Nine out of ten blocked drains in Lewisham come down to the same short list of causes — and most of them can be cleared inside an hour with the right kit. Here's what's usually going on, what it costs to sort, and when a survey pays for itself.
Why drains block in Lewisham specifically
Fat, oil and grease from cooking — the single most common cause across SE13 and SE8 flats. It cools, sticks to pipe walls and builds up until nothing gets past.
Wet wipes and cotton buds flushed down toilets. 'Flushable' wipes are the biggest cause of blocked soil stacks in converted Victorian houses across Lewisham and Ladywell.
Tree roots in older clay pipes — especially in the streets around Blackheath and Hither Green where mature trees sit close to underground drain runs.
Collapsed sections in properties still on original 1900s clay drainage. The blockage keeps coming back because the pipe itself has failed.
What clearing a blocked drain costs in Lewisham
A straightforward blockage cleared with high-pressure jetting: usually done inside 60–90 minutes on the same visit. Quoted upfront before work starts.
A stubborn or repeated blockage that needs a full jetter run down the main drain: takes longer but clears root balls and heavy grease other tools cannot shift.
A CCTV drain survey with recorded footage and a written report: worth doing when a blockage keeps coming back, before a house sale, or for an insurance claim.
No callout charge for jobs in the same SE London catchment. Prices are given on the phone or on arrival — no meter running.
Signs it is more than a one-off blockage
Multiple drains gurgling at the same time — usually means the main drain run, not a single sink trap.
Smell coming from an outside gully or manhole cover.
The toilet water level rises when you run a bath or shower.
The blockage clears itself for a few days then comes straight back. That is almost always roots or a collapsed pipe — a CCTV survey pays for itself here.
What to try before you call
For a slow kitchen sink: boil a full kettle, pour it slowly down the plughole, then follow with a squirt of washing-up liquid. This shifts the top layer of grease.
For a slow bathroom sink or shower: pull the pop-up plug or grate and clean the hair build-up — it is almost always the first inch.
For a blocked toilet: do not keep flushing. Use a plunger with a rubber flange, pushing straight down slowly and pulling back sharply. Flushing a blocked toilet a second time is how you flood a bathroom.
If it has not cleared in 15 minutes, stop — the next step is a jetter, not more chemicals. Repeated caustic drain unblocker damages older pipes and does not touch a proper blockage.
Common questions
Do you cover the whole of Lewisham?
Yes — SE13, SE8, SE14, plus Ladywell, Hither Green, Catford (SE6), Blackheath (SE3) and Deptford. Same-day response in every one of those postcodes.
Do you use a jetter or drain rods?
Both, but the high-pressure jetter is mounted in every Fix That Leak van — so most blockages clear in minutes rather than hours. No waiting for a specialist team to arrive.
How do I know if I need a CCTV survey?
If the same drain has blocked twice in six months, or before you buy or sell a house in Lewisham, a survey is worth doing. You get recorded video plus a written report suitable for insurance or a solicitor.