What usually causes a blocked drain?
Grease and fat, hair, wet wipes and other non-flushable items, and general debris building up over time are the most common causes of a blocked drain.
Kitchen drains are commonly affected by fat and grease solidifying inside the pipe over time, while bathroom drains more often build up hair and soap residue. Outside drains can also be affected by tree roots, general debris, or age-related damage to the pipe itself. The right clearing method depends heavily on which of these is actually causing the blockage.
How is a blocked drain located and cleared?
A visual check of accessible points, drain rods for straightforward blockages, and jetting or a drain camera for anything further down the run or harder to reach are the typical methods used.
Simple internal blockages, like a bath trap full of hair, are often clearable with basic tools. Blockages further down the system, or ones that keep recurring, usually need rodding or high-pressure jetting to clear properly, and sometimes a drain camera to confirm exactly what's causing the problem before deciding on the method.
What if the blockage keeps coming back?
A recurring blockage at the same point usually points to a structural issue in the pipe rather than a one-off build-up, and is worth investigating properly rather than repeatedly clearing the symptom.
If the same drain blocks again shortly after being cleared, that's a signal something structural - a partial collapse, root ingress, or a badly laid section of pipe - may be the real cause rather than everyday build-up. A drain camera survey can confirm this before committing to a bigger repair.
