Multiple drains blocked — main drain issue
Check the steps below first — if you\'re not confident, get it fixed safely today.
Find a Gas Safe engineer near you →⚠️ If multiple drains are blocked simultaneously, there is a main drain blockage. Do not attempt to use drain rods without experience. Sewage is a biohazard.
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Most likely cause & what to check
If your kitchen sink, washing machine, bath, and toilet are all failing to drain at the same time, this strongly indicates the shared drain downstream of your house is blocked.
Locate your inspection chamber (manhole cover, usually in the garden or near the side of the house). Lift the cover carefully — if it is full or has overflow marks, the blockage is downstream.
Check with your neighbours — if they also have drainage problems, the blockage is in the public sewer. Call your water company (e.g. Thames Water, Anglian, Severn Trent) — sewer blockages are their responsibility and they attend free of charge.
If only your property is affected, call a drainage contractor. A high-pressure water jetter can typically clear a main drain blockage in 30–60 minutes.
While waiting for the engineer: minimise water use in the property — do not flush toilets unnecessarily, run baths, or use the washing machine.
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