Blocked Outside Drain ((install)) | OFFICIAL ✰ |

Strange sounds emanating from pipes or fixtures when water drains.

Despite marketing claims, the vast majority of “flushable” wipes (baby wipes, cleaning wipes, cosmetic wipes) are not biodegradable. They contain plastic fibers that do not break down. These, combined with cotton buds, sanitary towels, and condoms, snag on any slight imperfection inside a drain pipe. Once snagged, they act as a net, catching everything else that flows past. This type of blockage is almost exclusively found in foul drains and is a leading cause of sewer backups. blocked outside drain

The most common seasonal culprit. Leaves, twigs, moss, and seed pods accumulate in gutters before being washed into downpipes. Unlike internal pipes, external grates and open gullies offer no resistance to this debris. Over time, this mat of organic matter compacts into a spongy, impermeable dam. During heavy rain, water backs up instantly, overflowing from the nearest low point—often right against your foundation wall. Strange sounds emanating from pipes or fixtures when

Once the drain is flowing, keep it that way: These, combined with cotton buds, sanitary towels, and

Run a specific appliance (e.g., the kitchen sink) and see if water appears in the nearest external gully. If water backs up instantly, the blockage is close.