A blocked drain rarely fails overnight. Warning signs usually build for weeks, because grease, hair and wipes collect slowly. Spot them early, and the fix usually stays small.
1. Slow draining water
A sink that empties slowly is the most common early sign. Water may also pool around your feet in the shower. Since a partial blockage tends to get worse, it is worth acting early.
2. Gurgling sounds
Gurgling from a plughole or toilet means air is struggling past a blockage. Listen for it after you flush or empty a basin. The noise often appears first, before any water backs up, although not every blockage gurgles.
3. Unpleasant smells
A foul smell from a drain can mean food waste or grease is rotting in the pipe. Bleach may hide it for a day. However, the smell returns, because the cause is still in the pipe.
4. Rising water in the toilet
If the bowl fills higher than normal when you flush, the drain may be partly blocked. It may also take a long time to settle. Check whether other toilets in the home behave the same way, since that points to the main drain.
5. Water coming back up
Water that comes back up through a drain or toilet is serious, because sewage can follow. Sewage is a health risk. Stop using water in the home, and treat it as an emergency if sewage reaches the property.
6. More than one blocked fixture
If several drains in the home slow down, the blockage is probably in a shared run rather than one trap. For example, a bath, basin and toilet that all struggle at once point that way. An engineer can check this with a camera.
7. Damp patches or water marks
Unexplained damp near drainage pipes can mean a leak. A blockage can add pressure to a weak joint, although other causes are also possible. Left alone, damp can harm walls and encourage mould.
What to do next
Minor slow drainage may clear with a plunger. However, a problem that returns usually needs a closer look. A CCTV drain survey shows what is inside the pipe, and high-pressure jetting can clear grease and debris.
Each town has its own page for blocked drains. For example, the Dundee blocked drains page lists the questions to ask. On the coast, see blocked drain help in Broughty Ferry or blocked drain help in Monifieth. Further east, read about blocked drain help in Carnoustie.
If a drain is fully blocked, the blocked drains page explains the usual causes. The emergency drain services page covers what to do while water or sewage is rising. You can send a request through the form at any hour, and you can mark it urgent.
This site is a request service for drainage work in Dundee and nearby towns. You send your details through the form, and your request goes to an engineer who can respond. The engineer who takes your job runs a separate business. Since the engineer sets the price, the arrival time and any guarantee, agree all three before work starts. Request a quote online when you are ready.
