London Drain Unblocking · Same-Day Service · CCTV Surveys
Blocked Drains London — Same-Day Drain Unblocking, Jetting & CCTV Surveys
A blocked drain does not fix itself — the longer it sits, the worse the smell, the higher the backup risk, and the bigger the eventual repair bill. ARI Maintenance clears blocked drains across London and the M25 with same-day availability, CCTV diagnostics on recurring problems, and a 12-month guarantee on every cleared drain. Manual rodding, high-pressure jetting, and full pipe inspections all in-house.
Drain Unblocking — What It Is and When to Call
Drain unblocking is the trade discipline of clearing obstructions from waste-water pipes — sinks, baths, toilets, soil stacks, gully traps, and the underground sewer pipes connecting them to the public sewer. It splits into two activities: clearing the obstruction itself (rodding, jetting, manual extraction) and diagnosing the cause so it does not return (CCTV inspection, root assessment, pipe condition survey). The two are usually combined in a single visit so you get both the fix and the explanation.
Five signs mean it is time to call: slow-draining sinks or baths, gurgling sounds from waste pipes, unpleasant smells from drains, water backing up in sinks or toilets, and damp patches near external drain covers. If any of these have been going for more than a couple of days, the blockage will not clear itself — chemical drain cleaners poured down the pipe rarely shift the underlying problem and can damage older pipework.
How We Unblock Drains
Six methods cover almost every blocked-drain call. We match the method to the obstruction, not the other way around.
Manual Drain Rodding
The traditional approach. Flexible steel rods pushed through the access point until the blockage shifts. Effective for straightforward blockages close to a manhole or rodding eye, and for diagnosing whether the issue is local or further down the line.
High-Pressure Water Jetting
Pressurised water (up to 4,000 psi) forces through stubborn grease, fat, scale, and root incursions that rodding cannot shift. Also scours the pipe walls so the blockage takes longer to return. Standard for kitchen waste lines and any drain that has been blocking repeatedly.
CCTV Drain Survey
A waterproof camera fed through the drain to see exactly what is in there and where. Essential for recurring blockages, suspected root intrusion, suspected pipe collapse, and any pre-purchase property survey work. We supply the recording on request for insurance or sale evidence.
Root Cutting
Mechanical cutters fed through the drain to remove tree roots that have grown through pipe joints. Usually combined with CCTV inspection before and after to confirm the cut is complete and the pipe is structurally sound.
Pipe Repair Recommendations
If the CCTV survey shows a collapsed section, displaced joint, or root-damaged pipe, we report exactly what we have found and quote the repair separately — pipe relining, excavation and replacement, or patch repair as appropriate. No upselling on guesswork.
Scheduled Drain Maintenance
For commercial properties and HMO landlords: scheduled jetting visits (typically every 6 or 12 months) to clear pipework before it blocks. Always cheaper than emergency call-outs and avoids tenant complaints.
What You Actually Get When ARI Clears Your Drain
Four outcomes that separate us from the average drain-clearance search result.
Stop the Smell Tonight
Same-day availability for most blocked-drain calls. We arrive, locate, clear, and verify the flow is back — usually within an hour for accessible blockages. The smell goes with the water.
Cause, Not Just Symptom
Anyone can rod a drain until the water moves. We tell you why it blocked — grease, roots, debris, or a pipe defect — so you can stop it happening again. CCTV available on every job that needs it.
One Visit Where Possible
Vans carry rods, jetting equipment, and CCTV gear so we can clear, diagnose, and report in a single visit. If pipe repair work is needed it gets quoted on the spot, not booked as a return-visit cliffhanger.
Recurrence-Prevention Advice
You leave the call with a clear understanding of what caused the blockage and what to change to prevent it: which fats not to pour, which wipes are not really flushable, whether you need a grease trap, and whether scheduled maintenance is worth it for your property type.
How an ARI Drain Unblocking Job Works — Five Steps
The same five-step process every drain call follows, from a slow kitchen sink to a fully backed-up external manhole.
Call and describe
Phone 07796 382957, email, or send photos. Tell us what is happening and where — which sink/toilet/manhole, how long it has been going, what you have already tried.
Diagnose by phone or visit
For straightforward blockages we can often quote on the call. For recurring or unclear problems we attend, run rods or CCTV at the access point, and identify the cause.
Quote with cause and fix
Written quote covering the clear method (rod/jet/CCTV combination) plus any pipe repair work the diagnosis has revealed. Materials and disposal priced separately. Number you accept is the number you pay.
Clear and verify
Rod, jet, or cut as required. Run water through every fixture connected to the line to confirm full flow restored. CCTV the cleared section if there is any chance of a recurring fault.
12-month recurrence guarantee
Twelve-month guarantee that the same blockage will not return at the same point. If it does, we come back at our cost — subject to the cause being one we cleared, not new debris dropped down the drain.
Why London Property Owners Use ARI for Blocked Drains
According to Thames Water, fatbergs and fat-related blockages cost the UK water industry around a bespoke price million every year, with London accounting for the largest share due to dense restaurant catchments and ageing combined-sewer infrastructure. The 2017 Whitechapel fatberg — 250 metres of fat, wipes, and debris — is the famous case but the underlying problem is on every London street: domestic kitchen waste, "flushable" wipes that are not, and Victorian-era clay pipework with displaced joints.
Every drain we clear is diagnosed before it is cleared, so the cause is identified rather than just the symptom. Every plumber on our team is fully qualified and insured, we are rated 5.0 stars across 27 Google reviews and 9.94/10 across 32 Checkatrade reviews, and we provide 12-month recurrence guarantees on every cleared drain.
About the Drainage Team
Arianne 'Ari' Raofi, Founder
ARI Maintenance is led by Arianne ‘Ari’ Raofi, founder, who built the company in March 2025 to give London property owners one accountable team for every trade. Ari is on every quote that goes out the door for major drain work (CCTV-led repairs, pipe replacements, commercial scheduled-maintenance contracts) and Ray and the team handle the day-to-day rodding and jetting calls with diagnostic backup from Ari.
“A blocked drain is rarely just about the bit you can see. The visible symptom is a slow sink; the actual problem is usually a metre of fat in the soil stack, or a root that has been growing through a clay joint for three winters. Our job is to find which one it is and to leave you with a drain that does not block again next month.”Read our full story →
Drain Unblocking Coverage — London and the M25
We clear drains across all London boroughs from our Essex base. Most non-emergency drain calls are reached within 60 minutes during working hours; emergency drain back-ups within 1–2 hours via the 24-hour line. The boroughs we work in most:
Islington
Blocked Drains Specialist
Camden
Blocked Drains Specialist
Hackney
Blocked Drains Specialist
Haringey
Blocked Drains Specialist
Enfield
Blocked Drains Specialist
Barnet
Blocked Drains Specialist
Walthamstow
Blocked Drains Specialist
Leyton
Blocked Drains Specialist
Stratford
Blocked Drains Specialist
Ilford
Blocked Drains Specialist
Barking
Blocked Drains Specialist
Dagenham
Blocked Drains Specialist
Romford
Blocked Drains Specialist
Grays
Blocked Drains Specialist
For the full coverage map, visit our areas directory.
Recent Drain Work
Client Case Studies Coming Soon
We're documenting our recent work across London with full before/after case studies — coming as projects complete. In the meantime, our 5.0★ Google reviews and 9.94/10 Checkatrade rating cover the verified customer feedback.
Common Causes of Blocked Drains in London
Six patterns cover almost every blockage we attend in London property. Knowing the cause is the first step in stopping the recurrence.
Grease and fat buildup
The number one cause. Cooking fats solidify in pipes and collect debris over time. Particularly bad in kitchen waste lines and below restaurants.
Wet wipes and sanitary products
They do not break down like toilet paper regardless of "flushable" packaging claims. The 2017 Whitechapel fatberg was made mostly of wipes bound by fat.
Tree root intrusion
Roots find their way into old clay pipe joints (common in pre-1970s London houses) and grow until the pipe is completely blocked.
Broken or collapsed pipes
Ground movement, age, or construction damage. Always needs CCTV to diagnose. Common in conversions and properties on streets recently dug up for utilities.
Construction debris
Cement, plaster, and rubble washed into drains during building work. Usually shows up months after the build is finished.
Communal-stack issues in flats
The blockage is in your flat, but the cause may be one or two flats above. CCTV is the only way to tell.
Drain Unblocking Pricing — What You Will Pay
Drain unblocking pricing depends on the method needed. We confirm the price before any work starts:
- Manual rodding (accessible blockage): a bespoke price first hour, a bespoke price per half hour after. Most accessible blockages cleared inside the first hour.
- High-pressure jetting: a bespoke price–a bespoke price typical, depending on pipe length and severity. Includes setup, jetting, and flow verification.
- CCTV drain survey: a bespoke price–a bespoke price standalone (residential single-stack), or a bespoke price add-on when combined with rodding/jetting.
- Combined diagnose-and-clear (rodding + CCTV + jetting): a bespoke price–a bespoke price typical for a residential blocked drain with recurrence diagnostics.
- Scheduled commercial maintenance contracts: Quoted as a fixed annual fee after a site visit.
Materials and disposal priced separately and transparently. No call-out fee on standard estimates. The number you accept is the number you pay.
Got a Blocked Drain Right Now?
Call us to get an immediate ETA and damage-limitation advice over the phone.
Call 07796 382957Book drain unblocking →Real Customer Reviews
Live Google reviews pulling from the ARI Maintenance Business Profile. 27 reviews, 5.0 stars at last update. For Checkatrade reviews and verified plumbing-specific feedback see our Checkatrade profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drain unblocking cost in London?
Most drain unblocking jobs cost between a bespoke price and a bespoke price. Manual rodding for accessible blockages starts at a bespoke price first hour. High-pressure jetting is a bespoke price–a bespoke price. CCTV surveys are a bespoke price–a bespoke price standalone or a bespoke price added on. We give you a fixed price before starting.
What causes blocked drains?
Common causes include grease and fat buildup, wet wipes, tree root intrusion, broken or collapsed pipes, construction debris, and communal-stack issues in flats. A CCTV survey can pinpoint the exact cause if the blockage keeps coming back.
How do I know if my drain is blocked?
Warning signs include slow-draining sinks or baths, gurgling sounds from pipes, unpleasant smells from drains, water backing up in sinks or toilets, and damp patches near external drains. If two or more of these are happening, the blockage is already advanced.
Can you unblock drains in flats and apartment blocks?
Yes. We handle communal drainage issues in blocks of flats and work with building management to arrange access to shared areas. CCTV is often essential in flats because the blockage in your unit may originate higher up the communal stack.
Do you offer CCTV drain surveys?
Yes. We use CCTV cameras to inspect drains and identify the exact location and cause of a blockage. This is especially useful for recurring problems, suspected pipe damage, root intrusion, and pre-purchase property surveys. Recording supplied on request.
How long does drain jetting take?
Standard residential jetting takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the length of pipe and severity of the blockage. Commercial jobs and full-stack jetting can take 2 to 4 hours. We quote the time before starting.
Will jetting damage my drains?
Not on sound pipework. Modern jetting equipment uses calibrated pressure to clear blockages without harming PVC, cast iron, or modern clay pipework in good condition. On already-damaged pipes (collapsed or root-cracked) we run a CCTV inspection first and recommend repair instead of jetting.
Do you fix the cause of the blockage as well as clearing it?
If the cause is something fixable on the same visit (root cutting, scaled pipe, accessible damaged section) we usually can. If the CCTV reveals a collapsed pipe or major repair, we report what we have found and quote the repair separately. No upselling on guesswork.
Related Services
Other ARI Maintenance services that pair with drain work.
Plumbing Services
Full residential and commercial plumbing — planned repairs, refurbishments, and maintenance contracts.
View plumbing services across LondonEmergency Plumber
24-hour rapid response for burst pipes, major leaks, and severe drain back-ups across London and the M25.
View emergency plumber services across LondonBlocked Toilet
Same-day clearance for blocked or overflowing toilets, including communal-stack diagnostics in flats.
View blocked toilet services across LondonBoiler Repair
Boiler diagnostics and parts replacement — particularly relevant where condensate-pipe blockages are causing fault codes.
View boiler repair services across LondonGot a Blocked Drain Right Now?
Call ARI Maintenance for a rapid response across London and the M25. We clear the blockage and diagnose the cause so it doesn't come back.
Last updated: 30 April 2026