Blocked Outside Drain — What to Do Right Now
Outside drains back up because of leaves, silt, fat, wipes or a downstream blockage. Most clear in 30 minutes with rods or a jetter — a CCTV survey follows if it keeps returning.
Make it safe — before anything else
Lift the cover safely
Two hands, straight back, use the keys — not fingers. Manhole covers are heavier than they look.
Gloves and boots
Waste water carries bacteria. Nitrile gloves, waterproof boots, wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
Contain the overflow
If it's spilling into the garden, sandbags or a soil bund keep it out of the house. Don't hose it away — that pushes contamination further.
Don't run more water
Every additional flush, wash or shower makes the flood worse and pushes the blockage further into the system.
What Kevin (our AI) will check first
Message Kevin and he'll ask exactly these questions before we send an engineer, so we bring the right parts on the first van.
- Is it a gully (grated drain at ground level), a manhole cover, or a downpipe?
- Any smell — sewage, sour, or just muddy leaves?
- How many properties share the drain — is it a shared / lateral drain?
- Do you have autumn tree cover overhead — leaf-silt is seasonal and common?
- When did you last have the drains rodded or jetted?
Common causes of a blocked outside drain
Leaves and silt build-up
Autumn leaves rot into a peat-like silt that blocks gullies and grates. Simple rod + jet clears it.
Fats, oils and grease (FOG)
Fats poured down the kitchen sink solidify in the run to the manhole. Jetting cuts through; long-term a grease trap or better habits fixes it.
Wipes and sanitary items
Even 'flushable' wipes accumulate in the main drain. Rodding usually clears, jetting for stubborn rafts.
Root ingress
Tree roots enter through cracked joints in older clay drains. Cutter attachment on the jetter clears; CCTV shows the entry point for permanent repair.
Collapsed drain
Old clay or pitch-fibre drains fracture and settle. Only a CCTV survey confirms; usually needs excavation, patch lining or a full reline.
Honest cost band — why we won't quote blind
Typical
£140 – £280 for a standard rod-and-jet clear
Complex
CCTV survey £180 – £320. Patch repair / lining £600 – £1,800. Excavation for collapsed drain £1,200 – £3,500+.
A leaf-silted gully and a collapsed clay drain look identical from a manhole photo. £50 diagnostic gets you a written fixed price for the actual repair.
Fixed £50 diagnostic
Flat fee. No hourly meter running.
Fair quote or refund
Transparent pricing — refunded if we don't fix it.
Vetted UK engineers
DBS-checked, insured, real reviews.
AI-triaged in seconds
KJ chats first so the right engineer arrives.
Related emergencies
See all in the emergency plumbing hub — or the leaks & water damage hub.
Areas we cover for blocked outside drain
Same-day across Greater Manchester and Rochdale.
Blocked outside drain — FAQs
Dealing with a blocked outside drain? Chat with Kevin now
Real triage in seconds. £50 diagnostic visit — refunded if we don't fix it.
Related hubs: emergency plumbing, leaks & water damage, all services.
Chat with Kevin about Blocked outside drain