Drain Unblocking Bournemouth & Poole

At Bournemouth Drains, we employ various professional techniques to clear blockages effectively and prevent them from recurring. Our most common method is high-pressure water jetting, which uses powerful streams of water to break apart and flush away blockages. This method is highly effective for grease, scale buildup, and tree root intrusion.

For more stubborn blockages, we use mechanical drain snakes and augers that can navigate through pipes and physically break apart obstructions. When dealing with complex blockages or investigating recurring issues, we deploy CCTV drain cameras to provide a comprehensive internal view of your drainage system, allowing us to pinpoint the exact location and cause of the problem.

Our engineers are trained in all modern drain clearing techniques and carry a full range of equipment on every call-out. This means we can tackle any blockage, no matter how severe, on the first visit. We also provide detailed reports and recommendations to help prevent future blockages, saving you money in the long run.

Kitchen drain blockages are among the most common drainage issues we encounter. The primary culprit is grease and fat buildup, which hardens inside pipes and gradually restricts water flow. Many homeowners don't realize that pouring cooking oil down the sink is one of the worst things you can do for your drainage system.

Food particles are another major contributor to kitchen blockages. Small bits of food that wash off plates can accumulate in the U-bend and create stubborn obstructions. Even with a garbage disposal unit, certain foods like potato peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells can cause problems.

To prevent kitchen drain blockages, always scrape plates into the bin before washing, never pour grease or oil down the sink (let it cool and dispose of it in the bin), and periodically flush your drain with boiling water to prevent buildup. If you notice your kitchen sink draining slowly, don't wait—contact us before a minor issue becomes a major blockage requiring emergency intervention.

Blocked toilets are distressing and require immediate attention to prevent overflow and potential water damage. The most common causes are excessive toilet paper, sanitary products, wet wipes (even those labeled "flushable"), nappies, and foreign objects—often courtesy of young children who find the toilet a fascinating place to dispose of toys and other items.

Many modern toilets are designed to use less water per flush, which can sometimes struggle with larger volumes of waste. Additionally, older plumbing systems may have pipes that narrow or bend sharply, making them more susceptible to blockages.

Our emergency toilet unblocking service is available 24/7 because we understand how urgent these situations can be. We use specialized equipment to clear blockages quickly and hygienically, and we always investigate to ensure there isn't an underlying problem that could cause repeat blockages. Remember: only toilet paper should be flushed—everything else belongs in the bin.

Bathroom drains, particularly in showers and baths, are prone to blockages caused by hair accumulation combined with soap scum. Over time, these form a dense mass that can completely block pipes. The problem is often compounded by the use of thick conditioners and hair products that don't break down easily in water.

Basin and sink blockages in bathrooms often involve a combination of hair, toothpaste, and personal care products. These blockages typically develop slowly over time, with water draining progressively more slowly until it stops draining altogether.

Prevention is straightforward: install drain covers or hair catchers in all shower and bath drains, clean these regularly (weekly is ideal), and periodically flush drains with hot water. For existing blockages, our engineers can use drain snakes or water jetting to clear the obstruction completely. We can also advise on products and practices to keep your bathroom drains flowing freely.

External drains are vulnerable to a different set of problems than indoor drains. Fallen leaves, garden debris, mud, and silt can wash into outdoor drains during heavy rain and create significant blockages. Tree roots are particularly problematic—they're drawn to the moisture in drains and can crack pipes and create obstructions that require extensive work to resolve.

External drain blockages often manifest as water pooling in your garden, overflowing gullies, or unpleasant smells near drain covers. These issues need prompt attention as they can lead to flooding, ground subsidence, and damage to your property's foundations.

Our team has extensive experience with external drainage systems. We use CCTV surveys to locate blockages and assess pipe condition, high-pressure jetting to clear debris and light root intrusion, and when necessary, we can perform excavation and pipe replacement for severely damaged drains. Regular maintenance of external drains—including clearing covers of debris and scheduling periodic professional inspections—can prevent costly emergency situations.

Drainage emergencies don't respect business hours. A severe blockage can occur at any time, causing immediate problems that need urgent professional attention. That's why Bournemouth Drains offers true 24/7 emergency drain unblocking services across Bournemouth, Poole, and surrounding areas.

What constitutes a drainage emergency? Overflowing toilets, rapidly backing-up sinks or showers, sewage backing up into your property, or external drains overflowing and flooding your garden or driveway. These situations can cause significant damage and pose health risks if not addressed immediately.

When you call our emergency line, you'll speak to a real person—not an answering machine—who can dispatch an engineer to your location quickly. Our emergency call-out vehicles are fully equipped with all necessary tools and equipment, meaning we can resolve most blockages on the first visit, even in the middle of the night. We charge no call-out fees, and our emergency rates are competitive and transparent—we'll always quote before commencing work.

Commercial properties face unique drainage challenges due to higher usage volumes and different waste types. Restaurants and food service businesses deal with significant grease and food waste, offices have heavily used toilet facilities, and retail premises often have complex drainage systems serving large buildings.

A blocked drain in a commercial setting can force a business to close temporarily, resulting in lost revenue, disappointed customers, and potential health and safety violations. That's why we prioritize commercial drain unblocking calls and offer service level agreements for businesses requiring regular maintenance and priority response times.

Our commercial services include scheduled preventative maintenance (recommended quarterly for high-use facilities), emergency call-outs with rapid response times, out-of-hours service to minimize disruption to your business, CCTV surveys and condition reports for property managers and landlords, and comprehensive drainage solutions including grease trap installation and maintenance. We work with businesses of all sizes across Bournemouth and understand the importance of minimal disruption to your operations.

Recognizing the early warning signs of a blocked drain can help you address the issue before it becomes a serious problem. The first indicator is usually slower than normal drainage—water that takes longer to disappear from sinks, baths, or showers suggests a developing blockage that will only worsen over time.

Gurgling or bubbling sounds from drains when water is running elsewhere in the property indicate air trapped in the pipes by a blockage. Unpleasant odors coming from drains suggest decomposing organic matter stuck in your pipes—this shouldn't be ignored as it can indicate a more serious blockage deeper in your system.

Other warning signs include: water levels in toilets rising higher than normal after flushing, multiple drains in your property draining slowly (suggesting a blockage in your main drain), water backing up into other fixtures when you use a sink or toilet, and visible water pooling around outdoor drains. If you notice any of these signs, contact us for a drain inspection. Addressing minor issues early is always more cost-effective than dealing with emergency situations later.

While we're always here when you need us, prevention is significantly better—and cheaper—than cure when it comes to blocked drains. There are many simple practices that can dramatically reduce your risk of experiencing drainage blockages.

In the kitchen: never pour fats, oils, or grease down the sink; scrape all food waste into the bin before washing dishes; use sink strainers to catch food particles; run hot water for a few seconds after each use; and periodically flush drains with boiling water to clear minor buildup.

In bathrooms: install hair catchers in all shower and bath drains; clean these weekly; don't flush anything except toilet paper—no wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds, or dental floss; use drain covers on basin plugs; and avoid using excessive amounts of thick hair products that don't rinse away easily.

For outdoor drains: regularly clear leaves and debris from drain covers; trim back overhanging trees and bushes; avoid planting trees with invasive root systems near drainage pipes; schedule annual CCTV inspections of your main drains if you have mature trees nearby; and ensure rainwater gutters are clear and directing water appropriately. Following these practices, combined with periodic professional maintenance, will keep your drains flowing freely for years.