Call for urgent help with a sewage backup, overflowing manhole or blocked drain. Our emergency drainage engineers carry the equipment to diagnose and clear many problems on the first visit, with no extra charge for nights, weekends or bank holidays.
A sewage backup, an overflowing manhole or a blocked toilet in the only bathroom cannot wait for normal office hours. Our 24-hour emergency drain unblocking service deals with urgent drainage issues across Birmingham and the West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
Call when a blocked drain emergency is causing rising water, slow draining sinks, bad smells or overflowing toilets. Our engineers trace the affected drainage system, clear blockages with professional equipment and use high-pressure water jetting where the pipe and access point are suitable. If the same drain emergency has happened before, a CCTV survey can identify pipe damage or an obstruction in the underground pipes. We also explain routine maintenance that may help prevent emergency blockages.
If you suspect a leak in the fresh-water supply rather than a drainage blockage, our water-main leak assistance guide explains the separate investigation and repair arrangements, so you can describe the right problem when contacting us.
Internal or external sewage flooding from backed-up drains. A health hazard that needs immediate attention. We clear the blockage and clean the area.
Foul water flooding from manhole covers into gardens, driveways, and shared spaces. Often caused by a blockage further down the line that we can jet clear.
When a drain is completely blocked and nothing is flowing, water backs up fast. We carry rodding and jetting equipment to clear even the most stubborn blockages on arrival.
Pipes that have given way underground stop flow completely and cause catastrophic flooding. We diagnose the collapse with CCTV and can organise emergency repairs.
Heavy rainfall overwhelming private drainage systems, surface water flooding, and storm-damaged gullies and downpipe connections. Particularly common in flood-prone areas of Worcester and Bewdley.
When it is your only toilet, it is an emergency. We prioritise single-bathroom households and aim to attend within the hour across our core coverage area.
With drainage engineers based near Birmingham (B45) and Solihull (B90), we can dispatch from the closest available team. These are typical emergency response times rather than a promise; traffic and an engineer's current job can affect the arrival time.
Many drainage companies charge a premium for out-of-hours call-outs, sometimes double or even triple their standard rate. We believe that is wrong. A drainage emergency is stressful enough without worrying about inflated prices. Our pricing is the same at 3am as it is at 3pm, on Christmas Day and on a Monday morning.
If you have called us and are waiting for an engineer to arrive, there are a few steps you can take to limit the damage and keep everyone safe. These apply whether you are in Birmingham, Solihull, or anywhere across our coverage area.
Do not flush toilets, run taps, or use washing machines or dishwashers. Every litre of water you add to the system will back up and make the flooding worse. If you have a stopcock and the situation is severe, consider turning the water supply off entirely until we arrive.
Sewage water carries harmful bacteria including E. coli and other pathogens. Keep children and pets out of any affected rooms. If sewage has flooded a kitchen or food preparation area, do not handle food until the area has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the blockage is resolved.
Open windows and doors where possible to reduce the build-up of sewer gas. Prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulphide (the rotten egg smell from sewage) can cause headaches and nausea. If the smell is particularly strong, stay out of the room until it is ventilated.
Cast iron manhole covers are extremely heavy and can cause serious injury if dropped. More importantly, an overflowing manhole may be under pressure, and removing the cover suddenly can cause raw sewage to spray upwards. Leave manhole access to our engineers, who have the correct lifting keys and PPE.
Photographs of the flooding, the affected areas, and any visible manhole covers or gullies can help our engineer diagnose the issue faster when they arrive. They are also useful if you need to make an insurance claim for water damage. Do not put yourself at risk to take photos.
The right method depends on the drainage system and what is stopping the flow. Manual rods can release a local obstruction. High-pressure water jetting cuts through grease, food waste and hard-packed debris in main drains and external drains. A CCTV camera check then helps us confirm the root cause, including tree roots, a displaced joint or a collapsed pipe that needs repair.
Clearing blocked drains during an emergency starts with controlling water use and locating a safe access point. Tell us about slow-draining sinks, gurgling sounds, toilet water rising or any overflowing drain when you call. These details help the emergency drainage team judge the likely branch and bring the right access equipment. If clearing the blocked drain exposes structural damage, we show you the camera evidence and price the next step before further work begins.
An emergency blockage can sit in a fixture branch, the underground drains serving one property or a shared pipe system. We start with the symptoms and access points rather than assuming every drainage problem needs the same equipment. This helps us unblock drains safely and avoids unnecessary work when responsibility lies with the water company.
We ask which fixtures are affected, when the water stopped moving and whether neighbouring properties have the same problem. One slow sink usually points to a local branch. Several fixtures draining slowly, gurgling together or forcing water back through a shower normally indicate a restriction further along the drainage system. External chamber levels then help us narrow down the blocked section.
The first priority is stopping more water from reaching the blocked drain. Where sewage is already escaping, the engineer identifies a safe working area and checks nearby gullies, soil pipes and manholes. Do not keep flushing a toilet with rising water or run taps to test the flow. That extra volume can turn a contained blockage into internal flooding before the engineer arrives.
Soft local obstructions may respond to manual rodding. Hard grease, silt or compacted waste in underground drains often needs high-pressure drain jetting. The engineer selects the safest access point, clears the restriction and tests the line under normal use. Emergency drain unblocking is complete only when the water is moving freely again.
Clearing the immediate obstruction may expose a displaced joint, root entry or damaged pipe that has been catching waste. A camera check records accessible sections once flow is restored. If the footage shows a structural fault, we explain whether monitoring, cleaning or a separate drain repair is justified. You receive the finding and price before follow-on work.
A blockage in a drain serving only your property is normally the property owner's responsibility. A lateral drain beyond the boundary or a sewer shared by several properties is often the water company's responsibility. If several neighbours are affected or the public sewer appears full, tell us when you call. We can trace the likely position, but we will not charge you to clear a section that should be reported to Severn Trent Water. This distinction can prevent delay and avoid paying the wrong organisation during an emergency.
Emergency drain unblocking starts from £100 including VAT. We give a fixed price for the agreed work, charge no call-out fee and do not add a premium because you need help at night, over a weekend or on a bank holiday.
Emergency drain unblocking
From £100 inc VAT
Single blockage cleared using rodding or jetting. Includes a CCTV check after clearing to confirm the drain is fully clear.
Emergency blocked toilet
From £100 inc VAT
Toilet blockage cleared, including soil pipe access if needed. Most resolved within an hour.
Emergency CCTV survey
From £250 inc VAT
When the cause of the emergency is not immediately obvious, a camera inspection identifies the problem before we start work.
Emergency drain repair
Quote on site
If the emergency is caused by a collapsed or severely damaged pipe, we will diagnose and quote for permanent repair on site. No pressure to proceed.
If the job is more complex than the information given by phone, the engineer explains the finding and revised cost before proceeding.
Or call 0121 296 7829 for an immediate quote
Drainage emergencies don't keep office hours. Don't wait, call us now for immediate assistance. We will dispatch an engineer to your location right away.
No extra cost for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays. Same price at 3am as at 3pm.
Emergency: 0121 296 7829We respond to emergencies across three counties. Select your area for response times.
The West Midlands metropolitan county is our core service area, covering Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Dudley, Wolverh...
View West Midlands areasWarwickshire stretches from the urban edges of Coventry through historic market towns like Warwick and Stratford-upon-Av...
View Warwickshire areasWorcestershire covers our extended service area from Bromsgrove and Redditch through to Worcester, Kidderminster, Droitw...
View Worcestershire areasRecent customer feedback from urgent drainage call-outs
"Craig, Jamie and colleague were excellent. Proper blokes, polite, friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything in layman terms. Highly recommended."
"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!"
"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.
No. We do not charge extra for emergency or out-of-hours call-outs. Whether you call at 2pm on a Tuesday or 2am on a Sunday, the price you are quoted is the price you pay. No call-out fee, no hidden surcharges.
We aim to reach Birmingham and Solihull within 45 minutes, and the wider West Midlands, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire within 60-90 minutes. For genuine emergencies like sewage flooding, we prioritise and will give you an honest ETA on the phone.
Sewage backing up into your property, drains overflowing externally flooding your garden or neighbour, a toilet blockage in a single-bathroom home, foul water flooding from a manhole, or any situation creating a health hazard. If in doubt, call us and we will tell you honestly whether it needs immediate attendance.
Yes, we operate 365 days a year including every bank holiday, Christmas Day, and New Year. Drainage emergencies do not respect calendars, and neither do we. Same pricing applies regardless of when you call.
Every emergency van carries manual drain rods, 3,000 PSI high-pressure water jetting equipment, CCTV camera systems, repair materials, PPE, and cleaning supplies. The engineer can investigate the cause and start the appropriate work during the first visit.
Stop using all water wherever possible. If sewage is flooding, keep people (especially children) away from the affected area. If you can identify an overflowing manhole, do not attempt to lift the cover yourself. Ventilate affected rooms. Take photos if safe to do so, as they can help our engineer diagnose the issue faster.
Our 24-hour emergency drainage service covers Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands, with further coverage across Warwickshire and Worcestershire. We give you a realistic arrival time before dispatching an engineer and aim to reach Birmingham within 60 minutes.
Common causes include wet wipes, food waste, grease, tree roots, displaced joints and collapsed pipes. Slow-draining sinks, gurgling sounds and rising water can give early warning, while overflowing manholes or a sewage backup need urgent attention.
Yes. Our emergency drainage engineers attend shops, offices, landlords, hospitality venues and other commercial properties by day or night. We can clear the immediate blockage and record any follow-on drainage repairs or planned maintenance needed.
Our engineers carry equipment for multiple drainage tasks, so we can often handle several issues in a single visit.
Fast, fixed-price drain clearing using manual rodding or high-pressure jetting. Free CCTV camera check included with every job.
Clear Blocked DrainsUrgent toilet unblocking available around the clock. We resolve everything from simple obstructions to deep waste-pipe blockages.
Unblock Blocked ToiletsHD camera inspections with same-day written reports. Ideal for home buyers, build-over applications, and diagnosing recurring problems.
Book a CCTV SurveyAvailable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No extra charge for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays. Typically on site within 60 minutes.
Current ServiceNo-dig patch lining and excavation repairs using WRc approved materials. Manufacturer-backed guarantee on all repair work.
View Pipe Repair Options3,000 PSI water jetting to clear stubborn blockages and descale pipes. Ideal for fat build-up, root ingress, and drain maintenance.
See Jetting ServicesCheckatrade 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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