What to Do for a Blocked Drain

Note which fittings are affected. One slow basin often means a local trap or waste. Several fittings, outdoor gully overflow or water rising in a shower when a toilet flushes usually means a shared branch, soil stack or main drain. In Chelsea terraces and blocks, roots, wet wipes and collapsed sections are common deeper in the run.

Stop putting water down the affected line. Bail standing water where you can. For a single sink, remove and clean the bottle trap with a bucket underneath — hair and grease often sit there. For outdoor gullies, clear visible leaves and debris from the grid only; do not shove objects down the pipe.

Avoid repeated harsh chemical “drain openers” in old cast iron or mixed plastic/copper runs — they can damage seals and still leave the blockage. Do not use a powered auger indoors without experience; you can crack traps or push the blockage into a worse position.

Call Emergency Plumber Chelsea on 020 3002 6667 for blocked drains across SW3, SW10 and nearby areas. We clear local wastes and more serious drainage with the right equipment and explain if CCTV or excavation might be needed — with honest cost guidance, not a surprise bill.

Quick tips

• Map which rooms fail together — that tells us how deep the blockage is before we arrive.
• Keep grease, coffee grounds and food scraps out of kitchen drains.
• In basement flats, act early: backing-up drains can flood living space quickly.
• If sewage is entering the property, keep clear, ventilate and call us — do not “wait overnight”.

FAQs