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How We Unblock Drains — Every Method Explained

Ever wondered what actually happens when a drainage engineer turns up at your door? Here's every method we use to unblock drains, step by step — from cameras to 4,000 PSI jetting — and how we choose the right one for your blockage.

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The right tool for the job

One blockage, six ways to fix it

No two blockages are the same, so we never guess. Every job follows the same four steps — it's only the tool that changes.

Assess the blockage — and run a camera down the pipe if the cause isn't obvious.

Choose the right method for the cause, the pipe and the location.

Clear the blockage — jetting, cutting or repair.

Prove it's clear, and tell you how to stop it happening again.

Method 1

CCTV drain survey — find it before you fix it

When a drain keeps blocking or the cause isn't obvious, we put a waterproof camera into the pipe on a flexible rod. The live feed shows us exactly where the blockage is, how deep it sits and what caused it — wipes, grease, roots or a damaged pipe.

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Camera fed through the pipe from the nearest access point
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Live footage pinpoints the location, depth and cause
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No guesswork — we pick the right tool before we start

Best for: repeat blockages, suspected damage or roots, and pre-purchase checks when buying a house. See our full CCTV drain surveys service.

CCTV drain survey — find it before you fix it

Method 2

High-pressure water jetting — the heavy hitter

When a blockage won't shift, jetting will. A unit in the van pumps water down a reinforced hose at up to 4,000 PSI. The nozzle fires jets forwards to cut through the blockage and backwards to pull itself along the pipe and scour the walls clean.

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Cuts through grease, silt, scale and even tree roots
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Pressure matched to your pipe — safe for the pipework
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Doesn't just unblock the pipe — leaves it clean

Best for: stubborn or deep blockages, grease from kitchens, and full drain cleans. See our high-pressure jetting service.

High-pressure water jetting — the heavy hitter

Method 3

Mechanical root cutting — for tree roots in the pipe

Tree roots sneak in through pipe joints hunting for water, then catch everything that flows past. A rotating cutting head on a flexible cable shreds the roots back to the pipe wall without digging up your garden.

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Camera confirms roots and locates the affected joints
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Cutter sized to the pipe shreds the roots out
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We'll advise on lining the pipe so they don't grow back

Best for: slow drains near mature trees and blockages that keep returning in the same spot.

Method 4

What you can try yourself first — honestly

Some blockages don't need us, and we'd rather tell you that upfront. A plunger genuinely works on small sink and toilet clogs near the plughole, and an enzyme cleaner can break down organic build-up over time.

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Plunger — worth trying first on sinks and toilets
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Enzyme cleaners — gentle on pipes, good for organic gunk
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Avoid caustic chemicals — they damage pipes and rarely work

When to call us: if the blockage is in an outside drain, keeps coming back, or more than one fixture is affected — it's deeper in the system than DIY can reach.

Method 5

Excavation & repair — when the pipe itself has failed

If a drain blocks again and again, the pipe is often the real problem — cracked, collapsed or badly damaged. No amount of jetting fixes a broken pipe. The camera's locator tells us exactly where to dig, so we only open up the ground we need to.

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Sonde locator pinpoints the damage before we dig
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Damaged section removed and replaced with new pipe
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Where possible we reline instead — no digging at all

Best for: collapsed or badly damaged pipes. See our drain repairs & relining service.

FAQs

Drain unblocking method questions

What is the best method to unblock a drain?

It depends on the cause. Blockages are cleared fastest with high-pressure water jetting, which cuts through grease, scale and stubborn build-up deep in the line. Tree roots need a mechanical cutter, and a collapsed pipe needs repair or replacement. That's why we diagnose first rather than guessing.

Do you always need a CCTV survey to unblock a drain?

No. Most straightforward domestic blockages are cleared with jetting without a survey. We recommend a CCTV survey when a blockage keeps coming back, when we suspect roots or damage, or when you want proof of the pipe's condition — for example when buying a house.

Can high-pressure jetting damage my pipes?

Used correctly, no. Our engineers match the pressure and nozzle to the pipe material and size. Jetting is safer for pipes than caustic chemical cleaners, which can corrode older pipework.

Should I try to unblock the drain myself first?

For a slow sink or a simple toilet clog, yes — a plunger is genuinely worth trying. Avoid harsh caustic chemicals. If the blockage is in an outside drain, keeps returning, or affects more than one fixture, it's deeper in the system and needs professional equipment.