What is drain rodding?
Rodding uses flexible rods that push through the pipe, and the engineer fits a tool to the end. The engineer fits a tool to the end and turns or pushes it. The tool breaks up or pushes out the blockage.
Rods work well for a solid blockage near an access point. They are simple and need less equipment, which keeps the visit short. However, they can struggle with grease and with long runs.
What is high-pressure drain jetting?
Jetting uses a hose with a special nozzle. Water leaves the nozzle in strong jets that cut through grease and debris. The jets also wash the pipe walls.
Jetting cleans the whole pipe, not just the blockage. For this reason, it often suits grease, silt and roots. You can read more about drain jetting on our service page.
The standard approach for a typical domestic blockage
For a simple home blockage, an engineer often starts with the lightest method that works. This might be rods or a hand tool. If that fails, they move to jetting.
The method depends on the pipe type, the age of the drain and the kind of blockage. A good engineer explains the choice, because the right method saves time. Ask why they picked it.
When CCTV comes before any treatment
Sometimes the engineer should look first. If the pipe may be cracked, strong water pressure could make things worse. A camera shows the pipe’s condition before any treatment.
Therefore, ask whether a camera check is wise for old or damaged pipes. Our CCTV drain survey page explains how it works.
What the charge covers
Ask what the price includes, since methods and extras differ. Does it cover both methods, a camera check and a report? Is there a limit on time?
Clear quotes list the work and any extras, because vague prices cause disputes. Avoid vague prices, since they can lead to arguments later.
Long-term: which method keeps drains clear longest?
Jetting usually leaves a cleaner pipe, so blockages may take longer to return. Rodding is quicker for a simple plug. Yet neither fixes a damaged pipe.
If a drain blocks again and again, find the cause, because a repeat blockage means something is wrong. A camera survey shows whether roots, cracks or grease keep causing it. You can request a free quote and we will pass it to a local engineer.
Related guides and local help
If you want to know more, read Drain Maintenance: How to Keep Your Drains Clear All Year. You can also read 8 Common Causes of Blocked Outside Drains and What to Do and How to Unblock a Drain: A Simple Step-by-Step UK Guide, because they cover closely related problems.
These guides help too: Blocked Sink: Every Common Cause and How to Fix Each One, How to Unblock a Toilet: Safe Methods and When to Stop, Blocked Drain Emergency: What to Do Right Now in the UK, Kitchen Drain Problems: Causes, Fixes and Easy Prevention and Blocked Bath Drain: Causes, Quick Fixes and Prevention Tips. Each one explains a related topic in plain English.
Need help near you? Read our blocked drain guide first, or see Blocked Drains in Leicester and Blocked Drains in Cardiff. You can also see Blocked Toilets in Bilborough, since every service page has a free quote form. We pass each request to a local drainage engineer.
