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The main point to clarify here is that, in most cases for homes in the UK, unblocking sewage drains is the responsibility of your local water company. You shouldn’t need to take private measures to unblock communal sewer pipes.

Your first step should be contacting your local water company to report the issue and organise for them to come out and unblock the sewage drains. If it turns out that your private drains also need unblocking or cleaning, then you might need to get involved.

Hire a drain clearance specialist

When it comes to dealing with blocked drains, we always recommend leaving it to a professional to carry out the unblocking work. Experienced local drain clearance companies will have the tools, equipment and skills to safely and efficiently unblock your drains.

Want to speak to drain clearance experts in SE20?

Sometimes it helps to have a quick chat with local drain clearance companies to understand what options are available for your property and your drains, and to know how much any unblocking work will cost.

If you’re ready to reach out to local drain clearance services, you’re in the right place. We can help you find the best tradespeople in your area with our quick and easy online search – or request a quote and we’ll get multiple local drain cleaning companies to contact you directly.

Drain cleaning is the process of using specialist equipment and materials to clear any potential obstructions from a drain, including removing the cause of any blockages and cleaning the drain pipework.

The purpose of drain cleaning is to maintain the optimum working order of all drain pipes, whether that’s through routine maintenance cleaning or unblocking a drain when a blockage or obstruction needs fixing.

Benefits of regular drain cleaning

• It removes debris and minor blockages before they have a chance to cause more serious issues

• Drain cleaning helps you avoid the nasty odours that are associated with blockages and the build-up of waste in the drains

• Regular drain cleaning increases the lifespace of your drain system and helps to maintain the structural integrity of pipework for longer

• You save money by avoiding the costs of more serious damage caused by blockages, such as having to replace pipes

• Clean drains have less chance of harmful bacteria growing thanks to a steady flow of water constantly passing through the drain system

Find the best local drain cleaning companies

If you’re keen to keep your drains clean and unblocked, we can help you find the best local drain cleaning services near you – including those who come highly recommended by your neighbours.

You can either use our quick and easy online search to find and contact local drain cleaning companies yourself. Or, alternatively, request a quote and we’ll do the legwork for you by reaching out to the best local drain experts near you and we’ll get them to contact you directly.

• Call out – £60

• Emergency call out – £180

• Drain rodding – £85

• Drain jetting – £185

• Drain rodding and jetting – £275

• Drain specialist (per day) – £250 - £300

• Drain CCTV survey – £250

• Drain relining (per-linear metre) – £110

To find out more about prices, check out our guide to drain unblocking costs.

For an accurate drain clean cost, reach out to your local experts (just above in your search results!)

How to get quotes for drain cleaning costs

To get accurate costs for drain cleaning and clearing blocked drains in your area, we always recommend getting at least three quotes from local tradespeople near you.

By shopping around you can make sure you're paying a fair and competitive price for the work.

Save yourself some time by letting us match you with your local Checkatrade members: Our request a quote tool makes getting multiple quotes super easy.

Post details about the work that you need help with and we’ll send it out to the best local drain clearance experts in your area,

Try it out – it's quick and easy!

Sewer drain cleaning costs

If sewers near your property need cleaning, speak to your local water company.

The costs of cleaning sewer drains should be covered by your local water company, as it’s their responsibility to maintain communal sewers and pipework.

There are a number of reasons why you could end up needing your drains unblocking and need to hire a professional drain cleaning company.

Check out this guide on the common causes of a blocked drain.

Below are some of the most common causes of blocked drains:

• Your drain pipes are too small, which causes waste and debris to build up and create a blockage

• The drains have been misused and substances, such as oil, grease, hair, soap and tissue paper, have been put down the drains and have built up to form a blocked drain

• Poor maintenance is often a cause of blocked drains, where homeowners have neglected drains and obstructions or blockages have then occurred

• Corrosion or damage to metal pipes that happens over a period of time can also lead to drain blockages

Regular drain cleaning

To keep your drains in good working order, and to avoid unnecessary blockages, it’s recommended that you organise professional drain cleaning once every couple of years. This regular maintenance will remove potential obstructions and help to avoid the build-up of materials that can cause blockages.

Want to find out more about local drain cleaning services?

If you find yourself in need of professional drain cleaning services, it’s important to speak to local drain cleaning specialists to understand what’s involved and how much it will cost. Experienced drain clearance companies will be able to advise on what needs to be done and the options available.

Keen to get started? Search for the best local drain cleaning in SE20 and get in touch with them yourself. Alternatively, you can get multiple quotes from local drain cleaning services by using our request a quote feature – simply post details of what you need and we’ll get reliable local tradespeople to contact you directly.