What can I do about blocked drain or gully outside?
If your drain is blocked inside your home, click here.
Is it a blocked drain or a blocked gully?
If it’s a blocked drain, then you will more than likely notice that all your drains in the house are affected, including your toilet. You might find that you can see raw sewage spilling out on your path or wherever the manhole cover is.
If it’s a blocked gully, it will be an open drain next to your house with a metal or plastic grid over it. It’s usually under the sink waste pipe where it comes out of your property, and will most likely be connected to your sinks, hand wash basins, baths, or showers. It might also have a rainwater drainpipe running into it. Sometimes gullies can be blocked from leaves as well as waste from the sinks.
It's a blocked drain
Sometimes the drain will serve several properties and the manhole may even be on a neighbour’s garden. If it is a shared drain, you need to report the fault to your water authority who are responsible for the maintenance. To find your water supplier click here. You will need to contact them directly for any updates.
If you are unsure or know it’s not a shared drain, give us a call to report the repair.
It’s a blocked gully
A gully is where the waste from a sink or the drainpipe goes into. They are visible and open, covered with a grid rather than a lid.
You need to have a go at clearing this yourself first. Usually, it’s just blocked by leaves or other debris that’s fallen into the grate. Sometimes the blockage is just leaves that are sat on top on of the grid, but the blockage may also be below the grid and inside the gully underground. Put gloves on and reach into the gully and remove any blockages. Pour a bowl or bucket of cold water down after removing any blockages to make sure the drain is clear.
The manhole cover is damaged
Report a repair to us and remember to include where it is and how badly it is damaged. If it’s dangerous, give us a call to let us know as soon as possible.
My drains smell
Try pouring bleach or cleaning fluid down the sink, bath, or shower. We don’t come out to look at this for you.
How do I report a repair?
You can report a repair to us at anytime, anywhere using My Account or contact us via Live Chat. Let us know when reporting that you’ve followed the advice and what you’ve tried to clear it, this helps us to assess what to do next to get the right person for the job.
If you have a blocked drain or a manhole cover is dangerous, give us a call on 0300 456 2531 to report it so we can get one of our operatives out as soon as possible.
