Articles & Guides
Plain-English advice on drains.
These guides explain blocked drains, CCTV surveys, drain maintenance and repairs. We wrote each one for North London homes, so the advice suits the pipes you probably have. Start with the topic that matches your problem. Each guide links on to related ones, so you can follow a thread from cause to fix.
Every guide answers one question about drains. Some explain why drains block, while others cover what a CCTV survey shows or when relining beats digging. Because the advice is general, it helps you decide what to ask for before you send an enquiry.
Not sure where to begin? Read about blocked toilets, sinks and baths if the problem is indoors. Pick the guides on gullies, manholes and main drains if water is pooling outside. For a drain that keeps blocking, start with the CCTV survey guides, because a camera shows the cause.
Each guide uses plain words and short steps. We explain what a method does, when it works and when it does not. However, no guide can diagnose your drain from a distance, so send an enquiry if you want a quote for the job. Because we reply with a price before work starts, you can compare the options calmly.
Looking for a specific town? Our pages for Enfield, Barnet and Edgware add local detail. If a drain has just stopped working, go to our emergency page first.
Latest articles
Latest articles
10 September 2026
How often should you have your drains cleaned?
How often should drains be cleaned? A rough guide by property type across North London, the signs to act on at once and the case for planned maintenance.
Read article 
7 September 2026
The best way to unblock a toilet without a plumber
Unblock a toilet yourself with a flange plunger, hot water and washing-up liquid, then a toilet auger. Plus the signs the real fault is further down the drain.
Read article 
3 September 2026
How to unblock a blocked sewer pipe (step by step)
Step-by-step guide to unblocking a sewer pipe: finding the inspection chamber, rodding with the flow, staying safe, and when to stop and call a professional.
Read article All articles
Browse the full library.
-
31 August 2026Saniflo not flushing? Common macerator faults in North London homes
Saniflo humming, running non-stop or not clearing? The three most common macerator faults in loft and basement conversions, and what is safe to check yourself. -
27 August 2026Blocked drain in Edgware: what older clay drains need
Blocked drain in Edgware HA8? Older clay drains develop displaced joints and oval sections. Here is what fixes the problem, and what to expect from a visit. -
24 August 2026Why do drains block so often in North London's older housing?
Roots, ageing clay drains and hard water scale explain why North London's older housing sees so many recurring blocked drains. Here is how to spot each cause. -
20 August 2026Blocked drains outside: who is responsible — you or the water company?
Blocked drain outside your North London home? Since 2011 the water company owns most shared drains and sewers. Here is how to tell who is responsible. -
18 August 2026CCTV Drain Survey Cost: What a Survey Involves and What Changes the Price
What drives the cost of a CCTV drain survey, what a proper survey includes, and when you need one, from pre-purchase checks to Thames Water build-over rules. -
11 August 2026Clearing a Blocked Drain: The Complete North London Guide
The method, a room-by-room approach and prevention tips for clearing a blocked drain, plus why North London's older housing blocks more often than newer areas. -
4 August 2026Blocked Drain Pipe: Branch Blockage or Main-Run Failure?
How to tell whether a blocked drain pipe is a single-fixture branch blockage or a main-run problem, which DIY steps are safe, and when to call a professional. -
28 July 2026Collapsed Drain Repair: The Signs, the Causes and the No-Dig Fix
How to tell if a drain has collapsed rather than blocked, what causes it on North London's older streets, and how no-dig repair compares with excavation. -
15 April 2024Clearing Blocked Drains
How do engineers clear a blocked drain? See how jetting, rodding and root cutting work, and when each method suits the blockage you have in your pipes. -
10 April 2024About the CCTV Drain Survey
What is a CCTV drain survey and how does it work? See what the camera finds in your pipes, when a survey helps, and what happens once the inspection ends. -
8 April 2024Why We Use Drain Relining
Drain relining repairs a damaged pipe from the inside without digging. Learn what it fixes, why a camera survey comes first and when digging is still needed. -
2 April 2024Emergency Drainage London
Emergency drainage in North London: what counts as an emergency, what a call-out involves, and how to tell a genuine 24-hour service from a booking form. -
28 March 2024Emergency Drain Unblocking Near Me
Need emergency drain unblocking near you? Learn what counts as an emergency, what a visit covers, and how to check that a company can really help you. -
20 March 2024Clearing Your Blockage with Drain Jetting
How does drain jetting work, and why does it beat rodding for most blockages? See the process, what jetting clears best, and what a visit involves for you. -
15 March 2024What Are The Problems Caused By Blocked Drains?
Blocked drains can harm your health, your property and your garden. Learn the main risks, the warning signs to act on and how to avoid costly damage nearby. -
12 March 2024Problems Caused by Blocked Toilets
A blocked toilet can mean sewage backflow, damp, smells and repair bills. Learn what a blockage causes, what triggers it and when to ask a drain engineer. -
12 March 2024What Causes A Drain Blockage?
Grease, hair, wipes, roots and scale cause most drain blockages in London homes. Learn how each one blocks a pipe and the simple habits that help prevent it. -
5 March 2024Main Drain Keeps Clogging
A main drain that keeps blocking has an underlying cause. Learn the usual reasons, why a camera survey comes first and what to do while you wait for a repair. -
1 March 2024What Does a Drain Specialist Do?
What does a drain specialist do, and when do you need one instead of a plumber? See the services involved, from CCTV surveys and jetting to lining work. -
29 February 2024Why Invest in a Drain Cleaning Service
Is professional drain cleaning worth the money? See what it prevents, what a visit includes and how to choose a schedule that suits your home or business. -
28 February 2024Unblocking A Toilet
Learn how to unblock a toilet safely with a plunger, hot water or an auger, and when a stubborn blockage needs a drain engineer in North London to clear it. -
22 February 2024Drain Unblocker Service
What should you expect from a professional drain unblocking service? See what happens on a visit, the methods used, and what a good service looks like. -
20 February 2024What Is A CCTV Drain Survey?
A CCTV drain survey uses a camera to show the inside of your pipes on video. Learn how it works, what it can find and when to book one in North London. -
14 February 2024Do You Need a CCTV Drain Survey?
When is a CCTV drain survey worth it? See the cases that call for a camera, from repeat blockages to house purchases, and when a simple clear will do. -
10 February 2024The Benefits Of A 24-Hour Drain Unblocking Service
Drain faults do not wait for office hours. See why a 24-hour drain unblocking service helps in North London, and what to ask before you book an emergency visit. -
8 February 2024Keep Your Plumbing Efficient
Drains lose flow slowly as fat, hair and silt build up. Learn why efficiency drops, how jetting restores it and which habits keep your drains running well. -
5 February 2024Why We Offer 24-Hour Emergency Drain Services
Drains fail at any hour. Learn why we offer a 24/7 emergency call-out in North London, how to report an urgent blockage and what to do while you wait for help. -
30 January 2024The Importance Of Keeping Your Drains Clear
Clear drains protect your home from floods, germs and costly repairs. Learn why blockages matter, how to prevent them and when to ask a drain engineer for help. -
25 January 2024Does Drain Maintenance Matter?
Why does drain maintenance matter? Regular care stops blockages, protects your pipes and avoids emergency call-outs. See what maintenance involves and when. -
22 January 2024Why It Is Important To Have Drain Maintenance
Routine drain maintenance prevents blockages, hidden damage and costly emergencies. Learn what it involves, how often to book it and what to do between visits. -
18 January 2024How We Can Improve Your Drain With Drain Lining
Drain lining repairs cracked or root-damaged pipes from the inside without digging up your garden. See how it works, what it fixes and when it suits a home. -
10 January 2024Is Drain Cleaning Important?
Yes, drain cleaning matters. It stops smells, slow drains and blockages from building up. See what grows inside dirty pipes and how often cleaning helps. -
25 April 2022How Do I Know When My Drain Needs Cleaning
Slow drains, smells, gurgling and water backing up all say a drain needs cleaning. Learn the warning signs, what to try yourself and when to ask for help. -
16 March 2022How often should drains be cleaned
How often drains need cleaning depends on who uses them and what goes down them. See the warning signs, the benefits of regular care and simple home habits. -
13 August 2021Common Causes Blocked Drains
Slow drains, gurgling and bad smells often start small. Learn the common causes of blocked drains, from tree roots to wipes, and how to prevent each one. -
13 August 2021Who Is Responsible For Blocked Sewage
Who pays when a sewer or drain blocks? See how the split works between homeowners and the water company, and how to find out where your blockage sits. -
1 June 2021How to Clear Main Sewer Line
A blocked main sewer line backs up every fixture in your home. Learn the signs, what causes it, what to do first and why an engineer should clear it too. -
8 April 2021Sewer Backup in Basement
A sewer backup in a basement is a health risk. Learn the causes, warning signs, safe first steps and how an engineer clears the blockage across North London. -
8 March 2021Jetting Blocked Drains
Drain jetting uses pressurised water to break up blockages and clean pipe walls. See how it works, what it clears, when you need it and what affects the cost. -
13 April 2020How Can I Keep My Drain Clear of Blockage
Prevention beats cure. Learn what blocks household drains, the simple habits that keep them clear, and when a camera survey or an engineer is the better step. -
12 March 2019Bathtub Drain Backing Up
Is your bath drain backing up? Learn what causes it, how to tell a bath clog from a main sewer problem, and how to stop it happening again in your home. -
14 November 2018How To Unblock A Sewage Drain
A blocked sewage drain can back up into your home. Learn the signs, how to find the blockage in your chambers and when to hand the job to an engineer. -
10 October 2018Blocked Drain Outside House
A blocked drain outside your house can flood the garden and bring in smells. See the signs, the usual causes and the steps to fix it and keep it clear. -
5 July 2018How To Clear A Slow Draining Toilet
A toilet that drains slowly usually has a partial blockage. Try a plunger first, then see when to ask a drainage engineer for help and how pricing works. -
3 May 2018How Much Does It Cost To Unblock A Drain
There is no standard price for unblocking a drain. See what changes the cost, which signs mean a blockage, and how we quote a fixed price before work starts. -
7 November 2017Methods To Unblock Clogged Drains
Simple household items can clear a slow sink if you catch it early. Learn safe ways to unblock a drain, what to keep out of pipes and when to ask for help. -
6 October 2017Causes and Prevention of Blocked drainage
Blocked drains start with fat, hair, roots and flushed items. Learn the main causes of blocked drainage and the simple habits that help prevent it at home. -
12 September 2017Things That Get Stuck Down The Drain
Fat, wipes, hair and kitchen waste cause most blocked drains. See what gets stuck down the drain, why it happens and how to stop it in your North London home. -
9 July 2017What Can I do To Clear a Blocked Drain
Learn what you can do to clear a blocked drain at home, which methods to avoid and the signs that mean it is time to ask a North London drain engineer for help. -
15 May 2017How Drain Jetting Can Benefit You
Drain jetting uses high-pressure water to scour grease, silt and roots from your pipes. See what it clears, who it suits and why blockages stop coming back. -
18 April 2017How CCTV Drain Inspections Works
A CCTV drain inspection sends a small camera down your pipes to find cracks, roots and blockages. Here is how it works and when it is worth doing it for you. -
16 March 2017Do You Need Drain Clearance
Do your drains need clearing? See the warning signs, why dirty pipes cause smells and health worries, and when to call a professional for drain clearance.