Drain Clearance Cost

How Much Does It Cost to Unblock a Drain?

The average cost of unblocking a drain is £100, but drain clearance costs depend heavily on the specific problem and the method required. More straightforward jobs inside the house, such as unblocking a toilet or sink, will cost around £50 to £70.

However, awkward blockages in external drains can be more expensive to clear, especially if drain jetting is required. This can cost up to £175.

Who unblocks drains?

It's important to understand who can help before you start looking for tradespeople. For blocked drains inside the home (such as sinks, baths, showers, and toilets), a plumber is the best choice. For external drains such as sewers or underground pipes, a drainage engineer is usually the best option, as they will have the necessary equipment and knowledge to handle more complex blockages.

However, your water company is often responsible for clearing blockages (at no charge to you) if the pipe is shared between properties or the blockage is in pipework that extends beyond your property's boundary. It's worth calling them first to see who is responsible, as they won't reimburse you if you've already paid a plumber or drainage engineer to look at the problem.

Drain Unblocking Prices by Job Type

Many quotes include a standard blocked drain call out charge of around £50 to £100, which usually covers the first hour of work when booked in advance. An emergency plumbing call out (evenings, weekends, or urgent out-of-hours drain unblocking) can increase this to £100 to £200, depending on your location and the time of day.

Here's a price breakdown of the different types of drain clearing jobs:

Drain Unblocking Prices by Method

Drain snaking tends to cost less than drain rodding or drain jetting, and is often the first method a plumber will try for an internal blockage. Unlike drain rods, a drain snake can navigate bends and tighter sections of the drain pipe, making it useful for clearing more awkward blockages in indoor and outdoor drains.

The method used depends on the severity and location of the blockage. The average drain rodding cost is often lower than other methods, but it's only suitable for smaller, localised blockages. Drain jetting costs more typically, but it uses high-pressure water to clear any blockages. However, it's not ideal for older pipes that may be weak or cracked.

If you're looking for a more accurate estimate for your exact job, try our drain clearance cost calculator below.

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Factors That Impact the Cost of Unblocking a Drain

As you might expect, there are a number of factors that can affect drain clearance costs.

As well as the method required to clear the blockage, costs can vary depending on the following:

Type and Location of Blockage

The overall cost of drain clearing will depend on the blockage type. For instance, a small blockage in a toilet or sink is normally cheaper to deal with than a more extensive blockage deep in your underground drains or external drainage system.

Location of Property

Where you live can also have a massive effect on the final cost, especially if you live in the countryside, where access to drain engineers is limited. You may also pay more if living in London and southern England, where tradespeople tend to charge around £280 per day, while drain engineers in the north of England typically set a day rate up to £215 a day. However, most drain blockages don't take a full day to clear unless they are severe.

What is your main reason for cleaning and unclogging your drains?

Clear blocked or slow-running drains

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Remove debris and unpleasant odours

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Prevent future blockages or plumbing issues

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Ease of Access to Drains

The level of access to your drains will also determine the cost, as some drainage engineers may charge more if drains, particularly external drains, are not easily accessible, as they will usually take a lot longer to unblock.

CCTV Requirements

If the blockage cannot be identified or keeps returning, a CCTV drain survey may be needed to inspect the pipework. Expect a typical drain CCTV survey to cost around £90 to £350, depending on how detailed the survey needs to be.

Time of Call Out

Drain unblocking usually costs more outside normal working hours. Evening, weekend, and emergency call outs often come with a higher call out fee, especially for urgent work.

Additional Repairs Required

If damaged pipework, collapsed drains, or root intrusion are found during the job, extra repairs may be needed. This can increase the total cost significantly beyond a standard drain unblocking visit.

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Additional Drain Clearance Costs

There are several other costs you may need to consider when hiring a professional to unblock your drains, including:

CCTV Drain Survey Cost

If you have ongoing issues with blocked drainage, then you may want to consider hiring a drainage contractor to conduct a CCTV survey. This will involve an in-depth inspection of your drains by inserting CCTV cameras, which will provide live footage to the contractor to detect any issues.

The average cost of a CCTV drainage survey is around £90 for a basic survey, and up to £350 for a full survey with drain mapping.

Pipework Repair Cost

Another job that is usually completed alongside drain cleaning services is pipework repair, especially if CCTV inspection shows cracks, root damage, or worn sections of pipe.

One common repair method is drain relining, where a resin liner is inserted inside the damaged pipe to create a new inner layer without excavation. Drain relining usually costs more than standard cleaning, while laying new pipework typically costs around £60 to £70 per linear metre.

Collapsed Drain Repair Cost

In extreme cases, your drain lines may collapse altogether due to old age, ground movement, or heavy blockages. These factors can put pressure on the drain pipe, causing it to cave in.

The cost of repairing a drain line is high, at around £850 on average. If left untreated, not only can this cause severe drainage issues, but you run the risk of developing rising damp problems in your property.

What's Involved in Drain Clearance?

Here's what you can expect when you hire a professional to clean and unblock your drains:

Before the Job

• Initial Assessment — The drainage engineer will assess the problem area to try and identify the cause and location of the blockage.
• Testing and Preparation — Diagnostic tools may be used to verify the problem and determine the appropriate action to be taken to clear it.
• Accessing the Blockage — The engineer may disconnect appliances or move panels and access drain covers to reach the problem.

During the Job

• Clearing the Blockage — They will use the appropriate equipment, such as a drain snake for indoor drains or rods for outdoor drains, to try to dislodge the blockage.
• Drain Jetting — With most of the blockage cleared, they will then use high-pressure jetting to clear any remaining debris and make sure the drain is fully clear.
• System Scrub (if Needed) — If the blockage is severe, they may use a stronger cleaning agent to completely clear the system.

After the Job

• Performance Testing — The drainage contractor will run water through the system to check it drains freely and the blockage has been completely cleared.
• CCTV Survey (if Required) — If there are still issues, they may carry out a CCTV drainage survey to check for any damage or additional blockages.
• Final Clean-Up — Once everything is clear, they will reconnect any appliances and replace any panels or access covers, before removing any waste or debris and cleaning down the area.

If you decide to hire a professional, it's normal to get a few quotes so you can compare prices for your problem and budget. With MyJobQuote, you can get quotes from drainage contractors near you that are fast, free, and with no obligation.

Can I Clean and Unblock Drains Myself?

You can try and tackle some drain blockages yourself before calling in a professional, especially for drains inside the house like a bath, sink, or shower. Costs start at just £2 for a basic sink unblocker, but buying equipment like drain rods can cost up to £140, so calling someone in is often more cost-effective for severe blockages.

If you wish to clean and unblock a drain yourself, then you should consider the following costs for drain cleaning products:

Clearing blocked drains is a dirty and challenging job, and can also be more complicated than you would think. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions if you're using drain rods, and read up on how to rod a drain first, as they can become damaged and lodge in the pipe, causing further blockages, if used incorrectly.

If you need a CCTV drain survey, call in a drainage engineer as this isn't a DIY job.

Do My Drains Need Cleaning and Unblocking?

You might not notice blocked drains until they start causing problems, but sometimes you do get warning signs such as:

• Overflowing Sink — A build-up of waste or grease can block pipes and cause the sink to overflow.
• Toilet Not Flushing — If the toilet won't flush properly, it might be blocked by too much toilet paper, or the wrong things having been flushed down it.
• Water Failing to Drain — If the sink or bathtub takes longer than usual to drain, or doesn't drain at all, it could be blocked by a build-up of fat, oil, grease, soap, dirt, or hair.
• Strong Drain Smell — If you notice a bad smell coming up through the drains, it's better to look into having them cleaned sooner rather than later, before the issue worsens.
• Gurgling Drain — One of the clear signs that your drains need to be unblocked is a gurgling noise, which usually means there is trapped air in your drains.

Preventing Blocked Drains

Without a doubt, the best way to deal with blocked drains is to prevent them from becoming blocked in the first place.

• Watch What Goes Down the Drain — Things like cooking grease, hair, and soap are well known for causing drain blockages. Dispose of cooking oils in the bin and always use a screen or grate to cover the drain opening when showering or emptying dish water.
• Keep Drains Clean — For gentle, regular maintenance, cleaning the drain using a handful of baking soda or a cup of vinegar will also help keep it running freely, provided the problem is not structural.
• Keep an Eye on Outside Drains — Tree roots can grow into drains and cause blockages. Regular inspection and maintenance can help prevent this before it becomes a major issue.

Checklist: Hiring a Drain Engineer to Clean and Unblock Drains in the UK

Before hiring someone to clean and unblock your drains, you should take a look at the following checklist:

• Are they a member of the NADC? The National Association of Drainage Contractors is the UK's main trade body for drainage engineers.
• Do they have relevant qualifications? Look for a DrainSafe certification or an NVQ in Drainage Construction.
• Are they experienced? Check that the tradesman has at least 5 years' experience cleaning and unblocking sinks, toilets, and drains.
• Do they have insurance? Make sure that they have public liability insurance to cover any damage to your property or injuries caused during the work.
• Will they provide an itemised quote? Ask for a breakdown of your drain unblocking costs so that you know what is included and whether there are any additional fees.
• Do they have examples of similar work? Enquire about previous jobs and check their MyJobQuote profile for photos and reviews of previous drain unblocking work.

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