External drains carry waste and rainwater away from the house. They include gullies, manholes, inspection chambers and the pipes between them. Leaves, silt, grit and tree roots can block them, and nobody sees the problem until water pools.
Look for water standing around a gully, a manhole that sits full, or a smell outside. Slow drains indoors can also point outside, where the pipes join. The drain unblocking guide explains how inside and outside blocks differ.
Ownership matters, since it decides who pays. Chelmsford City Council says Anglian Water handles sewers and blocked sewers in the Chelmsford area, and that you are responsible for the drain that serves your own property. For blocks inside the house, read about internal drain unblocking.
The engineer opens the gullies and chambers, since water levels show where the block sits. The flow direction also points to the cause. A full chamber next to an empty one marks the block.
Drain rods clear a simple block, while a high-pressure jet clears packed silt and scale. The jet also scours the pipe walls as it goes. The tool the engineer picks depends on the pipe and the block.
A camera can follow, since a cleared pipe may still hide cracks, roots or a displaced joint. This step is optional, so ask whether it is worth it. Footage shows cracks and roots that jetting cannot fix.
The engineer refits the covers and clears the surface debris. Then ask for advice on upkeep, since leaves and silt return. Ask whether the gully needs clearing again later.
Use these questions to compare quotes, since the answers differ from one engineer to the next. Write the answers down, since a written note helps if the job changes. Then compare two quotes if the job looks large.
These are typical UK ranges from national price guides, not Essex quotes. MyJobQuote lists an outside drain at £80 to £150 and a sewer drain at £100 to £200. HomeServe gives an average of about £386 for unblocking a private drain.
The figures differ, because publishers measure different jobs. Ask for a written quote before work starts, and ask whether there is a call-out charge. Roots or packed silt can raise the price, since they take longer to clear.
It depends on the pipe. Chelmsford City Council says you are responsible for the drain that serves your property, while Anglian Water handles sewers in the Chelmsford area. Since 1 October 2011, many shared pipes have belonged to the water company.
Yes. Roots can enter a cracked or open joint while they search for water. They then grow inside the pipe and trap waste, so a camera check helps when blocks return.
Chelmsford City Council says Anglian Water handles blocked sewers in the Chelmsford area. It also says a blocked private drain that affects neighbours can go to the council public health team. In Brentwood, check which water company serves your postcode, since both Anglian Water and Thames Water appear.