Drain cleaning
Slow sinks, smelly floor traps and blocked toilets cleared mechanically — and the cause explained so it stays clear.
Overview
Most drains do not block overnight. Grease cools and sticks inside kitchen pipes, hair and soap build up in bathroom traps, and the wrong items find their way into toilets. By the time water stops draining, the pipe has often been narrowing for months.
We clear blockages mechanically — using drain augers, trap removal and flushing — rather than relying on harsh chemicals that can damage older pipes and seals. Once the line runs freely we check the fall of the pipe, the condition of traps and the venting, because a drain that blocks repeatedly usually has an underlying reason.
You will get honest advice on what caused the problem and what, if anything, needs changing to stop it happening again.
Our process
Every visit follows the same clear sequence, so you always know what is happening and why.
01
We check which fixtures are affected to work out whether the problem is local or in a shared line.
02
Traps are removed and cleaned, and drain augers break up and pull out the blockage.
03
The line is flushed and every connected fixture is tested for proper drainage.
04
We explain the cause and recommend simple changes or repairs to stop it recurring.
Warning signs
What's included
The exact work depends on what we find, but these are the tasks our plumbers routinely carry out as part of this service.
Grease and food build-up removed, with advice on keeping the line clear.
Hair, soap scum and debris cleared from showers, basins and floor traps.
Blocked pans and soil pipes cleared without damaging the toilet or seals.
Questions
We do not recommend it. Chemicals rarely shift grease or solid blockages fully and can harm older pipes, seals and the plumber who opens the trap afterwards. Mechanical clearing is safer and more effective.
Repeated blockages usually point to an underlying issue — poor pipe fall, a damaged section, a missing vent or heavy grease use. We look for that cause once the drain is clear.
Often a floor trap has dried out or its seal has failed, letting sewer air back into the room. Topping up rarely used traps and replacing faulty ones usually solves it.
Yes, where we can safely access it. In apartment buildings we can coordinate with management when a shared stack or line needs clearing.
Talk to a plumber
Tell us what is happening and get a clear, written price before any work starts.
