A single blocked toilet or sink is usually a simple, local problem. However, when a toilet, sink and bath all play up together, the fault is rarely in one fixture. It usually sits further down the shared pipework. Knowing which pattern you have helps you and your engineer go straight to the right fix, so the next fixture does not back up an hour later. If more than one drain in your home is misbehaving, describe what is happening online and we will help you work out where the problem sits.

Telling Single-Fixture Problems from Multi-Fixture Problems

The clearest clue is how many fixtures the problem affects. A toilet that will not flush well, while every other drain works, usually has a blockage in the pan, the trap or the short pipe just after it. The same logic applies to a single blocked sink. If the bath and toilet drain normally, the problem is very likely in that one waste pipe.

Once two or more fixtures fail together, the picture changes. The blockage then sits further along a shared branch, where waste from several fixtures joins before it leaves the house. Clearing the visible fixture will not fix it, because the blockage is out of reach of that fixture.

There is a useful middle case too. If every ground-floor fixture is affected but everything upstairs drains well, the fault is likely below the point where the ground floor joins the main pipe. That detail narrows the search before an engineer even arrives, since it shows roughly where along the run the problem sits.

Why Reading's Housing Mix Makes This More Relevant

How fixtures share pipework depends on when a home was built, and Reading has a wide mix of housing ages. Victorian terraces were built for much lighter water use than we see today. Their narrow shared runs can struggle when several fixtures drain into them at once. Post-war estates and inter-war semis in areas such as Tilehurst and Earley sit somewhere in between, so their pipework varies a great deal. Therefore the first check matters.

Extensions and loft conversions add another layer. A new ground-floor toilet or en-suite often joins an existing stack at a point that was not part of the original design. For example, the new bathroom may back up whenever the old one is in use. That pattern turns up often in extended terraces and semis.

None of this means older housing will always have problems. However, it does mean that asking "one fixture or several?" is a useful first check, and not just a formality.

Why Clearing the Wrong Fixture Wastes a Visit

Treating a multi-fixture blockage as a single-fixture problem is the commonest way a simple job turns into several callouts. Clearing a toilet pan when the real blockage sits in the shared branch may restore the flow for a short while. The same symptoms then return as soon as normal water use resumes, because nobody touched the real blockage. That is why an engineer will ask about every fixture in the home, and not just the one that is obviously affected.

What to Check Before You Call Anyone Out

A few quick checks make a real difference to how fast we can diagnose a problem, because each one rules something out:

• Note exactly which fixtures are affected, such as toilet only, sink only, or more than one
• Check whether water rises in one fixture when you flush or run another, which shows they share pipework
• Listen for gurgling from a fixture that you are not using
• Check whether the problem stays on one floor or affects several levels
• Note whether it started suddenly or has got slowly worse over several days

Any of these details helps an engineer decide whether the job is a simple blocked toilet or blocked sink clearance. It may instead need a closer look further down the shared line, since the cause can sit out of sight.

When It Is More Than a Single Fixture

If several fixtures fail, or the same one keeps blocking within days of a clear-out, the cause is usually somewhere you cannot see. A proper diagnosis then saves more time than repeat visits to the same fixture. Our blocked drains team can tell whether the fault is in the fixture or further down the shared pipework. We then suggest the right next step, so you do not pay to guess.

You do not need to know the exact cause before you get in touch. The pattern of which fixtures fail, and when, often tells us where to start, because it shows how the pipes join. We cover Reading and surrounding towns including Bracknell. Get in touch online with a description of what is happening and we will advise on the best way forward.

Reading sits where the River Thames and the River Kennet meet. Much of the older sewer network carries foul water and rainwater in the same pipes. In heavy, lasting rain, that combined system can fill up, and water can back up through toilets, sinks and floor drains in low-lying homes. This is not the same as a blocked drain, and it needs a different fix. If water has come back up in wet weather, talk to us online about checking your property's backflow risk.

Why Reading's Rivers Change How Drains Behave

The Thames runs along the north edge of Reading, past Caversham, while the Kennet passes through the town centre. They meet at Kennet Mouth. Homes close to the rivers, and on low ground near them, often sit where the water table is high even before it rains. Some old watercourses also run in culverts beneath the town, so much of the water network stays out of sight.

Thames Water manages the public sewer network across Reading. In the older parts of town this network is combined, which means rainwater from roofs and roads shares a pipe with waste from toilets and sinks. In normal weather that works well. However, in intense or lasting rain the flow can exceed what the pipes were built to carry, and the water has to go somewhere.

Groundwater Is a Separate Problem From River Flooding

Flooding makes the news when a river rises, but a high water table causes a quieter version of the same problem. Where the ground around a drain stays wet, groundwater can seep into pipe joints that would otherwise stay dry. That adds extra flow to a system that already works hard. As a result, drains close to the rivers tend to fill sooner than drains elsewhere, even in rain that is not unusually heavy.

The Difference Between a Blockage and a Backflow Event

A blocked drain is a local problem. Something sits in one pipe, and clearing it restores the flow. A backflow event is different, because the network itself is full and water is pushed back up the pipe from beyond your boundary. Jetting a drain that backs up for this reason will not help, since nothing nearby blocks it.

One clue can tell the two apart. A backflow event tends to affect several neighbouring properties at about the same time, while a real blockage usually affects one property or one fixture. Spotting which one you have matters, because it changes the visit and the equipment you need. If you are not sure, a CCTV drain survey can show whether the fault is a blockage in your own pipes or a sign that the wider network is full.

What Actually Reduces the Risk

The Environment Agency publishes flood risk maps for the Thames and Kennet areas. Checking your own address against them is a sensible first step, especially for homes near the river in Caversham or along the Kennet through the town centre. After that, the most useful protection against sewer backflow is a non-return valve on the drain connection. It lets water flow out as normal, but it closes to stop water being pushed back in, because the valve works on pressure.

Keeping gutters, downpipes and surface gullies clear also helps, since it cuts the water that reaches the combined sewer. What suits one home may not suit another, so check the map for your own address before you spend on any protection.

If Water Is Coming Back Up Now

A real backflow or flood needs a quick response and not a booked appointment, because the damage grows fast. Our flooding emergency and sewage emergency services cover these cases, where water or foul waste enters a property and normal clearing will not fix it.

While we are based around Reading, we cover riverside towns nearby, including Henley-on-Thames. Contact us online if you want a property checked before the next heavy rain, or if you have a backflow problem right now.

If the same drain keeps blocking however often you clear it, tree roots are a common cause in Reading's older, tree-lined suburbs. Roots do not grow through solid pipe. They use a crack or open joint that is already there, then thicken until a one-off clear-out becomes a repeat callout. A CCTV survey is the reliable way to confirm roots and plan the right fix. If a drain clears and blocks again within weeks, book an inspection online before the next visit becomes another short-term fix.

Why Roots Target Drains in the First Place

Tree roots grow toward moisture and nutrients, and a drain full of waste water offers both. Roots do not force their way through sound pipe walls. Instead, they find a weak spot, such as a hairline crack from ground movement or a joint that has slipped open. Once a fine root gets in, it thickens over time and widens the gap. It then catches wipes, fat and other waste, so a slow drain turns into a full blockage.

Older clay drains, common in Victorian and inter-war housing, used rigid joints sealed with cement or clay. Those seals were never built to flex. Years of ground movement can open them by a tiny amount, which is all a searching root tip needs. Modern plastic drains use flexible rubber joints that resist roots far better. For that reason, replacing a length of old clay pipe can solve a root problem for good, and not just delay it.

Reading's Suburbs Are Particularly Exposed

Several residential areas of Reading combine two conditions that make roots more likely: mature trees and ageing drains. Streets around Earley and Tilehurst have large trees that were planted long ago. Builders often laid the drains close by, before anyone thought about where the roots would reach. A larger tree usually has a wider root system, so one tree can affect drains on several plots at once.

Victorian terraces in areas such as Katesgrove and West Reading have a related issue. Their narrow rear gardens often share a drain run, so a single mature tree can affect several neighbouring homes. This matters because the fix then involves more than one owner.

Diagnosing Root Ingress Properly

Root damage happens underground, so guessing is not reliable. A drainage investigation sends a waterproof camera through the pipe to record its real condition. That is the usual first step whenever a blockage keeps coming back in the same place.

Engineers grade what they see by how serious it is. Fine root hairs are a minor fault, while a cracked or partly collapsed pipe is a major one. The footage shows which one you have. It also shows how far along the run the roots have reached, which matters when we plan the repair, because a fault near an access point is easier to fix than the same fault far down the line.

Fixing the Problem, Not Just the Symptom

Once the survey shows where the roots are and how bad they are, the fix usually falls under our drain repairs service. We can reline the damaged section from the inside without digging up the garden. Relining feeds a resin-coated liner into the old pipe and sets it in place to form a new inner pipe. However, it only works where the old pipe is still strong enough to hold it.

Where roots have collapsed the pipe, or the pipe has moved out of line, we dig down and replace that section. This is usually the more reliable way to get a lasting repair, since the old pipe cannot carry a liner. The cost depends on how much of the run is affected and how deep the pipe sits. Every garden is different, so we assess the job before we quote. Request a fixed-price quote online once we know what we are dealing with.

Reducing the Chance of Recurrence

Clearing a blockage without dealing with the roots means the problem usually returns, because the roots are still there and the gap is still open. If you live in Earley, Tilehurst or any area with mature trees near your drains, a regular CCTV check can catch root damage while it is still a small repair. It also helps to think about drains when you plan your garden. Plant new trees well away from a known drain run, so you do not create the next root problem.

Since roots do not stop at town borders, we also cover Wokingham and the wider area. Get in touch online to arrange a survey.

Not every blocked or damaged drain in Reading is yours to fix. Pipes inside your boundary that serve only your home are generally yours. Once they join a shared run or enter the public network, Thames Water typically takes over. Getting this wrong can mean paying for a repair that was never yours to fund, or waiting on a water company for a fault on your side. If you are not sure where your problem sits, request a drain investigation online and we will help you work out who is responsible before any work begins.

Private Drains, Shared Drains and Public Sewers

Underground pipework falls into three broad groups, and the terms confuse many homeowners. A private drain serves one property and sits inside its boundary. The homeowner looks after it and pays for repairs.

A shared drain collects waste from two or more properties before it reaches the public sewer. In Victorian terraces, the rear drain often serves a whole row of houses through narrow back gardens. As a result, a blockage in one home can back up into several neighbours at once. A public sewer belongs to the water company, which is Thames Water across the Reading area, and it usually starts where the drain leaves the last property.

As a rule of thumb, the boundary is often the last inspection chamber before the drain leaves your plot. Anything before that chamber is generally yours, while anything after it typically is not. That rule helps, but it is no substitute for seeing where your chambers sit. They are not always easy to spot in a garden that has been paved, extended or changed since the drains were laid.

Some shared drains and private sewers have also moved into water company ownership in recent years. Many homes therefore own only the section of drain closest to the house. This surprises people, so check it and do not assume.

Why This Matters for Reading's Older Housing Stock

Questions about responsibility come up most in the streets where the drains are oldest, because shared runs are common there. Terraced homes in areas such as Katesgrove, West Reading and Newtown often share rear runs that were built for one Victorian household. They were not built for washing machines, dishwashers and power showers. When a shared run blocks, it is rarely clear from inside one house whether the fault is in your pipe or in the shared section beyond it.

The same doubt applies in inter-war and post-war areas such as Tilehurst, Earley and Whitley. Drains that were laid decades apart can meet at one junction. Sometimes the ownership line even runs through the middle of a garden.

Why It Matters When Buying, Selling or Extending

Drain responsibility stops being a theory when a property is sold or extended. A seller who has lived with a slow shared drain for years may never have asked who owns it. However, a buyer needs to know before completion and not after moving in. That is one reason a CCTV survey is a common check on older Reading homes, since it shows the condition of the pipe and where the boundary is likely to fall.

It also pays to check before an extension or loft conversion that adds a bathroom or kitchen, since new fixtures add load. New fixtures that join a shared drain add load to a run that may already be near its limit. It is far cheaper to learn that early than to find out when the extension blocks the neighbour's drain.

How to Find Out Where the Boundary Sits

The only reliable way to find out is to see the pipe. A CCTV drain survey records the full run on video. It shows where your private drain ends and a shared or public section begins, and it shows the condition of the pipe along the way. That is more useful than guessing from a manhole cover, because older homes often have layouts that do not match modern rules.

A good survey also records the pipe material and where ownership is likely to change. This record helps well beyond the first diagnosis, because it stays useful for years. If a dispute ever involves a neighbour, a managing agent or Thames Water, written evidence of where the fault sits carries more weight than an opinion.

While you wait for facts, nothing is lost. If the survey shows the fault is on your side, we can quote for drain repairs, from clearing a blockage to relining a damaged section. If the problem is in the public network, we will tell you plainly. You can then report it to Thames Water and avoid paying for work that is not yours to fund.

Getting a Straight Answer, Not a Guess

Drain responsibility is not always obvious, and a wrong guess wastes time and money. Whether you have a repeat blockage in a Katesgrove terrace or a slow drain in a Tilehurst semi, the starting point is the same. Find out what is happening underground before anyone commits to a repair. Knowing the facts first stops a simple job turning into a long dispute.

We cover Reading and the surrounding area, including Caversham on the north side of the Thames. Get in touch online to arrange a survey, or ask a question about responsibility before you decide what to do next.

1. Slow Draining Water

The most common early sign is water that drains more slowly than it used to. Your sink may take longer to empty, or water may pool around your feet in the shower. This usually means a partial blockage, and it will get worse over time because the waste keeps building.

2. Gurgling Sounds

Gurgling from a plughole or toilet means air is trapped in the pipe. A blockage restricts the flow, so air bubbles form as the water tries to pass. If you hear it after you flush or empty a sink, check the other drains in the house, since the fault may sit further along.

3. Unpleasant Odours

A bad smell from a drain tells you something is rotting in the pipe. Food waste and grease are the usual causes, since they stick to the pipe wall and decay. Cleaning the plug will not remove a smell that comes from further down, so do not stop there.

4. Rising Water in the Toilet

Watch the water level when you flush. If it rises higher than normal, or takes a long time to settle, a blockage is likely somewhere in the system. This matters more if it affects more than one toilet, because that points to a shared pipe.

5. Water Coming Back Up

Water that comes back up through a drain or toilet is a serious sign. The pipe has no room left, because the water has nowhere else to go. Act at once, because this can lead to flooding and sewage backup inside your home.

6. Several Fixtures Blocked at Once

When more than one drain in the house is affected, the problem is probably in the main drain and not in one fixture. A plunger will not help here, since the blockage sits out of reach. A CCTV check shows where it is, so the engineer can clear the right pipe.

7. Damp Patches or Water Marks

Damp patches on walls or floors near a drain pipe can mean water is escaping from the pipe. Pressure from a blockage can force water out through weak joints. Left alone, this can cause damp and mould, so get it checked while the damage is small.

What to Do Next

A plunger may clear a minor slow drain. However, repeat problems need a closer look. We can find the cause with a CCTV drain survey and clear the pipe with high-pressure jetting.

If a drain has stopped completely, our blocked drain specialists cover Reading and the surrounding areas. For urgent problems, our emergency drain service runs 24 hours a day. Send us a request through the contact form and we will get back to you.

Why Kitchen Drains Block So Easily

The main cause is fat, oil and grease. When hot, these liquids flow down the drain with ease. However, they cool inside the pipe and turn solid, so they stick to the pipe wall. Over time the build-up catches other waste and the pipe closes.

Daily Habits to Prevent Blockages

Never Pour Grease Down the Drain

This is the most important rule, because grease causes most kitchen blockages. Let cooking oil and fat cool and set, then scrape it into the bin, because solid fat is easy to bin. You can also pour small amounts into a container and put it in your household waste.

Use a Sink Strainer

A mesh strainer catches food before it enters the pipe. Empty it into the food waste bin after each use, while the food is still fresh. It is cheap, and it stops a lot of blockages before they start, so it is worth having.

Scrape Plates Before Washing

Scrape food from plates, pots and pans before they go in the sink. Even with a waste disposal unit, too much food can overload the drain, while a clear plate keeps the pipe free. Less waste in the pipe means fewer blockages later.

Run Hot Water After Use

After washing up, run hot water for a short while. This helps flush loose residue through the pipe. It matters most after you wash greasy items, since grease sets as the water cools.

Weekly Maintenance Tips

Hot Water Flush

Once a week, pour a full kettle of hot water slowly down the kitchen drain. The heat softens grease that is starting to build up on the pipe wall, since grease melts as it warms. Take care with plastic pipes, and use hot water rather than a rolling boil if you are unsure.

Natural Cleaning Solution

For a deeper clean once a month, try this gentle method:

1. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain
2. Follow with half a cup of white vinegar
3. Wait 15 minutes while it fizzes
4. Flush with hot water

This helps break down soft waste without harsh chemicals. Harsh chemicals can harm older pipes, so a gentle method is the safer choice.

What to Avoid

• Chemical drain cleaners: they can clear minor blockages, but regular use can harm pipes
• Coffee grounds: they do not clean drains and can add to blockages
• Flour and starchy foods: these form a paste inside the pipe
• Eggshells: they break into small pieces that catch other waste

When to Call a Professional

If water still drains slowly after you follow these tips, the cause may lie deeper in the drain. Repeat blockages are a sign of this, because a blockage that returns has a cause we have not yet fixed. A CCTV drain survey shows the exact cause, so we can fix the real problem.

For stubborn kitchen blockages, drain jetting cleans the pipe wall and removes grease far better than home methods. If you have a blocked sink that will not clear, our engineers can help. Send us a request through the contact form and we will reply.

What is a CCTV Drain Survey?

A CCTV drain survey sends a small, waterproof camera along your drains. The camera records video of the pipe as it travels. As a result, an engineer can see blockages, damage and other faults without digging up anything.

Why Standard Home Surveys Don't Cover Drains

A homebuyer's survey looks at the parts of a property that the surveyor can see and reach. Drains sit underground and out of sight, so they fall outside that scope. Unless a visible sign such as damp points to a problem, nobody checks them, and the fault stays hidden.

Common Problems Found During Drain Surveys

Tree Root Ingress

Tree roots seek out moisture, and a drain gives them plenty. Roots can push into joints and cracks, then grow until they block the pipe. Homes with mature trees nearby face the highest risk, since roots spread far.

Collapsed or Broken Pipes

Older homes often have clay or pitch fibre pipes that wear out with age. A survey can show cracks, breaks and collapsed sections. These faults may need digging out and repair, although relining can help in some cases.

Displaced Joints

Ground movement and heavy traffic can pull pipe joints apart. Waste can then leak into the soil around the pipe. Over time, this may harm the ground under your home, while the leak stays out of sight.

Incorrect Connections

Some homes have pipes joined to the wrong sewer, such as a surface water drain linked to a foul sewer. This can cause problems with the water company. A survey shows where each pipe goes, so you know before you buy.

Fat and Debris Build-Up

Even when a pipe is sound, heavy build-up can signal trouble ahead. You may want to clear it before you move in, because it only gets harder later. The footage shows how bad it is.

The Cost of Not Surveying

Drain repairs vary a lot, and the cost depends on the job. These are the usual types, from the simplest to the most involved:

• Simple drain unblocking
• Drain relining
• Excavation and pipe replacement
• Full drainage system replacement

Specifically, where a repair falls depends on the extent of the damage, the access to the pipe and the surface repair needed. A survey costs less than the bigger repairs, so it can save you from inheriting someone else's problem. Request a fixed-price quote online and we will confirm the cost before any work begins.

Using Survey Results in Negotiations

If the survey finds faults, you have several options:

1. Negotiate a price reduction to cover repairs
2. Ask the seller to fix the issues before completion
3. Walk away if the problems are too serious
4. Go ahead with full knowledge and plan for repairs

Each choice is easier when you have clear footage to show the seller, since facts beat opinions. The video also gives your solicitor something solid to work with, because it is hard to dispute.

What to Look for in a Survey Provider

Choose a drainage company that gives you:

• Camera footage you can keep
• A written report
• A clear explanation of any faults
• Advice on repair work
• A no-obligation quote for any repairs

At Reading Emergency Plumber, we carry out pre-purchase drain surveys across Reading and the surrounding areas. Our engineers explain what they find and give honest advice. If a survey shows damage, we also offer drain repairs, including pipe relining and drain excavation.

Ready to book? Because a survey takes little time, ask about a CCTV drain survey through our contact form.

Recognising a Drain Emergency

Not every drain problem is an emergency, but some need action at once. Treat it as urgent if you see any of these, because delay makes each one worse:

• Sewage backing up into your property
• Water flooding from drains
• Several drains blocked at the same time
• A strong sewage smell inside your home
• Visible sewage in your garden or driveway

Immediate Steps to Take

1. Stop Using Water

As soon as you spot a serious problem, stop using water in the property. Do not flush toilets, run taps or showers, or use the washing machine or dishwasher. Every extra litre goes into the same blocked pipe, so it makes the problem worse.

2. Protect Your Property

If water or sewage is coming into your home, move furniture and valuables away from it. Roll up rugs and carpets if you can, since sewage water stains and soaks in. Use towels to hold the water back, and open a window, because sewage gases can harm you.

3. Turn Off the Water Supply

If clean water keeps running and you cannot stop it, find your stopcock and turn it off. A stopcock is the main valve for your water supply, and it often sits under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Turning it off stops fresh water adding to the flood.

4. Avoid Contaminated Areas

Sewage carries bacteria that can make you ill, so keep children and pets away from the area. If you must go in, wear rubber boots and gloves, and do not touch your face. Wash well afterwards, and do not eat or drink there, because germs spread easily.

5. Document the Damage

Once you have limited the damage, take photos and video of the affected areas. Note the time the problem started, and record any damage to your belongings, since you may need it later. Your insurer may ask for this, so keep it safe.

What NOT to Do

Don't Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemicals will not help in an emergency, and they may make things worse. These products suit minor blockages, not major faults. They can also burn skin, so they add a risk while water is already rising.

Don't Try to Clear the Main Sewer Yourself

The main sewer runs under your property and joins the public sewer. Clearing it yourself is dangerous, and you may need permission to work on it. Leave it to an engineer who has the right equipment, because the job carries real risk.

Don't Ignore the Problem

Some people hope a drain problem will fix itself. It will not, and waiting lets more damage occur, since the water keeps rising. Repair costs usually grow the longer you leave it.

While Waiting for Help

Once you have asked for help, there are a few more things you can do:

• Clear access to manholes and inspection chambers
• Note where water is entering or backing up
• Check whether neighbours have the same problem, because that can point to a shared sewer
• Keep your phone charged in case the engineer needs to reach you

Requesting Emergency Help

When you contact Reading Emergency Plumber through our online form, we will ask for your address and postcode. We also ask what symptoms you can see, when the problem started and whether it affects more than one property. Your contact details let us call you back, so please check them.

Since time matters, we prioritise urgent jobs for emergency callouts across Reading and the surrounding areas. Our emergency drain services team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Whether you face a flooding emergency or a sewage emergency, our engineers carry CCTV cameras and high-pressure jetting equipment. That helps us find and fix the cause on the same visit where we can, because we can see inside the pipe. If you have a drain emergency, request urgent help online.

Traditional Drain Rods

Drain rods have been in use for a very long time. They are flexible rods that screw together, with different heads for breaking up a blockage. They are cheap, and many people keep a set at home, although they have limits.

How They Work

You push the rods into the drain until they meet the blockage. Then you push and turn to break it up or move it along. It works well on loose debris, but it relies on force and feel.

Advantages of Drain Rods

• Low cost: rods are cheap and easy to buy
• Simple to use: little training is needed
• No power needed: you can use them anywhere
• Good for simple blockages: they work on loose debris and light build-up

Limitations of Drain Rods

• Limited reach: they only go so far down a pipe
• Debris stays: they can push waste further along
• Risk of damage: careless use can crack a pipe
• Hard work: tough blockages take a lot of effort
• Dirty walls: they do not clean the pipe wall

High-Pressure Water Jetting

Professional jetting uses a pump to send water through the pipe at high pressure. A flexible hose carries a nozzle with jets that point forward and backward. The forward jets cut through the blockage, while the rear jets pull the hose along and flush the waste back out.

Advantages of Jetting

• Clears the whole blockage: it breaks up the waste and washes it away
• Cleans the pipe wall: it removes grease and scale
• Long reach: the hose travels a long way down the pipe
• Fast: it often clears a blockage quickly
• Prevents repeats: clean pipes are less likely to block again
• Gentle on sound pipes: used with care, it does not harm modern pipes

Limitations of Jetting

• Needs professional equipment: it is not a home job
• Needs water: the machine uses a good supply
• Costs more: it is dearer than basic rodding
• Not for damaged pipes: it can make existing cracks worse

When to Use Each Method

Use rods for simple blockages that you can reach from the access point. They also suit very minor slow drains. If help is not close by, rods may buy you some time, although they will not clean the pipe.

Choose professional jetting for stubborn or repeat blockages. It also suits grease build-up, tree roots and full blockages. Commercial properties benefit as well, because their drains carry heavy loads.

Why Professionals Prefer Jetting

At Reading Emergency Plumber, jetting is our main way to clear drains, because it deals with the whole pipe. It clears blockages that rods cannot reach, and it cleans the pipe wall as it goes. Clean pipes are less likely to block again soon. The water flow also shows us if something else is wrong.

The Professional Approach

When you contact us about a blocked drain in Reading, we start by checking the problem and the access points. Where needed, we use a camera to find the blockage, since seeing it helps us pick the right tool. Then we choose the right nozzle and clear the pipe with high-pressure water. We check the pipe is clear, and we give you advice on how to prevent a repeat.

Weighing Up the Cost

Rods may seem cheaper at first. However, they may not solve the problem, and you may then need a professional anyway. Poor rodding can also damage a pipe, which leads to a larger repair. Jetting gives a longer lasting result, because it cleans the pipe and not just the blockage.

If you think a damaged pipe causes your repeat blockages, a CCTV drain survey can show whether you need drain repairs. That way you decide before you commit to bigger work, while the facts are clear.

For reliable drain clearing across Reading, request a quote online from Reading Emergency Plumber. We also cover Bracknell, Wokingham and Newbury.