Overflowing drains; causes and prevention

Overflowing drains can be a nuisance, but if caught and dealt with early on they are relatively easy to fix and you might be able to avoid more serious leaks, overflows or electrical damage which can sometimes occur. If you’d prefer to call the experts in, our specialist drainage engineers are on call 24 hours a day.

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There are various factors to consider when looking at the cause of overflowing drains, including:

Is your drain indoors or outside?

If your drain is outside it will most likely have been caused by a build-up of dead leaves, or even tree roots which can find their way into pipes and cause a barrier to the flow of water. If it’s an indoor blockage, it could have occurred because of heavy materials or objects being flushed down the drain. Overflowing drains are often caused by sanitary products, paper towels or other hard to flush materials which can clog pipes and obstruct drains. Wipes, tissues, and even hair can also be the culprits.

Is it a kitchen, bathroom or toilet drain?

As above, if drains in the toilet or bathroom are a problem, it’s usually due to the items you flush down your toilet. If on the other hand, if it’s a kitchen drain, it could be because of food particles, grease and other debris which is washed into the pipes from your kitchen sink or washer. These can cause significant blockages which may require a professional drainage engineer. If you think you may have one of these problems then give our contact centre a call on 0203 9259941.

Preventing Overflowing Drains

There are steps you can take to prevent blockages from happening, and these should be part of your everyday household routine. If you’re careful about what goes into your drains and what lies around them, you’ll be able to avoid some of the unpleasant side effects of blocked drains, including:

– Foul smelling water
– Leaking roofs, walls or ceilings
– Damage to wiring or electrical fittings

Kitchen

The most important thing you can do to prevent drains from becoming blocked in the first place is to monitor the waste that goes down your drain pipes on a regular basis. For kitchens, this means scraping plates thoroughly to ensure food does not go down drains, and using adequate soaps and detergents to break down the grease and oil used in cooking. Don’t pour grease directly down the drain; if possible pour it into a container, wait for it to cool and throw it in the bin. If you must pour it into the drain, always follow with a blast of cold water as this solidifies the grease and stops it from clinging to pipes.

Bathroom

In the bathroom, avoid dropping any foreign objects such as hair grips down drains as these will quickly collect other debris such as hair and cause a block. Nappies, tampons, face wipes, and cotton wool should be placed in the bin and not flushed down toilets where they may get jammed in narrow pipes and cause an overflow of water. Using excessive amounts of toilet paper can also be a common factor in drains becoming blocked, so ensure you are using just enough each time.

Outdoor drainage

It goes without saying that you should always try to keep the drains in your yard free from leaves, foliage or any other garden waste which could be washed into the drain and cause an obstruction. Sweeping your garden regularly and using a compost heap for leaves is one way of preventing these drains from overflowing.

If drains become a problem, you may need to get a professional drainage engineer out to pinpoint the cause and alleviate the blockage. There are certain techniques a drainage expert will use, including using specialist CCTV cameras to look at awkward and hard to reach drains to see what has blocked the flow of water. Professional plumbers can also advise you of what to do in future to prevent this from happening again.

We have a specialised workforce who can handle all issues with overflowing and blocked drains, and offer a range of services related to drainage in your home. If you are suffering with any of the signs above, give us a call and we will send out one of our fully trained engineers to resolve the problem.

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What others have said

  • hi . our toilet gets blocked once in a while due to the outside drains being filled with rubbish leaves etc .... our toilet is just about to flood the room now due to some blockage .... we don't throw stuff down the toilet we not suppose to .... so who must i now get hold of to come clear the drains please , its rather urgent

  • Hi Martine, If your toilet's about to flood, then you need a drainage engineer fast! We can respond to your emergency quickly, and with priority attendance, we can arrive in 60 mins of your booking at no extra charge. Please book online or call the number on this page to set up an emergency visit. If leaves in the drains really are the issue (or part of it), there are steps we can take to protect them from debris. Depending on the cause of your problem and how often your drains are used, your engineer may recommend scheduled drain cleaning to prevent issues in the future. We'll be able to advise further after the investigation.

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