
Camera inspections
Shows the condition of a line — defects, offsets, root intrusion — rather than guessing at it.
What we would ask
- Warranted for repeat problems
- Useful before buying a property
- Establishes a baseline to compare
- 06
Drain cleaning
Method and access point are chosen to suit pipe material, age and the type of blockage.
What we would ask
- Tell us if chemicals were used
- Note where cleanouts are
- Protect finishes near the access
- 07
Root intrusion
A recognised cause of recurring blockages in older buried lines, confirmed by inspection rather than assumption.
What we would ask
- Mature trees near the line?
- Seasonal pattern to the problem?
- Any history of line repair?
- 08
Preventative maintenance
For lines with a known condition or heavy use, a planned interval beats an emergency call.
What we would ask
- Kitchen drainage in food service
- Lines with previous root intrusion
- Properties with backup history
Camera inspection
What an inspection can and cannot tell you
A camera is a useful tool, not an oracle. Being clear about its limits is part of giving you an honest recommendation.
It can show
- Physical defects such as offsets and cracks
- Root intrusion at joints
- Bellied sections holding water
- Accumulated material in the line
- A baseline to compare against later
It cannot
- See through standing water reliably
- Reach every line without suitable access
- Prove the cause of an intermittent problem
- Replace a proper assessment of the whole system
- Justify a repair before the footage is reviewed with you
Prevention
Drain care that actually helps
Most of it is unglamorous and free.
- Keep fats, oils and grease out of kitchen drains
- Use strainers in sinks, tubs and showers
- Flush only what is designed to be flushed
- Run seldom-used fixtures occasionally to keep traps full
- Avoid chemical drain cleaners, especially in older pipe
- Note the location of cleanouts before you need them
Request drain service
Describe the pattern
Which fixtures, how long, and whether anything has been used to try to clear it.
Next step
Sewage backing up, or several drains at once?
Stop using water in the building and call. That pattern is time-sensitive and should not wait for a form reply.
Service hours, availability and response times shown are placeholders. Confirm actual coverage and scheduling with the business before publishing.