Quick answer
Stop using water, keep out of any sewage and move your belongings clear. Take photos, then report the problem to whoever owns the pipe. If sewage is coming up inside, mark your request urgent, because it is a health risk.
Stop adding water
Every flush, tap and wash adds to a drain that is already full. As a result, the first job is to cut the flow. Stop the dishwasher or washing machine if it is mid-cycle.
- Do not flush the toilets
- Do not run taps, showers or baths
- Do not use the washing machine or dishwasher
- Ask the rest of the household to do the same
Tell everyone in the home before you do anything else, because one flush can undo the effort. Be patient, since the drain needs time to clear.
Protect your home
If water or sewage is reaching the floor, move fast on what you can save, since water spreads quickly. Start with items you cannot replace. Lift furniture, bags and valuables onto higher ground.
- Roll up rugs and carpets if you can
- Block doorways with towels or sandbags
- Open a window to let fresh air in
- Switch off electrics near the water only if you can do it safely
Never reach for a socket or fuse box through wet floors. Leave electrics alone if you are unsure, since water and power do not mix.
Stay safe around sewage
Sewage carries germs, because it comes from toilets and drains. Yorkshire Water's sewer flooding page says not to walk through it. It also says to wash your hands and disinfect your footwear if you touch it.
Keep children and pets away from the area. If you must go in, wear rubber boots and gloves, and do not touch your face. Avoid eating or drinking nearby while the area is still wet.
Record what you see
Once you have limited the damage, collect the facts. They help whoever clears the drain, while photos also support any insurance claim. Keep these notes in one place.
- Take photos and short videos of the affected areas.
- Note when the problem started.
- Write down which drains, toilets or gullies are affected.
- List any damaged belongings.
Check whether your neighbours have the same problem, since that points to the owner. Yorkshire Water says that if they do, the blockage is probably in its sewers. That is useful to know before you report it.
Report it to the right owner
Because the owner of the pipe decides who clears it, find out whose pipe it is. Our guide to what counts as a drain emergency helps you judge how serious the problem is.
While City of York Council says drains inside your property boundary are your responsibility, it points shared sewers and pipes outside your boundary to Yorkshire Water. For a blockage in your own drain, the request form is open 24/7. Mark it urgent if sewage is coming up, and say where it is coming from.
Read the emergency drain services page for what to include, since each case needs different details. The sewage emergency page and the flooding emergency page cover each case. Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts.
What not to do
Some quick fixes make things worse, so avoid these while the drain is full. Each one can add risk.
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaners down a drain that is already backing up
- Do not lift manhole covers or try to clear a public sewer yourself
- Do not ignore a problem that keeps returning
Yorkshire Water says never to try to unblock a sewer yourself. Still, a drain that keeps blocking needs a closer look. Our guide to outside drain blockages explains how clearing methods work, and a camera survey can show the cause.
You can find help near you on the locations page. For example, see emergency drain services in York, drain unblocking in Selby and blocked drains in Haxby. The services hub lists the rest.
More pages cover emergency drain services in Malton and emergency drain services in Pocklington. Others cover emergency drain services in Easingwold and emergency drain services in Haxby.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a drain emergency?
Sewage coming up inside, water flooding out of a drain, several drains blocked at once and a strong sewage smell all count. One slow sink usually does not, although it still needs fixing. If in doubt, mark the request urgent and say what you can see.
Should I turn off the water supply?
Only if clean water is flowing and you cannot stop it, because a blocked drain does not need the supply off. Yorkshire Water says the internal stop tap is the quickest and easiest way. It is usually under the kitchen sink.
Can I use the toilet while the drain is blocked?
No, because each flush adds more water to a drain that cannot take it. Wait until the blockage is cleared. Use a toilet elsewhere if you can.
Who pays to clear the blockage?
The owner of the pipe pays. That is you for a drain that serves only your home, inside your boundary. Yorkshire Water looks after public sewers, while you look after your own drain, so check who owns the pipe first.
