We have been clearing drains across London since 2013, with SE22 among the areas we attend most. That covers East Dulwich and Peckham Rye.
What we cover in SE22
Our coverage of SE22 spans East Dulwich and Peckham Rye, part of Southwark. As we also attend the adjoining areas, we can deal with both ends of a shared run.
East Dulwich is street after street of Victorian terraces, most with rear extensions and mature planting. The uniform housing stock produces a very consistent set of drainage faults.
Common causes in SE22
In SE22, the usual culprits are:
- Non-flushable items stuck in the branch pipe
- Paper build-up, on a pan with a weak flush
- A restriction further down the soil pipe, so the pan is the symptom rather than the cause
- A foreign object blocking the trap
Signs worth reporting
The symptoms worth reporting when you ring:
- Water standing in an outside gully when nothing is running
- Two or more fittings affected together, which points at the shared run
- Bubbling in the pan when the bath is let out
- A sour smell near the gully that keeps coming back
How the visit works
What we do when we get there:
- See whether anything else in the property is affected
- Sheet up the area before any work starts
- Clear the pan and trap with the right tool for the blockage
- Move to the stack and the drain outside if the pan is already clear
Before we arrive
Before the engineer arrives, these few things genuinely help:
- Hold off on taps, showers and appliances, especially washing machines
- Keep people and pets away from any standing waste water
- Clear access to the drain covers if you can
- Have your postcode and a description ready so we arrive prepared
Who pays for the repair
Not every blockage is yours to pay for. 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 work out where the fault is and say so, including when the answer is that you should call Thames Water instead.
What it costs in SE22
A blocked toilet is normally cleared at the fixed £120 plus VAT rate. We never charge for coming out, whatever the time. You know the cost before the engineer picks up a tool.