A drain emergency can strike at any hour. Sewage may back up into your home, or a blocked drain may flood a room. Whatever happens, the first few minutes matter because quick action limits the damage.
Who Deals With Which Drain?
Heavy rain can overload drains and sewers, and then water may back up where it should drain away. Before you call anyone, it helps to know whose pipe has failed, because the answer decides who can fix it.
Yorkshire Water looks after the public sewers. Its guide says that if your neighbours have the same problem, the blockage is probably in its sewers, while a fault that affects only one room is almost certainly in your own pipes. A blockage outside your boundary can still be Yorkshire Water's job, so ask it if you are unsure. You can read the details on the Yorkshire Water blocked drains page.
If you are not sure, a drainage engineer can check the pipe for you. A camera can show where the fault sits, since it records the inside of the pipe. That evidence helps if you need to report a public sewer fault.
Recognising a Drain Emergency
Not every drain problem is an emergency. These signs need action straight away:
- Sewage backing up into your property
- Water flooding from a drain
- Several drains blocked at once
- A strong sewage smell inside your home
- Sewage in your garden or on your drive
Immediate Steps to Take
1. Stop Using Water
As soon as you find a serious problem, stop using water. Every extra drop goes into a system that cannot take it. As a result, the problem gets worse.
- Do not flush toilets
- Do not run taps or showers
- Do not use the washing machine or dishwasher
- Turn off any appliance that drains water
2. Protect Your Property
If water or sewage is entering your home, move furniture and valuables out of the way. Roll up rugs and carpets if you can. Use towels to make a barrier while you wait for help.
Open windows to let in fresh air, because sewage gases can be harmful. Keep the room well aired until the engineer has fixed it. Close the door to keep the problem in one room.
3. Turn Off the Water Supply
If clean water keeps flowing and you cannot stop it, find your stopcock. It is usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Turn it off to stop more water entering the building, because every litre adds to the mess.
4. Avoid Contaminated Areas
Sewage carries harmful bacteria. Keep children and pets away from the affected area. If you must go in, wear rubber boots and gloves, and wash well afterwards. Do not eat or drink there, since germs spread easily.
5. Document the Damage
Once you have done what you can, record the damage. Take photos and video of the affected areas. Note the time the problem started, and list anything damaged. Keep it all, because your insurer may ask for this information.
What Not to Do
Do Not Use Chemical Drain Cleaners
In an emergency, pouring chemicals down the drain will not help. These products suit minor blockages, not major ones. They can also be harmful to handle while the drain is full of water.
Do Not Try to Enter the Sewer
Never lift heavy manhole covers or climb into a chamber. It is dangerous because of gases and deep water. Leave it to an engineer with the right training and kit.
Do Not Ignore the Problem
Some people hope a drain problem will clear itself. It will not. Waiting only lets more damage spread, and repair costs rise as a result.
While You Wait for Help
Once you have asked for help, keep going. There are a few more things you can do while you wait:
- Clear the way to manholes and inspection chambers
- Note where water is entering or backing up
- Ask neighbours if they have the same problem, since this may point to a shared pipe
- Keep your phone charged in case the engineer needs to reach you
Asking for Emergency Help
When you send a request, give clear details, because they help the engineer plan. You can send a request at any hour, because the form takes requests 24/7. Say it is urgent in the notes and include these points:
- Your address and postcode
- The symptoms you can see
- When the problem started
- Whether neighbours are affected
- Your contact details
Ask the engineer what they can do and when. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge and what the quote covers, since prices differ. Our page on emergency drain services explains what an urgent job involves.
If your problem is flooding or a sewage emergency, say so on the form. An engineer may use a CCTV camera to find the fault and high-pressure jetting to clear it. Ask which methods they plan to use, because methods differ.
When you are ready, request urgent help online. Read the warning signs of a blocked drain too, because early action can prevent the next emergency.
Emergency Drain Help by Area
Each page below covers emergency drain help in one area. Pick the page nearest to you, because it shows what to ask for.