Quick answer
A blocked drain gives 7 everyday warning signs, set out below. One sign may be minor, while two or more together call for action. Water coming back up is urgent.
Slow draining water
Water that drains more slowly than usual is the most common early sign. A sink may take longer to empty, or water may pool around your feet in the shower, because it cannot leave fast enough. This often points to a partial blockage, which can worsen over time.
Gurgling sounds
Gurgling from a plughole or toilet after you flush or empty a sink suggests trapped air. Since a blockage restricts the flow, air bubbles back through the water. Gurgling in several fixtures at once can have another cause, so read our guide to the hidden signs of a blocked drain.
Bad smells
A bad smell from a drain often means waste is sitting and rotting. Food, grease or other organic matter may have stuck in the pipe. Masking the smell does not remove the cause, because the waste is still there.
A toilet that rises or clears slowly
Watch the toilet after you flush. If the water rises higher than normal, or takes a long time to settle, something may be partly blocking the pipe beyond it. Our guide to why a toilet is not flushing properly goes through the common causes, while a second slow toilet suggests the blockage sits further down.
Water coming back up
Water rising through a drain or toilet is serious. It can lead to flooding and sewage in your home. Stop using water at once, because each flush adds to the problem. Keep clear of any sewage.
Mark your request urgent if sewage is coming up, because that shows how serious it is. The emergency drain services page explains what to include. Say where the sewage is coming from.
More than one fixture affected
If several drains are slow together, the blockage is likely in a shared run rather than in one fixture's pipe. For example, a bath and a toilet may both slow down. Look for a pattern in which fixtures slow down, because it helps find the spot.
Damp patches or water marks
Unexplained damp on walls or floors near a drain pipe may point to a leak. A blockage is only one possible cause, however. Damp can lead to mould if you leave it, so ask for a camera check to see inside the pipe.
What to try first
Some minor blockages shift with simple steps. Take care, since a blocked pipe can hold back more water than you expect. Stop if the water rises or smells of sewage.
- Use a plunger on a slow sink, bath or toilet
- Clear hair and debris from the plughole and strainer
- Keep fat, wipes and food scraps out of the pipe
- Avoid strong chemical cleaners, which can harm old pipework
Prevention helps too, because it stops blockages forming. Our guide to preventing blocked kitchen drains covers the daily habits.
When to ask for help
Ask for help if a plunger does not work, if the blockage returns, or if more than one fixture is slow. A CCTV drain survey shows what sits in the pipe, while drain jetting can clear grease and build-up. Our guide to drain jetting versus drain rods compares the two methods.
Send a request through the contact form, which is open 24/7. Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts, because the cost depends on the job. The blocked drains page covers the service in more detail. Town pages cover blocked drains in York, drain unblocking in Selby and blocked drains in Malton, while the locations page lists each area.
More town pages cover blocked drains in Strensall and blocked drains in Bishopthorpe. For a wider view, see drain services in York, drain services in Malton and drain services in Haxby.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the first sign of a blocked drain?
Slow draining is usually the first sign, because water takes longer to leave a sink, bath or shower. Gurgling and smells often follow.
Can a blocked drain fix itself?
A minor blockage may shift on its own, but it often gets worse. A partial blockage can turn into a full one. Act early rather than wait, since delay lets it grow.
Is a blocked drain an emergency?
It becomes urgent when water or sewage comes back up inside your home. Stop using water while you arrange help, and mark your request urgent. A slow sink can usually wait for a normal request.
Why are several fixtures slow at once?
Since they may share the same section of pipe, one blockage can affect them all. A camera survey can show where it sits. Tell the engineer which fixtures slow down.
