The request form on this page accepts messages 24/7. Mark your request urgent if water is rising, to help the engineer decide what to do first. Then use the questions below when the engineer replies.
The request form accepts addresses in Easingwold and these nearby districts and villages:
Easingwold is a market town north of York. The Market Place sits at its heart, with Long Street and Chapel Street close by, while newer estates ring the edges. About 5,000 people lived in the town at the 2021 Census. Its drains range from old runs near the centre to newer ones on the edges.
Yorkshire Water runs the sewers in Easingwold. It has announced a surface-water sewer storage scheme on Back Lane. The aim is to hold back storm water, since heavy rain can put pressure on drains. The scheme does not cover your own pipes.
Some homes near the centre are older. Owners may have added bathrooms and kitchens over the years. Extra fittings put more load on old pipes, because the pipes were laid for less use. A survey is wise before you buy.
Homes on the edge of town and in nearby villages may not have mains sewers. Some use septic tanks or cesspits instead, although each home differs. Ask the seller where the tank sits. Ask when it was last emptied, because a full tank causes trouble.
Tree roots are a common cause of trouble in older gardens, since roots seek out small cracks in pipes. Slow drains that keep coming back often point to roots. A camera survey shows whether roots have got in. It also shows if a joint has shifted.
Keep gutters and gullies clear in wet weather, because water that cannot leave the garden can seep towards the house. Check that surface water runs away from your walls. Look at the gullies after a storm. Leaves and silt collect there fast.
Blocked drains in homes that share a pipe often start in the shared run. If your neighbours have slow drains too, the fault may sit in the shared run. Yorkshire Water looks after public sewers, while you look after drains inside your boundary. A short chat with neighbours can save time and cost.
Market days bring stalls and extra traffic to the Market Place. Keep the gullies near your property clear of leaves and litter, because they block fast. The council clears road gullies, but you must keep your own clear. Report a blocked road gully to the council.
Toilet playing up? Read why a toilet will not flush properly. Leaves, silt and roots can all block outside drains, as the page on why outside drains block and how they are cleared explains.
Yorkshire Water runs the public sewers in Easingwold. Your own drain, inside your boundary, is yours to look after. The company has announced a surface-water sewer storage scheme on Back Lane, although it does not cover your own pipes. If you think a public sewer is at fault, contact Yorkshire Water.
Ask for a camera survey of the drains before you commit. Older homes often have pipes that owners changed over time. Ask where the drains run, since extensions may sit on top of them. Check the survey notes for cracks, roots and sags.
Some homes outside the mains sewer area do. A septic tank needs emptying from time to time, while the general binding rules set limits on where it may discharge. Ask the seller for records and the tank location. Ask too when the tank was last emptied.
Yes, roots can enter small cracks in older pipes, because they seek water. This often causes slow drains that keep coming back. A camera survey shows where roots have entered. The engineer can then explain the options for clearing and repair.
Only water, human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Put wipes in the bin, even ones sold as flushable. Yorkshire Water says wipes cause nearly 50% of blockages in Yorkshire. Keep fat and grease out of the sink, because it sets hard in cold pipes. A strainer in the sink catches food scraps.