Blocked drains
Sometimes we accidentally put things down sinks, toilets or drains that shouldn’t go there, so here’s a quick reminder of what to avoid:
- Fat, oil and food scraps that harden inside pipes
- Wet wipes
- Sanitary items, including towels and tampons
If you’re ever unsure, it’s safest to put it in the bin.
If you’re a renting customer
- If more than one area in your home is blocked, please let us know. We’ll arrange for a plumber to come and help get things flowing again. And if it needs more specialist attention, we’ll make sure the right team is booked in.
- If the blockage is only in one area, you’ll need to arrange to have it unblocked yourself. We know this can be frustrating, but we’re always here if you’re unsure or need advice on what to do next.
If you’re a shared owner or leaseholder
- We’re not able to carry out internal repairs inside your home for this, you’ll need to use your own contractor or plumber if work needs to be done
- If your plumber or contractor discovers a faulty pipe that may be connected to other homes, please let us know. We’ll take a look, assess the issue, and arrange any repairs that are needed
If the blockage is inside your home, it’s something you’ll need to get unblocked, but we’re here if you need advice
It’s likely to be just your home if:
- Your neighbours aren’t having any drain problems
- Your home doesn’t share a drain with others
- There’s no flooding in the local area
- Upstairs facilities are affected but downstairs is working
- The drain or sewer access point outside is clear
If you’re able to try fixing it yourself, you could:
- Avoid putting acid down the pipe. If you’ve already used it, let the plumber know
- Undo the trap under the sink or basin to check for a build‑up of grease or waste. If you remove the trap, cover the open pipe to stop leaks
- Use hot water and baking soda to help move the blockage. Please take care with hot water. Avoid using hot water with washing liquid, as this can cause the blockage to solidify.
- Try using a plunger to help shift the blockage
You can help prevent blockages by:
- Wiping grease from plates and pans before washing
- Using sink strainers to catch small bits of food
- Putting coffee grounds in the bin
- Putting wet wipes, kitchen roll and sanitary products in the bin
- Avoiding pouring fat, oil and grease down the sink
- Checking your connections, washing machines can sometimes be connected to the wrong pipe
- Using the right amount of washing liquid, as too much can build up and block pipework
