Blocked toilet, sink, shower or external drain across Greenwich — SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10 and SE18. Find directory-listed drainage plumbers below for clearance, jetting and CCTV surveys.
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⚠️ Before calling a drainage plumber: Sewage backing up from a public drain or shared sewer → Thames Water 0800 316 9800. Greenwich council tenant → 020 8854 8888. Anything else → contact verified drainage plumbers below.
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What counts as a blocked drain emergency
A blockage backing up into the property should usually be treated as urgent.
For blocked drains in Greenwich, internal wastewater backup should generally be treated as urgent. Raw sewage or dirty water coming up through a shower tray, bath, sink or toilet means the drain is fully blocked and the system has nowhere to go.
Slower blockages — a sink that drains sluggishly, a shower that pools before clearing, a toilet that flushes slowly — are not emergencies yet. But they are warnings.
A partial blockage left untreated can develop into a full one. A full blockage in a Victorian terrace in Charlton or Plumstead with a shared clay drain creates a potential dispute with the neighbouring property and a call to Thames Water.
Before calling anyone, answer one question: is this your drain or a shared one? In Greenwich’s dense terrace stock, some properties share lateral connections before reaching the public sewer. If your neighbour has the same problem, the blockage is likely downstream — in the shared section — and that may affect responsibility and who arranges the repair.
What causes blocked drains in Greenwich
The causes split cleanly by drain type.
Kitchen drains block from grease and fat. Cooking oil that is liquid when poured becomes solid when it cools, building up on pipe walls layer by layer. Grease build-up can harden over time and may require mechanical clearance or jetting rather than chemical cleaners alone.
Once grease hardens along the pipe wall, clearing the blockage alone does not remove the underlying build-up — which is why repeat blockages occur. In London, large-scale grease blockages in shared systems are often referred to as fatbergs — hardened accumulations of fat, oil and non-flushable materials that restrict flow and require specialist removal.
In some cases, repeated kitchen blockages point to build-up further along the run — a CCTV drain survey can identify the extent before further work is quoted.
Bathroom drains block from hair and soap scum. A slow shower drain is often hair at the trap — the simplest blockage to clear.
External drains and gullies block from leaves, silt and debris. In autumn across Blackheath and Kidbrooke where tree cover is dense, a blocked gully left through winter can cause surface water to back up against the property.
Shared clay drains present a more complex challenge in Greenwich. Older terrace areas in parts of Charlton, Woolwich and Plumstead may still have Victorian clay drainage runs under gardens, prone to root ingress from garden trees, silt accumulation in low-gradient runs, and structural movement where clay has cracked or shifted over time.
Rodding alone may not fully clear these blockages — they often require a CCTV survey to diagnose, and appropriately controlled high-pressure jetting or excavation to fix. High-pressure jetting may not be appropriate for damaged or structurally compromised pipework — a drain specialist experienced in older stock matches pressure to pipe condition.
In higher-density developments across Woolwich and Thamesmead, a different pattern emerges — wet wipes and non-flushable items combining with cooking fat in communal drainage stacks. If multiple flats in the same building report problems simultaneously, the blockage may sit within the communal system — confirm with the freeholder or managing agent before commissioning private work.
Who is responsible for your drain in Greenwich
For drain clearance in Greenwich, identifying whether the issue is private or shared is the first step — and the most important one for managing cost. Getting this wrong can result in paying for work that legally falls under Thames Water or a managing agent.
The rule is straightforward. You are responsible for drains within your property boundary that serve only your property. As confirmed by Thames Water, they are responsible for public sewers and for shared lateral drains — the sections that serve multiple separate properties.³
If you are unsure whether the blockage sits in your private section or Thames Water’s, Thames Water’s guidance on blockages recommends contacting a drain specialist who can assess where the fault lies.² If the blockage sits in Thames Water’s section, they are responsible for that section and should be contacted to deal with it. A drain specialist can assess likely responsibility before any work begins.
For blocked drains on public streets and residential roads, the Royal Borough of Greenwich publishes response targets for blocked drains that may cause flooding. Report a drain problem to Greenwich Council →¹
In converted Victorian houses and purpose-built flats across SE10, SE18 and surrounding areas, the shared drainage stack within the building’s footprint typically falls under the freeholder or managing agent’s responsibility — not Thames Water’s.
In most cases, when multiple flats in the same building report problems but neighbouring buildings remain unaffected, the fault typically sits within the internal shared stack.
What to expect from a drain clearance visit
Most drain clearances follow a straightforward sequence.
The specialist locates the blockage — either by inspection or by running rods through the drain — clears it using mechanical rods or a high-pressure water jetter, then confirms the drain runs clear and tests flow from the affected fixture.
For straightforward blockages — kitchen grease, bathroom hair, external gullies — the specialist will often clear the issue within a single visit.
For shared clay drains, root ingress, or suspected structural damage, a CCTV survey is the next step. A camera passes through the drain to identify the exact location, nature and extent of the blockage or damage before any further work is quoted.
Before the specialist arrives — identify which fixtures are affected, note whether neighbours report the same issue, and check for any visible water or sewage at inspection chambers in the garden.
If you have an external inspection chamber, and it is safe and easily accessible to do so, lift the cover and check whether it is full. A full chamber usually indicates the blockage sits downstream — in the shared or public section.
An empty chamber usually indicates the blockage sits between the chamber and the affected fixture inside the property. If the chamber is full but neighbouring properties are unaffected, the blockage may still sit within your private section — location alone does not confirm responsibility without inspection. That one check saves diagnostic time before anyone starts work.
CCTV surveys — when you need one
Not every blocked drain needs a CCTV survey. Not every one can do without one.
A first-time straightforward blockage — kitchen sink, bathroom drain — clearance only is usually sufficient.
A CCTV survey makes sense when the blockage keeps coming back; the drain is external or shared; ground movement has occurred near the drain run; or the property is changing hands.
A safety note on chemicals: never mix different brands of chemical drain cleaner in a blocked drain. A safety note on inspection chambers: drain chambers can contain hazardous gases including hydrogen sulphide, which has a rotten-egg smell. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on confined spaces confirms that spaces presenting fume risk require proper assessment and precautions before approach.⁴ If you smell rotten eggs at a chamber cover, keep back and call a professional.
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What blocked drain clearance costs in Greenwich — 2026
Typical London 2026 ranges. Actual costs vary by blockage type, access and method required. No official pricing data exists for private drain clearance — always obtain multiple written quotes before work begins.
| Service | Typical London range 2026 |
|---|---|
| Standard drain clearance (rods) | £120–£180 |
| High-pressure water jetting | £180–£350 |
| Basic CCTV survey | £150–£250 |
| Full CCTV survey with written report | £250–£450 |
| Root cutting and removal | £300–£600+ |
| Drain excavation and repair | £500–£2,000+ |
Customers should request written confirmation of pricing before work begins. If a CCTV survey is recommended before clearance, that should be explained and quoted separately — not added to the invoice after the fact.
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Frequently asked questions — Blocked Drains Greenwich
For simple blockages — a bathroom sink or shower drain blocked with hair — yes. A drain snake or basic auger clears most hair blockages at the trap. For kitchen drains with grease build-up, chemical cleaners may give temporary relief but rarely clear the full blockage.
For anything external, shared, or backing up into the property — call a professional. Pouring chemicals into a shared clay drain in a Charlton terrace is unlikely to resolve the underlying issue and may accelerate corrosion in older Victorian pipework.
Rodding uses flexible rods to physically push or break up a blockage — effective for simple obstructions close to the access point. Jetting uses high-pressure water to blast the blockage clear and clean the pipe walls — more effective for grease build-up, shared drains and longer runs.
Jetting is commonly used for anything beyond a simple trap blockage.
Recurring blockages in the same location point to one of three causes: a partial structural defect catching debris, root intrusion growing back after clearance, or a persistent grease or silt trap needing a more thorough clean.
A CCTV survey identifies which.
Most standard drain unblocking in Greenwich falls within £120–£180, depending on access and method. Jetting and CCTV surveys are priced separately.
No official pricing data exists for private drain clearance — always obtain multiple written quotes before work begins.
Possibly — if the blockage sits in a shared lateral drain or public sewer. Call a drain specialist first — they assess where the blockage sits and whether it falls in Thames Water’s section.²
If it does, contact Thames Water — they are responsible for that section and should deal with it.
For a first-time straightforward blockage — clearance only is usually sufficient. For recurring blockages, any shared drain issue, ground movement near the drain, or a property sale — carry out a CCTV survey before or immediately after clearance.
Blocked Drains across Greenwich — areas we cover
- Blocked Drains Greenwich
- Blocked Drains Woolwich
- Blocked Drains Charlton
- Blocked Drains Blackheath
- Blocked Drains Eltham
- Blocked Drains Plumstead
- Blocked Drains Kidbrooke
- Blocked Drains Thamesmead
- Blocked Drains Abbey Wood
- Blocked Drains Westcombe Park
Related services
- Emergency Plumber Greenwich
- Leak Detection Greenwich
- Burst Pipes Greenwich
- General Plumbing Greenwich
Related guides
- London Plumbing Costs Guide 2026
- Victorian Terrace Plumbing Guide
- London Landlord Plumbing Compliance Checklist
- How to Read a Plumbing Quote
For blocked drains in Greenwich, getting the diagnosis right the first time matters. Older clay drainage runs, Victorian terrace stock in Plumstead and Charlton, and varying drainage conditions across lower-lying parts of Thamesmead and Abbey Wood all shape the local drain clearance picture.
An experienced drainage plumber should be able to distinguish a trap blockage from a structural clay drain problem — and explain it before a CCTV camera goes anywhere near the ground. Work guarantees available where offered — confirm with your specialist.
Contact verified drainage plumbers in Greenwich ↑
Sources & further reading
Last reviewed: May 2026 by Adiel Khan — SFEDI-accredited business advisor 20+ years experience (South East Enterprise Ltd) and operator of VerifiedPlumbers. [LinkedIn ↗] This page is reviewed against guidance published by ¹ Royal Borough of Greenwich — Report a drain problem https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/parking-transport-and-streets/report-issues-street/report-drain-problem
² Thames Water — Blockages and blocked drains https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/blockages
³ Thames Water — Sewer pipe responsibility https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/sewer-flooding/sewer-pipe-responsibility
⁴ HSE — Introduction to working in confined spaces https://www.hse.gov.uk/confinedspace/introduction.htm