Blocked Sewer in Nottingham

Signs It's the Sewer, Not Just a Drain

A blocked sewer announces itself differently from a single blocked fixture. More than one drain slowing or blocking at the same time is the key indicator. Gurgling from the toilet when you run the bath or empty the kitchen sink suggests water is backing up in the main drain below both fixtures. Sewage smell appearing across the property rather than from a single point, or sewage or water visible inside an external inspection chamber, both confirm the main drain or sewer is involved. A single slow sink that clears with a plunger is almost certainly just that drain. Two or more fixtures at once — call us.

What Causes Sewer Blockages?

Fat, oil, and grease from kitchen drains accumulate in the sewer run over months and years, forming solid deposits — particularly at bends and junctions where flow slows. Wet wipes and sanitary products, which do not break down in the drainage system, form solid masses that snag on every roughness or joint in the pipe. Root ingress is a major cause in Nottingham: the combination of Victorian clay sewers and mature street trees means that roots find their way into open joints and grow progressively until they block the bore entirely, particularly in older residential streets in Sneinton, Hyson Green, and the Lenton area. Partial structural failure — a collapsed section or a displaced joint that creates a ledge — provides a catchment point for all of the above.

How We Clear It

High-pressure jetting is the primary method for sewer blockages: a jetting nozzle passes along the full drain run, breaking up blockages and flushing debris downstream. For root masses, we use a mechanical cutting attachment to remove the roots before jetting. After clearing, we carry out a CCTV pass to confirm the sewer is fully clear and to check whether the blockage had a structural cause — root ingress through a cracked joint, or debris snagging on a collapsed section — that needs a repair rather than just clearing. If a structural issue is found, we advise on sewer repair options.

Responsibility: Yours or Severn Trent's?

If the sewer is shared between multiple properties or runs in the public highway, Severn Trent Water is responsible for clearing it. We can confirm this from the CCTV evidence and advise on how to report the fault to Severn Trent. We do not charge you to fix what belongs to the water company.

Related services: drain jetting, sewer repairs, emergency drain.