A blocked drain often shows warning signs before it becomes a serious plumbing issue. Some of the most common indicators include slow drainage, bad smells coming from plugholes, gurgling noises in the pipes, and water backing up into sinks, showers or toilets. Identifying these symptoms early can help prevent costly repairs, protect your property.
Blocked drains can escalate into much bigger problems if not treated swiftly. In Reading and across the UK, many household plumbing emergencies start with unnoticed or ignored signs. Addressing these signals early on can help you avoid water damage, unpleasant odours, rodent infestations and disruption to everyday activities. It also reduces the risk of damaging underground pipework or causing overflows that affect external drains, patios or gardens.
When a blockage is ignored, the eventual cost of professional drain jetting, pipe repair or property restoration can be significantly higher. Acting early keeps things manageable and avoids unnecessary disruption.
Standing water from poor drainage or waste backups can harbour bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. These conditions encourage the growth of harmful microorganisms that cause hygiene issues in kitchens, bathrooms and utility areas.
Too much moisture from blocked or overflowing drains may result in damp areas on floors or walls. If untreated, this can lead to permanent damage, mould growth and reduced air quality inside your home.
Pro Tip: Always check external drains after heavy rain. Leaves and silt build up quickly and are a leading cause of outside blockages.
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If water lingers in your sink or shower, it usually means there is a partial obstruction in the drainage pipe. This can be caused by a mix of everyday substances like soap residue, food particles, hair or grease. It might not seem serious at first but often gets worse.
Grease, oil and food scraps often solidify in the pipes and make water flow slower over time. This build-up narrows the pipe diameter and restricts movement.
Hair mixed with soap and shampoo can quickly collect around the plughole and pipe joints. The result is pooling water and slow draining that gradually worsens.
Bath oils, dead skin cells and bath product residues can line the pipes and cause drainage to slow. This can also lead to trapped air, which produces gurgling noises.
If water takes longer to clear than it did a few weeks ago, that is often a sign the blockage is forming. It may start in one fixture, but if it spreads to others, the issue is likely within the main drain pipe.
Pro Tip: Do not ignore gurgling sounds. They often appear before visible signs and can save you from a full blockage if caught early.
Bad smells from the sink or bath are common signs of stagnant waste trapped in your pipes. This smell is often compared to rotten eggs due to hydrogen sulphide gas, which is released as organic waste decays.
Hair, food scraps, cooking grease and even small items like cotton buds can become lodged in the pipework. Bacteria feed on this waste, and gases build up inside the pipes. The smell might come and go at first but will worsen if left untreated.
A mix of hot water, bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar may break down some deposits. If smells return quickly after cleaning, there is probably a blockage deeper in the system.
If you need expert support, our team at 24hrs Drainage Reading can provide a CCTV drain inspection to locate and clear persistent blockages.
Gurgling sounds usually mean there is air trapped in the drainage system. This air gets forced through water as it tries to move past a blockage. It is one of the earlier signs that a blockage is forming somewhere out of sight.
Kitchen plugholes
Shower drains
Toilet bowls
Washing machine outlets
The system is trying to equalise pressure as water struggles to pass the obstruction. This symptom can appear before any visible signs and usually means a full blockage is on its way. Acting now prevents more disruptive problems later.
When you flush the toilet or run taps and notice water returning in another drain, it usually means a blockage is stopping the wastewater from moving through the drain line. This is known as backflow.
The toilet water rises unusually high after flushing
Dirty water comes up into the kitchen sink during a wash cycle
Bathwater sits stagnant after use and drains very slowly
If water starts to appear where it should not, bacteria and foul materials are likely involved. You also risk damage to flooring, tiles and nearby fittings. This often indicates a more advanced blockage within the main sewer line.
If this is happening in your home, contact a local drain unblocking service. You can read more about how our emergency callouts work on the 24hrs Drainage Reading website.
When rainwater or wastewater starts spilling out of an outdoor drain or gully, it usually means the underground drainage system is clogged. This type of overflow is often linked to blockages caused by leaves, mud, silt or tree roots.
Water pooling around the drain cover after rainfall
Strong sewage smells from external manholes
Slow drainage from garden gullies or driveway channels
Overflowing outside drains are more than just messy. They may lead to soil erosion, slippery surfaces and long term water damage to outbuildings or boundary walls. These signs also suggest that the problem could be further down in a shared drain or public sewer, which may require a call to your local water company.
If the water in your toilet bowl rises higher than normal after flushing, that often signals a blockage in the soil pipe or stack system. This might also be linked to other issues like slow draining baths or sounds from neighbouring pipes.
A rise in water level followed by a slow return to normal is usually a sign that water is meeting resistance within the pipe. When flushing affects other fixtures, such as causing water to appear in the shower tray, that confirms the issue is not local to the toilet but in the main drainage line.
Our team at 24hrs Drainage can assess whether the blockage is caused by a local fault or a wider issue, using professional tools like CCTV surveys to inspect the internal pipe system without digging.
Persistent damp patches that appear on walls or flooring may come from leaking pipes caused by internal pressure due to a blockage. Blocked waste pipes and drains increase the pressure behind the obstruction, sometimes forcing water out through pipe joints or damaged sections.
Moist patches with a musty smell
Peeling wallpaper or blistered paint
Crumbling plaster or soft flooring near bathrooms or kitchens
These are not always caused by plumbing issues, but if they appear alongside slow drainage or odd toilet behaviour, a blocked drain might be contributing. Damp can also lead to mould growth, which affects air quality and can be harmful to health.
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Blocked drains create a damp and food-rich environment that attracts unwanted pests. Rodents and insects are commonly drawn to areas with standing water and organic waste. Once inside the system, they may access internal parts of your home through damaged or open pipework.
Increased presence of flies near plugholes
Gnawing or scratching sounds in walls
Rodent droppings near plumbing access points
Pest activity can lead to contamination of food surfaces and stored items. If you spot these signs alongside drainage problems, it’s wise to get the system checked promptly. You can contact 24hrs Drainage Reading for an assessment and a full drain inspection.
If more than one drain in your home is slow or blocked, this could point to a blockage in the main drainage pipe. While a local blockage affects just one appliance, a widespread issue often lies in the sewer line that connects all the plumbing systems together.
Shower and sink draining slowly at the same time
Washing machine discharge causing backup in the bath
All toilets flushing weakly or incompletely
This type of problem usually needs professional drain clearing equipment to resolve. Waiting too long could lead to full system failure or internal flooding.
Using a plunger or shop-bought drain cleaner can sometimes clear surface blockages. But if the same problem keeps returning, there’s usually something deeper that needs attention. Repeated symptoms often mean the blockage is located further into the pipe network, beyond reach of basic DIY tools.
CCTV drain survey to locate the blockage
High pressure water jetting to clear solid build-up
Rodding for stubborn obstructions near bends
Our drainage specialists in Reading are equipped with these tools and can restore full flow efficiently. Learn more about what we offer on our professional services page.
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There are several reasons why drains become blocked, and most stem from the build-up of materials that shouldn’t enter the system in the first place. In residential properties, the most common causes include grease and fat from cooking, hair from bathroom use, and items like wet wipes or sanitary products being flushed.
Fat and grease that solidify inside kitchen pipes
Hair binding with soap and forming clumps in bathroom drains
Wet wipes, nappies, and hygiene products that do not break down in water
Foreign objects accidentally flushed down toilets
In outdoor drains, roots from nearby trees can grow into the pipework, while mud, leaves and silt can collect in gullies and manholes, especially after heavy rain.
Routine checks and careful disposal of waste are the best ways to avoid unnecessary blockages.
If you are dealing with blocked drains, recurring odours, or backed-up wastewater, our local team is available around the clock. We offer a range of solutions from simple rodding to advanced CCTV drain surveys that pinpoint the exact location of a blockage.
Emergency unblocking, available 24 hours a day
CCTV drainage inspections
High pressure water jetting
Every job we attend starts with a proper inspection to determine what is causing the problem and how best to resolve it with minimal disruption.
While some minor issues can be resolved with a plunger or drain cleaner, it is time to call a professional when:
DIY methods no longer work
The same fixture keeps blocking
Multiple appliances are affected at once
You smell strong odours that persist
Water is backing up regularly
Professional drainage companies have the equipment and experience to identify issues hidden deep inside the system and resolve them safely. If you are based in Reading or nearby, our team is ready to help 24 hours a day.
You can prevent many drain blockages by making small changes to daily habits and keeping an eye out for early signs.
Use sink strainers to catch food scraps and hair
Avoid pouring fats or oils down the kitchen sink
Only flush toilet paper and human waste
Rinse bathroom drains regularly with boiling water
Have drains professionally inspected once a year if your property is older
Preventative care goes a long way and is much cheaper than dealing with burst pipes or sewage backups.
Blocked drains are a common but manageable issue when spotted early. Keep an eye out for slow drainage, bad smells, gurgling noises and rising water in toilets or sinks. If you notice more than one of these signs, especially in different areas of the house, it is time to act.
24hrs Drainage Reading is here to help with rapid callouts and effective long term solutions. Whether it is a simple local blockage or something further down the line, our team is trained and equipped to handle it all.
How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain in Reading?
Prices vary depending on the severity and location of the blockage. Basic unblocking services typically start from around £60 to £90. More complex jobs involving CCTV surveys or jetting may cost more.
Can I unblock a drain myself?
You can try using a plunger or a drain snake for minor blockages. For anything persistent or recurring, it’s best to seek professional help.
How fast can 24hrs Drainage respond to emergency calls?
We aim to be on site within one hour of your call, depending on your location and time of day.
Are blocked drains covered by home insurance?
Some policies cover damage caused by blocked drains, but not the cost of routine unblocking. It’s best to check your policy or contact your insurer.
What areas in Reading do you service?
We cover the whole of Reading including Caversham, Tilehurst, Earley, Woodley and surrounding villages. For urgent help, visit our contact page or give us a call any time.
24hrs Drainage Limited
33 Falmouth Rd, Reading RG2 8QR
0800 020 9198
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday : Open and available 24 hours per day
Drain Services
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If You’re Dealing With Blocked Drains Or Require Drain Repairs, You’ve Come To The Right Destination. Contact Our Team Today At 0800 0209198 For Professional Guidance And A Complimentary, No-Obligation Quote!
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