Frequently Asked Questions

The cost depends on the cause, how easy the drain is to reach and the time of day. A simple sink blockage usually costs less than a collapsed pipe. Ask for a written quote, and compare it with at least one other.

Some drainage engineers charge a call-out fee, while others do not. The engineer who takes your job sets that, so ask before anyone attends, because it changes the first bill. Get the answer in writing if you can.

No. The request form is free to use, and you do not have to go ahead with any quote. Any charge for a visit or for work comes from the engineer, so ask about it first.

It should name the work, the total price and any VAT that applies. It should also say what happens if the job turns out bigger. If anything is unclear, ask before you agree, since a quote is hard to change later.

This site cannot say, because the time depends on the engineer who takes your job. Say it is urgent in the notes and add your postcode. Then ask for an arrival time when you hear back.

Sewage coming back up into your home is urgent, because it is a health risk. Water pouring into a room is urgent too. A slow sink is usually less urgent, but it often gets worse, so do not leave it for weeks.

Stop using the sink, toilet or shower that drains badly, because more water can make the flooding worse. Keep children and pets away from sewage. Wash your hands well if you touch it, because sewage carries germs.

It depends on where the blockage is. Yorkshire Water says that if your neighbours have the same problem, the blockage is probably in its sewers. If only one room is affected, the blockage is almost certainly in your own pipes. A blockage outside your boundary, or in a pipe you share, can be a job for Yorkshire Water, so ask it if you are unsure.

Leeds City Council cleans the gullies on the public highway. It says homeowners look after the drains that serve their own property, up to the boundary. Yorkshire Water looks after the shared sewers beyond it.

Check your tenancy agreement first, since it may say who pays. Then tell your landlord or agent in writing as soon as you spot the problem. If someone caused the blockage, the cost may fall to them.

A small camera goes inside the pipe and shows what is wrong. For example, it can show a crack, a root or a build-up of fat. You can ask for a copy of the footage and the report.

A standard house survey usually covers only what the surveyor can see, however. It does not normally put a camera inside the underground pipes. Ask your surveyor what they cover, and think about a pre-purchase drain survey.

A hose fires high-pressure water along the pipe. The water breaks up grease and silt and flushes it away. As a result, it cleans the pipe walls as well as the blockage.

Rods push or break up a blockage by hand. Jetting uses water pressure and cleans more of the pipe wall. The right choice depends on the blockage, so ask the engineer why they suggest one.

It is a no-dig repair. A resin-coated liner goes inside the old pipe and hardens to form a new pipe wall. It can avoid digging up a garden, but a survey first shows whether it suits the damage.

Strong chemicals can harm some pipes, and they are risky if they splash. They may not shift a solid blockage either. If one fails, do not add a second product, because mixing cleaners can be dangerous.

Yes. Roots can grow into a crack or a loose joint and then block the pipe, because they seek water. A camera survey can show whether roots are the cause, so you can pick the right repair.

Keep fat and cooking oil out of the sink, because it sets hard in cold pipes. Put wet wipes and sanitary items in the bin, not the toilet. A drain guard also catches hair and food scraps before they reach the pipe.

This site has a page for ten areas, from Leeds city centre out to Wetherby and Otley. Open the locations page to see them all. If your town is not there, send a request anyway, since the engineer may still cover it.

Yes. You can ask for help for a home, a rental or a business premises, while the form works the same for each. Say which one it is in your request, because the right engineer may differ.