Blocked toilets in SW20 have a habit of happening at the worst time. Someone answers whatever time you call covering Raynes Park and West Wimbledon, and a fixed price given on the call.
What we cover in SW20
What we take in across SW20 spans Raynes Park and West Wimbledon, part of Merton. Because we cover the neighbouring postcodes too, a drain shared between streets is not a problem.
Raynes Park and West Wimbledon are largely interwar semi-detached housing with off-street parking and side access. Soakaways paved over during driveway work are a frequent cause of surface water problems.
Common causes in SW20
Across SW20, the usual culprits are:
- Non-flushable items lodged in the trap
- A heavy load of paper, on a pan with a weak flush
- An obstruction in the run below, which is why the toilet is only where it shows
- An item dropped into the pan caught in the outlet
Signs worth reporting
What you are likely to be seeing around SW20:
- Standing water in a yard gully when nothing is running
- Two or more fittings affected together, which points at the shared run
- Gurgling from a toilet or sink as another appliance drains
- Foul odour around a chamber that worsens after rain
How the visit works
The order matters, so we work it out before we jet:
- Check whether other fittings are draining normally
- Cover the floor and surrounds before any work starts
- Clear the 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
Useful steps before we arrive:
- Keep water use to nothing, especially washing machines
- Keep people and pets away from any standing waste water
- Clear access to the drain covers if you can
- Jot down what is draining and what is not so we arrive prepared
Who pays for the repair
The first question on a shared drain is whose it is. Pipework inside your boundary serving only your property is yours; past the boundary it is normally Thames Water. You get that in writing.
What it costs in SW20
A blocked toilet is normally cleared at the fixed £120 plus VAT rate. We never charge for coming out, whatever the time. You get the figure before any work begins.