24 Hour Drain Unblocking Services & Drain Repair

OUR SERVICESBlocked Drains? Argo Drains are Available 24/7 for Emergency Drain Repair

Clogged, malfunctioning or blocked drains can be a serious health issue. The obvious signs of a problem are bad odours, a bubbling or blocked toilet, and waste-water appearing in sinks, bath tubs, or showers. Each of these is enough to alert everyone in the house not to use any plumbing fixtures and to call in Argo-Drains to see to the problem immediately.
BLOCKED TOILETS
Initial signs are most common in the toilet, seeing as that is the biggest and main drain to the sewer outside. Changes in the water level, slow drainage after flushing & unpleasant smells coming from any of your drains.
ROOT INTRUSION
A common problem is tree root invasion. Roots are attracted to pipes because of the moisture from condensation, and if a pipe develops the slightest crack roots will grow into it and eventually cause a blockage.
LOSS OF DRAIN PRESSURE
Plumbing systems work because of gravity and pressure. Water naturally takes the easiest route downwards, and with the use of air-traps, vents, and seals you should never have waste-water or gases coming back up into the home.
DRAIN CLEARING
We use the latest high-pressure water Jetters to clear blocked sewers or stormwater drains. It is inserted into the sewer or stormwater pipe and blasts water down the line to clear whatever is causing the blockage which might be roots, rubbish, leaves, and mud.

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Why Choose Argo Drains?

  • Experienced: We have over 25 years’ experience in the Building, Electrical, Sanitary and Plumbing industries – giving you piece of mind that your blocked drains will be looked at by a professional with plenty of experience in drain unblocking services.
  • Professional quality: We are your local, trusted drainage specialists serving the West Midlands providing you with quality drain unblocking services.
  • 24/7 availability: You never speak to an answer machine at Argo Drains and our emergency line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for those emergency drainage issues, even if it is in the middle of the night!
  • Location: All of our drains engineers are local to the West Midlands so they can be with you fast to ensure a quick and efficient, but also high-quality and cost-effective service.
  • Hourly Rate: Fixed price per hour for our services, agreed with you at the outset.

Drain Unblocking Services

Gully Clearing Services
Gully drains are used as a means of collecting rainwater, so that it can freely flow. However, because gully drains are on the ground, the quickly fill up with debris and silt, causing a risk of overflowing.
Drain Unblocking
We use high quality drain cleaning equipment to help unclog and unblock drains. We use drain cleaning hand rods, as well as high-pressure water drain jetting systems to clean blocked drains. This is effective in increasing the efficiency of your drain, as well as stopping leaks. It also protects the condition of your drainage system to it will help make it last for years to come.

Toilet Unblocking
A blocked toilet can be a massive inconvenience which needs to be resolved quickly. If you spot any issues, in particular if the water rises when you flush and then slowly returns back to normal, then this is a sign that the toilet is blocked. It could also mean it won’t be long before the water fills up and no longer recedes. If this happens then it is important not to flush again as the toilet will overflow and flood the bathroom. In most circumstances, a toilet blockage is either in the toilet itself or in the soil pan connector. However, if this is not where the blockage is then it could be a drain blockage which will need to be looked at as soon as possible.
Kitchen Sink Unblocking
We have all seen the effects of a slow kitchen drain flow, especially if washing fruit or doing the dishes. Kitchen sinks can be blocked by a wealth of objects, from grease, fat, cooking oil, coffee grounds, egg shells and other food particles. Our jetter washing service uses high jet pressure cleaners to unblock even the worst of clogs. To identify where a clog is, we can use our CCTV equipment to navigate through the drain to pinpoint where the issue is and remedy the situation. The great thing about our CCTV equipment is the minimal impact it has on your property as we do not need to dig any trenches to find where clogs are located. If you’ve got blockages in your kitchen sink and you’ve got a blocked drain in the West Midlands – we can help!


Blocked Drains FAQs

How Can I Spot Blocked Drains?

Signs of a blocked drain:

  • Gurgling toilet
  • Smells odd
  • Slow draining water
How Do Drains Become Blocked?

There are various ways that debris can accidentally get into your drains which over time can cause
them to become blocked – some of the most common drain blockages are:

  • Hair – invest in a drain guard to catch hair before it gets down the drain and to clear these
    out regularly, regular maintenance and removing manually with gloved hands will help
    reduce the chances of being blocked.
  • Soap / washing powders – Many people don’t realise soap is actually made from grease or
    fat. This means that the soap can combine with water within the drain to form a hard
    residue, better known as soap scum, that can stain bath fittings and clog pipes.
  • Dirt – Excessive amounts of dirt on clothes can cause blockages so it is a good idea to wash
    clothes outside to get rid of the dirt.
  • Food – Another common cause is food going down the drain when eating – food waste
    shouldn’t ever go down the drain and you should be particularly careful of grease or oil as
    these can solidify the same way soap does.
  • Small Objects – There are plenty of small objects which can accidentally go down the drain
    but ideally only water, toilet paper and human waste should go down your drains as any
    small objects could potentially become lodged and block the pipe.
  • Toilet Paper – Sometimes flushing too much toilet paper can cause it to build up in the
    drain, clog up and stop toilets from flushing. However, if water can still run through your
    toilet when you flush it then you can simply use a plunger to shift the paper. However, if the
    toilet just fills up without draining then you will need a professional drain removal service.

Other objects which can block drains include:

  • Sanitary towels
  • Wet Wipes /nappies
  • Cotton buds
  • Paper towels
  • Liquid cooking fats and oils when cool if poured down when hot they will congeal and
    block pipe.
  • Children’s toys and / or small objects
  • Ground Coffee and tea leaves more now as coffee machines and specialist teas are more
    Widely / commonly used
Can Blocked Drains Cause Damp?

Yes.

Blocked drains can cause damp as the water flowing down the drain may actually flow out into the
ground around the drainpipe itself. The result of this water spilling out is wide reaching with issues
including penetrating damp & wet rot potentially being caused. If the pipe has collapsed underneath
your home you can usually spot signs of damp on the walls and the floor.

Can a Blocked Drain Cause Structural Damage?

Yes!

Subsidence is when the ground sinks around a drain pipe over time as water has been leaking from
the pipe and into the ground for a long period of time. This can eventually cause the ground to sink
near the property. Another sign could also be a particularly lush, green patch of grass as this could
mean sewage may have also leaked and acted like a fertiliser.

Furthermore, where the damaged pipe lies underneath the building’s structural points then there is
also the possibility for cracks in the building to appear, especially in floors and walls. Though this
tends to only happen if a drain has been left in disrepair for a long time but this damage can
potentially be very expensive.

A blocked or slow running drain can cause:

  • Flooding
  • Raw sewage spilling over
  • If you come into contact, it may cause skin irritation.
  • Smells inside and outside the property.
  • Wet rot or damp on the walls or floors and cause damage to furnishings.
  • If pipework is damaged this can cause Subsidence and structural issues causing cracks in walls and floors if left for prolonged time may be costly to repair.
  • If pipework is leaking external the ground may wash away around pipes and could cause ground / slabs drives to drop.
  • If the pipework is blocked this can be usually identified by slow draining water, toilet water level line being higher than normal, or even a gurgling sound.
What are the Health Risks from Blocked Drains?

If left untreated, blocked drains can cause a mass build up of harmful bacteria and attracting unwanted vermin to the vicinity of your home.

This can cause serious health issues, as you can be exposed to infectious bacteria which poses risks of disease and skin irritation.

Should I Try and Unblock Drains Myself?

Leave it to the professionals!

Argo Drains have 25 years of experience in the drainage industry.

It may seem like a cheaper solution at the time, but with improper technique and cheap equipment, you may not be able to clear a drain very easily. Cheap drainage rods are susceptible to breakages.

If your drain isn’t properly unblocked, you could be facing costly property damage, and be at risk of health issues.

How Long Will it Take to Unblock a Drain?

It could take anything from one hour to four hours – depending on the severity of the drain blockage.

How are the Causes of Blocked Drains Identified?

We use CCTV Drain Surveys. This is a way of identifying the cause of drain blockages, which will tell us how to resolve the issue.

This process involves using high-quality camera technology to identify the issues underneath the drain. Click here to find out more information about CCTV Drain Surveys.

How Does Drain Unblocking Work?