Drain Advice

There is no single price for unblocking a drain. Here is what actually affects the cost in London, who might pay for it, and how to avoid a quote that grows once the work starts.

Safe DIY steps to try first, in the right order, what never to do, and the signs that mean it's time to stop and call a drainage engineer.

Fat, oil, food scraps and wipes are behind most blocked kitchen sinks and London's fatbergs. Here is what to keep out of the plughole and how to get rid of it instead.

A practical, safe guide to clearing a blocked toilet yourself, what to avoid, and how to tell when the real problem is the drain rather than the toilet.

How to decide whether a blocked drain needs an emergency call-out tonight or can wait for a booked slot, and what to do safely while you wait.

Recurring blockages, smells, damp patches and sinking paving can mean a cracked or collapsed drain. Learn the signs, the causes and how it's confirmed.

Tree roots can block and damage drains, especially older clay pipes. How to spot root ingress, how it's removed and how to stop it returning.

Drain smells usually come from a dry trap, built-up grease and gunk, a vent problem or a damaged drain. How to find the cause and what to try first.

A step-by-step DIY guide to clearing a blocked kitchen or bathroom sink safely, with the tools you need, the mistakes to avoid and the signs that the problem is further down the drain.

A slow, smelly or leaking drain can turn into sewage flooding, damp, subsidence or rats if it is left. Here is what can go wrong, how quickly to act and what to do first.