{"id":15322,"date":"2024-12-03T15:20:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T15:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/?p=15322"},"modified":"2024-12-03T15:20:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T15:20:53","slug":"how-to-unblock-drains-outside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/2024\/12\/03\/how-to-unblock-drains-outside\/","title":{"rendered":"How to unblock drains outside?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your drainage system is out of sight, out of mind \u2014 until it gets clogged up. Leaves, outdoor debris, and household waste can all cause <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/domestic-drainage\/blocked-drains\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blocked drains<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and nasty odours. The good news is that a mild drain blockage can be simple to deal with yourself, so let&#8217;s take a closer look at how to unblock drains outside.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And don\u2019t forget, if you\u2019re faced with stubborn blocked drains, you can always <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact Drain 365<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for fast, effective drainage services across <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/locations\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">London and the surrounding areas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs you may have a blocked drain outside<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve heard strange gurgling&#8217;s or noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your external drains, it could indicate a blockage. Other tell-tale signs include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slow drainage from your sinks, bath or shower<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signs of water damage, like staining and mould growth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raised water levels when you flush your toilet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve experienced any of these warning signs, it\u2019s important to take action quickly to prevent further issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes external drain blockages?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of culprits when it comes to blocked drains, including twigs and leaves, moss, soil, mud and other outdoor debris. Sometimes, even tree roots can be at the heart of the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it\u2019s not only what\u2019s outside your house that causes issues \u2014 what you choose to put down your kitchen and bathroom sink can be just as problematic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oil, grease and coffee grounds can cause mini \u2018fatbergs\u2019 that can be hard to shift. Likewise, wet wipes and nappies are a no-no for your toilet, and hair and soap scum can easily build up in your bathroom, leading to the misery of blocked drains outside.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-15326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Untitled-design-2024-12-03T151813.500-300x169.png\" alt=\"how to unblock drains outside\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to find the drain blockage<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you can unblock drains, you need to locate the blockage. If in doubt, it\u2019s worth booking a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/cctv-drain-surveys\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CCTV drain survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to pinpoint the issue accurately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you take action, contact your local water company. They\u2019ll tell you who\u2019s responsible for unblocking your drains. If it\u2019s your responsibility, remove your drain covers and inspect the water level. If the chamber\u2019s full, the blockage is after that drain. If it\u2019s empty, it\u2019s before the drain chamber you\u2019re looking at.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you locate your blocked drains, it\u2019s time for some DIY drain unblocking.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to unblock your outside drains<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you get to work, gather a few simple tools, including protective clothes and goggles, bin bags, drain rods, and a pressure hose.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Unblock by hand<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be surprisingly easy to unblock drains by hand. However, you should wear a mask and pond gloves before removing debris.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t have gloves, use two or more large-size bin bags to cover your arm. Then, start gently clearing the drain. Try to avoid compacting any debris and causing a bigger problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Use a homemade drain cleaner<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use a quick and effective homemade drain cleaner for inside and outside drains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by pouring a kettleful of boiling water down your drain, then follow with a cup of vinegar and a cup of bicarbonate of soda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leave it to work for a few hours, then flush with more hot water.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Use a drain rod<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the blockage still won\u2019t shift, try drain rods. Professionals use them to clear stubborn blockages. Attach an appropriate plunger and slowly insert the rod into the drain, twisting clockwise and using gentle pressure. If it still won\u2019t budge, try a corkscrew attachment to break up the blockage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Use a pressure jet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve cleared the drain as much as possible, use a pressure jet to force the rest of the obstruction through the pipe. Put the pipe as far down as possible, then seal the drain with old towels and sheets to help the pressure push the blockage through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this method doesn\u2019t work, call <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drain365<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> free on 0800 699 0922, and we\u2019ll use professional drain jetting equipment to clear the blockage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional drain unblocking services from Drain 365<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have blocked drains that don\u2019t respond to your DIY clearing, please don\u2019t hesitate to give us a call. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today for a complete range of drain <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/domestic-drainage\/blocked-drains\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unblocking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drain365.co.uk\/commercial-drainage\/drain-maintenance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintenance services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to keep your drainage system running smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your drainage system is out of sight, out of mind \u2014 until it gets clogged up. Leaves, outdoor debris, and household waste can all cause blocked drains and nasty odours. The good news is that a mild drain blockage can be simple to deal with yourself, so let&#8217;s take a closer look at how to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":15327,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Unblock Drains Outside? | Drain365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to unblock drains outside with some simple DIY tips! 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