Frequently Asked Questions

We are based in Southampton and cover the city and surrounding area within roughly 60 miles, including Eastleigh, Winchester, Romsey, Totton, Hedge End, Fareham, Portsmouth, the New Forest and Bournemouth. See our areas page for the full list, and contact us with your postcode if you are unsure.

Yes. We work for homeowners, tenants, landlords, letting and managing agents, and commercial premises such as restaurants, shops and offices.

Your postcode, which fittings are affected (toilets, sinks, showers, outside drains), whether water or sewage is rising anywhere, how long the problem has been going on and how urgent it is.

We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell us if your problem is urgent. Attendance times depend on your location and existing jobs, and we will always give you an honest answer about when we can get to you.

It depends on the type and location of the blockage, how accessible the drain is, how severe the problem is, the equipment needed and how long it takes. Contact us with details and we will explain the likely cost before any work starts.

We will explain the expected cost before starting work. If we find something unexpected, we will talk to you before going any further.

Some policies cover accidental damage to underground pipes, and some include drainage cover. Check your policy and speak to your insurer before work begins.

In England, you are usually responsible for the drains that serve only your property and sit within its boundary. Drains shared with neighbours, lateral drains beyond your boundary and public sewers are generally the responsibility of the local water company.

Southern Water is responsible for public sewers in Southampton and most of South Hampshire. In the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, it is Wessex Water.

Check your tenancy agreement and contact your landlord or letting agent first, as drainage is often their responsibility. If a blockage was caused by misuse, the landlord may seek to recover costs.

Wet wipes, fat and grease, food waste, hair, sanitary products, leaves and silt, and tree roots entering older pipes.

Recurring blockages usually point to an underlying cause such as build-up, root ingress, a dip in the pipe or a damaged joint. A CCTV drain survey can show what is happening.

They rarely clear a full blockage, can damage some pipework, and leave caustic water that makes the drain hazardous to work on. We would not recommend them for anything more than light maintenance.