Blocked drains & drain unblocking in South West London
A blocked sink, toilet, bath or outside drain rarely clears itself — and chemical unblockers often just push the problem further down the pipe. We clear blockages properly, find out why they happened, and tell you honestly if the pipework needs more than a clear-out. Covering Richmond, East Sheen, Barnes, Putney, Twickenham, Teddington, Wimbledon and Kingston, with 24/7 call-out for drains that can't wait.
What a drain unblocking visit covers
Most blockages are cleared in a single visit. Where the same drain keeps blocking, we look for the underlying cause rather than charging you for repeat clear-outs.
Sinks, baths, showers & toilets
Blocked kitchen sinks (usually fat and food build-up), slow baths and showers (hair and soap scum), and blocked toilets. We clear the trap and waste pipe, then check the flow is fully restored before we leave.
Outside drains & gullies
Blocked external gullies, rainwater drains and soil pipes. If water is backing up outside or you can smell drains, call before it reaches the house — an overflowing gully is often the first sign of a deeper blockage.
Recurring blockages
If the same drain blocks again and again, something upstream is wrong — a cracked pipe, root ingress, a misaligned joint or years of scale. We trace the cause and quote the repair separately, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
What does drain unblocking cost?
Most internal blockages — a sink, bath, shower or toilet — fall under our bathroom & kitchen plumbing rate, from £90 fixed labour. Outside drains and recurring blockages are quoted individually once we've seen the setup, because the cause (and the fix) varies so much between properties. We always confirm the price before starting work, with no hidden charges. Emergency call-outs for overflowing or backing-up drains are available 24/7 at a transparent fixed rate quoted before we attend.
For a useful quote, tell us your postcode, what you want changed, the current fittings or heating setup and any access restrictions.
Blocked drains across our areas
What we tend to find in homes in each area we cover, and what to mention when you ask for a quote.
Richmond (TW9, TW10)
Period conversions around Richmond Green and Kew Road often share soil stacks between flats, so a blockage in one flat can show up in another. Older houses may still have original clay drainage runs under the garden — mention any history of repeat blockages when you call.
East Sheen (SW14)
Extended Edwardian and inter-war houses in SW14 often have waste pipes rerouted during extensions, with long horizontal runs that collect fat and soap build-up. If your blockage started after building work, tell us — the pipe route matters.
Barnes (SW13)
Victorian cottages near the river and the Common frequently have ageing clay drains, and mature trees around Barnes Common mean root ingress is a common cause of repeat blockages. Worth mentioning if the same outside drain blocks every year.
Putney (SW15)
Converted Victorian terraces and mansion blocks in SW15 share stacks and drains between flats — if neighbours are affected too, the blockage may be in shared pipework and not your responsibility. We check before quoting.
Twickenham (TW1, TW2)
Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Twickenham Green and St Margarets commonly have original clay drainage with decades of scale build-up. 1930s homes towards Whitton often have combined kitchen and utility waste runs that block with fat and food waste.
Teddington (TW11)
Larger Victorian and Edwardian houses in TW11 often have multiple bathrooms feeding one soil stack, so a partial blockage shows up as slow drainage in several rooms at once. Riverside properties near the lock can have high water tables affecting outside drains.
Wimbledon (SW19, SW20)
Big Victorian houses around the Village frequently have long drainage runs with several inspection chambers, and mature gardens mean root damage is a regular culprit. Converted flats near the Broadway share stacks — tell us if a neighbour has the same problem.
Kingston (KT1, KT2)
Victorian terraces near the town centre often have original clay drains, while newer riverside apartments have modern plastic systems where blockages are usually simple build-up. In KT1/KT2 flats, check whether the blockage is in your private pipework or the communal system before booking.
Wandsworth (SW18)
Plumbers, boiler repair and heating engineers across Wandsworth Town, Southfields and Earlsfield.
Clapham (SW4)
Boiler repair, emergency plumbing and heating across Clapham Common, Clapham Old Town and Clapham North.
Battersea (SW11)
Plumbing, boiler repair and boiler servicing around Battersea Park, Northcote Road and Nine Elms.
Balham (SW12)
Local plumber and boiler repairs across Balham High Road, the Heaver Estate and Nightingale Triangle.
Tooting (SW17)
Plumbers and heating engineers for Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway and the Totterdown Fields estate.
Fulham (SW6)
Emergency plumbing, boiler repair and servicing across Parsons Green, Fulham Broadway and Sands End.
Chelsea (SW3, SW10)
Discreet plumbing and heating for Chelsea homes and mansion flats around King's Road and Chelsea Harbour.
Streatham (SW16)
Plumbing and heating for Streatham homes, from Streatham Hill and the High Road to Streatham Common.
Earlsfield (SW18)
Local plumbing and boiler help for Earlsfield, around Garratt Lane and the streets off Earlsfield station.
Southfields (SW18, SW19)
Plumbing and heating for Southfields homes in the Grid and around Wimbledon Park.
Kew (TW9)
Careful plumbing and heating for Kew homes near Kew Gardens, Kew Green and the riverside.
Questions about this work
Should I try chemical drain unblocker first?
We'd advise against it. Caustic unblockers rarely shift a real blockage, can damage older pipework and seals, and make the job messier (and the water hazardous) when we arrive. A plunger is fine to try — if that doesn't clear it, call us.
My drain keeps blocking every few months — why?
Repeat blockages almost always have a structural cause: scale build-up in older pipes, a cracked or displaced joint, tree roots getting in, or a partial collapse. Clearing it again treats the symptom. We'll trace the cause and quote a proper fix separately.
Can you help if sewage is backing up?
Yes — treat it as an emergency. Stop using water in the property, keep people and pets away from the affected area, and call 07534 868419. If the blockage is in the shared or public sewer rather than your private drain, we'll tell you — that's the water company's responsibility (Thames Water in our areas) and free for them to clear.
Do you clear blocked drains in flats and conversions?
Yes. In converted flats and mansion blocks the blockage is sometimes in shared pipework, which can be the freeholder's or managing agent's responsibility. We'll identify whose pipe it is before quoting, so you don't pay for work that isn't yours to pay for.
How quickly can you get to me?
For emergencies — an overflowing drain or water backing up into the property — we run a 24/7 call-out across all our areas. For a slow-draining sink or bath, we can usually book a standard appointment within a day or two.