Clear blockages in external drains, gullies, and manholes serving London properties.
Free, no-obligation — we'll call you back fast.
External drain unblocking across London covers the drainage outside your property — gullies, soakaways, inspection chambers, and the drain run from your property to the public sewer boundary. External drains are frequently affected by leaf and debris build-up, root intrusion from garden plants and street trees, and ground movement that displaces pipe joints. Furthermore, in London's denser boroughs the lateral drain often passes beneath neighbouring gardens or shared rear access lanes, so locating the true blockage requires methodical access at multiple points rather than working from a single chamber. We clear external drains using high-pressure jetting and manual access to inspection chambers. In addition to clearing the blockage, we always confirm whether the affected pipe run is private or part of the Thames Water-adopted shared sewer network. Therefore, where the issue lies on the adopted side of the boundary, we provide the documentation you need to recover the cost from Thames Water rather than absorbing it yourself. As a result, customers in Victorian terraces with shared drainage often save the entire clearance fee through a successful claim. That said, where roots are the root cause — common in London streets with mature plane and lime trees — we recommend a follow-up CCTV survey because jetting alone will not stop the roots returning through the same open joint. A spot-relined section is usually the permanent fix, and we can quote that work directly from the survey footage.
Locate all external inspection chambers and access points
Assess blockage location from the most accessible point
Clear the blockage by high-pressure jetting or manual rodding
Test all external drainage by running water from the house
Advise on any structural issues found during clearance
External drain unblocking for London residential properties costs £100-£200 for standard clearance. Jobs involving difficult access, deep manholes, or jetting requirements are priced individually.
If roots are causing recurring external drain blockages, jetting will clear the current blockage but the roots will re-enter through the same open joint. The permanent solution is to reline the affected section — creating a continuous, root-resistant bore that roots cannot penetrate. A CCTV survey will confirm exactly which section needs relining.