Common items that can block your drain:
The location of the blockage determines who is responsible for fixing it. You need to check if the blockage is in your drain, a private sewer shared by some neighbours, or a public sewer. If only your property has a blocked drain, you (or your landlord) have to deal with it.
If the blockage is in a private sewer and you and other neighbours have the same problem, you all have to agree to having work done to remove the blockage, unless the local water authority owns the private sewer.
If the blockage is in a public sewer, the water authority has to take care of it. You are usually responsible for your drainage system and internal pipework as the homeowner or tenant (depending on your tenant agreement), and the local water company is only responsible for the drains when the blockage is outside your property.
A blocked drain is not only an inconvenience but also a hygiene risk, therefore early detection is important. Warning signs to look out for:
Note: it is normal for your external drain to have some water sitting in it. This water forms a seal to block the smell of sewer gasses.
Very small clogs may breakdown overtime and wash away themselves, but this could take weeks or even months. There is, however, a real risk that the clog will develop into a much larger blockage and continue to cause problems.
If you have an urgent situation such as flooding you should contact a drainage company immediately. However, if the situation is less serious then maybe consider waiting until the next morning.
Booking our first slot at 7.30am will save you money compared to hiring a drainage company after hours.