Blocked drain? Here's what to do
Slow sink, gurgling pipes or a blocked toilet? Run the safe checks below, then get a free call back to set up drainage cover for the next blockage.
A blocked drain never turns up at a good time. Whether it's a sink that won't empty, a blocked toilet, or water pooling in the garden, start with the safe checks on this page. Smart Plan drainage cover is there for the next blockage: when a covered drain blocks, we arrange a vetted engineer to clear it, with parts and labour included up to £500 in each 12-month period.
Smart Plan is a service plan, not insurance, run by UK Boiler Company Ltd, which has been trading since 2014. Cover is for future problems, so a blockage that is already there before your plan starts is not covered.
Signs you've got a blocked drain
It's usually easy to spot a blockage building up. Common signs include:
- Water draining slowly from a sink, bath or shower
- Gurgling sounds from the plughole or toilet
- A bad smell coming from the drain or plughole
- Water rising in the toilet bowl, or a blocked toilet that won't flush away
- Water backing up into the sink, bath or shower
- Water pooling around an outside drain or gully
What causes a blocked drain?
Most blockages build up over time from everyday use. Knowing the cause helps you prevent the next one. Indoor blockages tend to build over weeks or months, while outdoor ones can happen in a single autumn weekend. Some causes, such as a build-up of fat, oil or leaves, or wipes and other objects flushed down the toilet, are excluded from drainage cover, so prevention matters.
Common causes of blocked drains
| Where it happens | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Kitchen sink | Cooking fat, oil and food scraps that set hard in the pipe, plus coffee grounds |
| Bathroom sink, bath and shower | Hair and soap building up over time |
| Toilet | Wet wipes, sanitary products and too much paper |
| Outside drains | Fallen leaves, silt and other garden debris |
| Underground pipes | Tree roots growing in through joints and cracks |
Safe things to try first
A few simple, safe steps can shift a minor blockage. For a slow sink, a plunger held over the plughole and worked up and down a few times can loosen what's stuck. For a greasy kitchen drain, pouring hot water down in two or three stages, sometimes with a little washing-up liquid, can help dissolve the grease.
A couple of safety rules. Don't pour strong chemical drain cleaners into a fully blocked pipe, as they can damage older pipes and rarely reach the real blockage. And don't try to lift heavy drain covers on your own. If none of that clears it, you'll need a drainage engineer.
What drainage cover includes
The Drainage module covers unblocking internal and external drains, toilets and sinks, and restoring the flow in waste pipes and drains using rodding or jetting. Parts and labour are included up to £500 in each 12-month period. A £95 call-out fee applies in set cases: a call-out in the first 30 days of a new plan, a problem that falls under an exclusion, or a visit where the engineer can't get access. Call-outs are carried out Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00, unless it's an emergency breakdown.
It's monthly rolling cover to begin with, but once you use any service a 12-month agreement period kicks in, and leaving early means paying the remaining months or 75% of the outstanding balance. You build your own cover by picking only the modules you want, so you don't pay for what you don't use.
Smelling gas, not drains?
A drain smell is unpleasant but not dangerous. The smell of gas is different. If you can ever smell gas, or your carbon monoxide alarm goes off, call the free National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 straight away, open windows, and don't switch anything electrical on or off. Any gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, never as DIY.
Blocked drain FAQs
Will drainage cover clear a blockage I already have?
No. A blockage that is already there before your plan starts is not covered. Drainage cover is for blockages that happen after your plan starts, so it's worth setting up before something goes wrong.
What does drainage cover include?
Drainage cover includes unblocking internal and external drains, toilets and sinks, and restoring the flow in waste pipes and drains using rodding or jetting. Parts and labour are included up to £500 in each 12-month period.
What isn't covered?
Drainage cover doesn't include blockages caused by misuse or flushing an inappropriate object, a build-up of leaves, fat, oil or building materials, pipes not made of clay, PVC or concrete, rainwater pipes and guttering, showers and shower pumps, replacing taps, or cases with no evidence of a blockage. The full list is in our terms and conditions.
Is there a call-out fee?
A £95 call-out fee, paid in advance, applies in set cases: a call-out in the first 30 days of a new plan, a problem that falls under an exclusion, or a visit where the engineer can't get access.
Can I unblock a drain myself first?
You can try a few safe things: a plunger over the plughole, or pouring hot water down a greasy kitchen drain in stages. Don't use harsh chemical drain cleaners on a fully blocked pipe, and don't lift heavy drain covers on your own.
My toilet is blocked and overflowing. What should I do?
Stop flushing, as that only adds more water. If you can reach the isolation valve behind the toilet, turn off the supply, then mop up safely. If it won't clear, you'll need a drainage engineer.
How do I set up drainage cover?
Ask for a free call back and we'll ring you to set up your plan. We aim to call you back within one working day, Monday to Friday, 08:00-18:00. Nothing is set up and no payment is taken online. Cover is monthly rolling, but once you use a service a 12-month agreement period applies, and leaving early means paying the remaining months or 75% of the outstanding balance.
Cover the next breakdown: get a call back
A cover plan is for the next breakdown, not a fault you already have today. Get a free call back to set up cover for next time. We aim to call you back within one working day, Monday to Friday, 08:00-18:00. It's a service plan, not insurance.
A service plan, not insurance. Nothing is paid online.
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2nd Floor, Melrose House
42 Dingwall Road
Croydon
CR0 2NE