Mar 16, 2026
Signs of a Blocked Drain and What to Do About It
Strange smells, slow-draining water, or gurgling noises from your pipes? Here is how to spot a blocked drain early and what steps to take before calling a drainage engineer.
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Drainage Specialists - West Midlands, Warwickshire & Worcestershire
Drain Unblocking
From £100
Fast, fixed-price drain unblocking with no call-out fee. Our engineers carry manual rodding and 3,000 PSI jetting equipment, and most blockages are cleared within 1-2 hours.
Blocked Drains Cleared Fast, Across Three Counties
We provide professional drain unblocking services across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. With offices in Birmingham and Solihull, we reach most locations within the hour.
Manual Unblocking with Rodding
When removing soft blockages in your pipework (fat build-up, toilet paper accumulations, soap scum, and food waste), our engineers can clear your blockages manually with rodding. Using professional drain rods with a range of attachments, they physically break up and push through the obstruction. It is the fastest method for straightforward blockages and is included in our standard fixed-price service.
All our rod unblocks include a complimentary CCTV camera check afterwards to make sure the root cause of the blockage is not going to cause you further problems. This is not an upsell, we do it because finding the root cause prevents you paying for another call-out in three months. If we spot cracked joints, root ingress, or a displaced pipe, we will advise you honestly on whether a repair is needed.
High-Pressure Water Jetting Unblocking
Sometimes plunging or rodding a blockage will not clear or budge it. Our engineers are equipped with 3,000 PSI high-pressure water jetting equipment and a variety of attachments to clear stubborn blockages, including hard-packed fat and grease, tree roots blocking the line, scale deposits, or years of accumulated debris. The high-pressure water stream cuts through the toughest obstructions whilst simultaneously cleaning the pipelines, removing fat deposits and scale.
Once the line has been cleared, our engineers will put their CCTV camera down the line to make sure there will be no repeat blockages and quote for any repair work required.
Jetting is particularly effective in areas like Birmingham and Coventry, where Victorian clay pipes accumulate mineral deposits over decades. We carry multiple jetting nozzles, forward-firing for blockage penetration and rear-firing for pipe cleaning.
Why Drains Block Across the West Midlands
Victorian & Edwardian Pipes
Across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Coventry, thousands of properties still rely on salt-glazed clay pipes laid over a century ago. These pipes are robust but their joints deteriorate over time, allowing tree roots to penetrate and soil to wash in.
Heavy Clay Soil
The Mercia Mudstone that underlies most of our service area is a heavy clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. This seasonal movement puts immense pressure on underground pipes, displacing joints in Solihull, Bromsgrove, and right across the region.
Toilet, Sink, Bath & Shower Unblocking
If there is a single facility in your home that is causing drainage issues, we can assist and clear the blockage. Kitchen and bathroom facility blockages are not pleasant to try and tackle yourself.
At Cofton Drainage & Jetting Services, we have the know-how and the equipment to sort these unwanted issues quickly. From manual tools to high-pressure water jetting, we will get your facility flowing in no time.
Kitchen Sinks
Fat, grease, and food waste build-up in kitchen trap and waste pipe
Blocked Toilets
Excessive paper, foreign objects, or downstream drain issues
Bath & Shower
Hair, soap scum, and product build-up restricting flow
External Drains
Leaves, grit, silt, roots, and fat/grease from kitchen waste
Signs You Need Professional Drain Unblocking
Not sure whether your blocked drain needs professional attention? Here are the warning signs that a DIY fix will not cut it:
Multiple fixtures draining slowly
If your kitchen sink, bath, and toilet are all draining slowly, the blockage is in the main drain line, not the individual fixtures. This needs professional equipment to clear.
Gurgling sounds from drains
Gurgling when you flush the toilet or empty the bath means air is being trapped by a partial blockage. The blockage will only get worse and is much cheaper to clear now than when it becomes a full emergency.
Bad smells from drains or manholes
A persistent sewer smell inside or outside the house indicates waste is sitting in the pipe rather than flowing through it. This is a health concern and needs prompt attention.
Water pooling around manhole covers
Standing water around external manholes after using the taps or flushing suggests the underground drain is not coping with the volume of water. Common in properties across Edgbaston, Harborne, and Moseley where mature trees restrict pipes.
Repeated blockages in the same drain
If you are clearing the same drain every few months, there is a structural problem causing the blockages. A CCTV survey will find the root cause. Root ingress and collapsed pipes are the most common culprits in the older housing stock across Birmingham, Selly Oak, and Kings Heath.
What to Do While Waiting for the Engineer
Once you have called us, there are a few practical things you can do to minimise damage while waiting for the engineer to arrive:
Stop using water wherever possible. Every flush and every running tap sends more water into an already blocked system. If water is backing up into the house, turn off the mains supply at the stopcock if you can locate it.
Check your external manholes. If you feel comfortable lifting a manhole cover (use two hands, lift with your knees, not your back), you can see whether the chamber is full of standing water. This tells our engineer immediately whether the blockage is between the house and the manhole, or further downstream. Do not put your hands into the chamber.
Clear access. Remove anything blocking the path to manholes, drain covers, or gully traps. If the engineer can get straight to work, the job is done faster.
Do not use chemical drain products. Chemical unblockers rarely work on the type of blockages that need professional attention, and they make the job more hazardous for the engineer. If you have already poured chemicals down the drain, let us know when we arrive.
Our 5-Step Process
Every job follows the same professional process, no shortcuts, no surprises.
01
Arrive
On-site fast, fully equipped
02
Diagnose
Locate and assess the blockage
03
Clear
Rod or jet to remove obstruction
04
Inspect
CCTV check for root cause
05
Guarantee
Work guaranteed, area cleaned
Find Drain Unblocking Near You
We cover three counties from our offices in Birmingham and Solihull. Select your area for local information, response times, and pricing.
West Midlands
The West Midlands metropolitan county is our core service area, covering Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Dudley, Wolverh...
View West Midlands areasWarwickshire
Warwickshire stretches from the urban edges of Coventry through historic market towns like Warwick and Stratford-upon-Av...
View Warwickshire areasWorcestershire
Worcestershire covers our extended service area from Bromsgrove and Redditch through to Worcester, Kidderminster, Droitw...
View Worcestershire areasFrequently Asked Questions
How much does drain unblocking cost?
Our drain unblocking services start from £100 inc VAT with no call-out fee. Final cost depends on the severity of the blockage and the method required. Manual drain clearance starts from £100 and high-pressure jetting from £150 if needed. We always provide a transparent price before beginning work, no hidden charges, no surprises.
How quickly can you get to me?
We aim to reach most locations across Birmingham and Solihull within 45 minutes, and the wider West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire within 60-90 minutes. For emergencies, call 0121 296 7829 and we will prioritise your job.
What methods do you use to unblock drains?
We use manual rodding for soft blockages and 3,000 PSI high-pressure water jetting for stubborn or hard-packed obstructions. Every unblock includes a complimentary CCTV camera check to ensure the root cause is identified and nothing else lurks further down the line.
Do you offer same-day drain unblocking?
Yes, same-day service is available across our entire coverage area. For emergency situations such as sewage backing up or drains flooding, we aim to be with you within the hour. Call us any time, day or night.
What causes drains to block?
The most common causes are fat, oil, and grease build-up, tree root ingress through damaged pipe joints, foreign objects, hair and soap scum, and collapsed or displaced pipes. Older clay pipes are particularly susceptible in areas with heavy clay soil like the West Midlands.
Do you cover my area?
We cover the entire West Midlands metropolitan area including Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall, plus Warwickshire (Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford, Rugby, Nuneaton) and Worcestershire (Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester, Kidderminster). Call to confirm your postcode.
Related Services
Our engineers carry equipment for multiple drainage tasks, so we can often handle several issues in a single visit.
CCTV Drain Surveys
HD camera inspections with same-day written reports. Ideal for home buyers, build-over applications, and diagnosing recurring problems.
Emergency Drainage
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No extra charge for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays. Typically on site within 60 minutes.
High Pressure Jetting
3,000 PSI water jetting to clear stubborn blockages and descale pipes. Ideal for fat build-up, root ingress, and drain maintenance.
Checkatrade Verified · 9.8/10 Rating · Fully Insured
Craig Argyle and Jamie Ruby founded Cofton DJS with over 10 years of drainage experience. All work uses WRc approved materials and comes with a written guarantee.
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Call us now or request a callback. Available 24/7 for emergencies.