We have been clearing drains across London since 2013, and TW10 is well within our patch. It includes Richmond Hill and Ham.
What we cover in TW10
Our coverage of TW10 includes Richmond Hill and Ham, in Richmond upon Thames. Because we cover the neighbouring postcodes too, a run crossing a boundary needs only one contractor.
Richmond Hill and Ham combine period housing with substantial gardens on ground that falls towards the river. Roots in older clay joints and slow-draining ground are the two recurring findings.
Common causes in TW10
The bulk of the jobs in TW10 has one of these behind it:
- Cooking fat washed into the kitchen waste, which sets on the pipe wall
- Cleaning wipes, which do not break down in the drain
- Tree and shrub roots working into the pipe
- Silt and grit building up where flow slows
Signs worth reporting
Before you call, it helps to know what you are looking at:
- Water sitting in a drain outside when nothing is running
- Several fittings draining slowly at once, not just one
- Bubbling in the pan when something else empties
- A sour smell near the gully that is stronger in warm weather
How the visit works
The order matters, so we work it out before we jet:
- Work through the inspection chambers to find where the flow stops
- Establish whether it is your pipe or the water company’s
- Jet the restriction out at a pressure suited to the pipe
- Run water through every fitting before we finish
Before we arrive
Worth doing while you wait:
- Keep water use to nothing, especially washing machines
- Move children and pets away from the affected area
- Move bins or planters off the inspection covers
- Note which fittings are affected when you ring
Who pays for the repair
A blockage is not automatically your bill. Since 2011, most shared drains and lateral drains in England belong to the water company, and a defect on the shared run is not your cost. We identify the location and are straight with you about it, including when the answer is that you should call Thames Water instead.
What it costs in TW10
Outside drain clearance is a fixed £144 plus VAT. Prices are fixed rather than hourly, so a difficult job in TW10 does not become an expensive surprise.