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.
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.
Tree Root Ingress
Mature street trees and established gardens are everywhere from Warwick to Dudley. Tree roots actively seek out moisture from drain joints,
forcing their way in and creating a web of roots that catches
debris and causes persistent blockages.
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
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.
Don't just take our word for it. Read what our customers have to say
★★★★★
Checkatrade
"Craig, Jamie and colleague were excellent. Proper blokes, polite, friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything in layman terms. Highly recommended."
B48 CustomerBirmingham B48
★★★★★
Checkatrade
"Communication was excellent by Craig before, during and after the work. They were friendly, knowledgeable and hard working. They tidied up really well afterwards, neater than before they arrived!"
B38 CustomerBirmingham B38
★★★★★
Google
"Can't praise these guys enough!! Were helpful in the extreme in sorting a drain blockage for me - and over the New Year period too, finishing on New Years Day!"
A selection of drainage jobs from across our service area.
Frequently 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.
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.
Tree roots are one of the most destructive forces your drains will face. Find out how roots enter pipes, the warning signs to watch for, and how we cut and reline without digging.
Fat, oil, and grease are the number one cause of kitchen drain blockages. Find out why FOG builds up inside your pipes, what fatbergs are, and how to stop grease killing your drains.
A CCTV drain survey is the most useful diagnostic tool in drainage work. Here is the full walkthrough of what happens on the day, from camera insertion to the written HD report.