If the outside gully’s bubbling, the whole house is draining slow, or you’re getting that “sewage whiff” outside… it’s usually not a single sink issue. This page is for proper blocked drains across BR1–BR7 — the mainline / external stuff that causes chaos fast.
If you’re stuck in traffic near Bromley South or you’re around Orpington High Street, tell me your nearest landmark on the phone. It’s the quickest way to work out real attendance time without guessing.
People lump everything under “blocked drain”. Fair — you don’t want a lecture when water’s creeping toward your back door. But it matters because a drain blockage is usually a system issue, not a single fixture clog.
A few classic “yep, that’s the drain” signs: multiple fixtures acting up, the outside gully overflowing, slow drainage across the property, or that smell that shows up the minute you step into the garden.
One I hear a lot in BR6: “It’s fine until the washing machine runs, then the downstairs starts gurgling.” That’s not random — that’s the system struggling to shift flow through a restricted run.
If you’re only dealing with one fixture, use the dedicated pages above. If it’s affecting the house (or the outside gully), this page is the right one.
See how our drain unblocking call-outs work
Understand what affects the cost of unblocking
If this keeps happening, here’s when CCTV becomes the smart move
And this explains whether the drain is even your responsibility
This saves you paying for the wrong fix (or paying when it’s not yours to pay for).
This is the difference between a one-off clear and a repeat call-out. The “why” changes depending on the area, the housing stock, and what’s going on outside.
Denser areas, mixed-use properties, and wet-weather pressure. When heavy rainfall hits, borderline restrictions become full blockages fast.
If it only seems to happen after storms, that pattern matters — it’s not just “bad luck”.
Older clay runs + mature trees + big gardens… roots don’t stop at the fence line. We see this a lot around Chelsfield, Petts Wood, and Pratt’s Bottom.
Repeat issues often come down to a “partial clear” that never restored the full pipe diameter. It flows… until it doesn’t.
If you’ve had rods down it before and it’s still coming back, you’re usually due proper diagnosis.
Quiet build-up over time — silt, grease, scale — then one day it tips over. People say “it’s always been fine” …and they’re right. Until it isn’t.
Usually within your boundary and serving one home. If it’s your private run, it’s typically homeowner/landlord responsibility.
If it’s shared with neighbours or it’s a public sewer, it may fall under Thames Water responsibility — even if it runs under your garden. The key is where the restriction actually is.
Street gullies and pavement drainage are generally council responsibility. If it’s clearly out in the road, I’ll tell you straight.
If the problem shows up at your outside inspection chamber / gully before the boundary, it’s likely on your side. If it’s beyond, it may not be. Either way — we can pinpoint it before you waste money.
If you want a realistic idea of what affects the price (investigation, access, jetting time and clean-up), see typical plumbing prices in Bromley & Orpington.
If you’re dealing with a repeat issue, don’t loop the same fix. Use: our CCTV root-cause page for drains that keep blocking.
If you’ve had it “cleared” and it’s back within weeks (or even months), you’re not dealing with bad luck — you’re dealing with a cause that hasn’t been found.
The repeat offenders are boring but real: root intrusion, scale build-up, pipe collapse, misalignment, or a restriction that was never properly removed.
That’s why we keep CCTV as a diagnostic step — not an emergency gimmick. The full process is here: drain keeps blocking again? find the root cause with CCTV.
I’m not going to paste fake “1000 happy customers” claims everywhere. If you want to see the real thing, the verified profile is here: Checkatrade reviews for SKR Plumbing & Heating.
“Turned up when he said, explained what was happening, and sorted it without leaving a mess.”
“We’d had it ‘cleared’ before. This time it was done properly and we understood why it kept returning.”
“Fast response, no drama, just got it flowing again and told us what to watch for.”
“Honest about what was ours vs what wasn’t. That saved us a lot of time.”
Rain can overload systems and expose restrictions. If it’s a pattern (storms = blockage), that’s normally a sign the run is borderline and needs a proper clear or diagnosis.
Yep. Roots follow moisture and can enter older joints. You can clear the symptom, but if the intrusion stays, it comes back. That’s when CCTV makes sense.
Depends on the diary and traffic. I’ll give you an honest time window on the phone rather than a fantasy promise. If you tell me your nearest landmark (Petts Wood / Locksbottom / Bromley South), I can be more accurate.
Preferably not. They can damage pipework and make the job less safe to work on. If you’ve already used something, just tell me — no judgement — so I handle it properly.
Not always. Shared laterals/public sewers can run under private land. The key is where the restriction actually is and whether it serves only your home.
Then we stop repeating “clears” and confirm the cause. Start here: the recurring blockage CCTV diagnosis page.
Call 07706 889 614. If you’re near Orpington High Street or you’re stuck by Bromley South, say that on the phone — it’s the quickest way to judge attendance time.
If there’s an outside overflow: reduce water use where you can, keep kids/pets away from the area, and don’t mix chemicals. Then ring me.
Written by Stuart (owner, SKR Plumbing & Heating — est. 2020). Verified reviews: Checkatrade profile.
Share a few details. Photos help (outside gully / inspection chamber / where it’s backing up).
