Blocked Drains in Fulham

Drainage in Fulham

Fulham lies on the north bank of the Thames, and the river has shaped the area. Bishop's Park is a good example. Builders laid it out on meadow between the old palace moat and the river. They added the embankment in 1893 to stop that land flooding. Low ground near the river can be wet, so heavy rain deserves attention if you live near the water.

The common drain problems here are the same as anywhere in London. Kitchen grease, wipes and hair block pipes inside the property. Outside, leaves and silt block gullies, while a displaced joint or a root can block a pipe again and again. If a drain needs clearing every few months, the cause is usually a pipe fault.

A CCTV drain survey shows what is going on. For grease, scale and silt, drain jetting in Fulham washes the pipe wall clean. For a toilet that will not flush, see blocked toilets in Fulham.

Who looks after a drain depends on what it serves. Thames Water says it has been responsible for private sewers and lateral drains since 1 October 2011. You are still responsible for the pipes between your property and that sewer, and for plumbing inside.

In a converted house, one run often serves several flats, so one blockage can affect them all. Our guide to shared drain blockages in Fulham conversions explains why. A survey shows where the fault sits.

Basement and lower-ground flats face another risk. If a drain backs up in heavy rain, a non-return (check) valve can stop water flowing back in. Whether one suits your drain depends on the pipework, so ask a drainage professional to assess it. Have any existing valve checked from time to time. Our guide to basement flat drain backup in heavy rain covers this in more detail.

Building work near drains needs care too. Thames Water says you generally need a build over agreement for work within 3 metres of a public sewer. The same applies within 1 metre of where a pipe serving only your property crosses your boundary.

If you plan an extension or basement, see our guide to build over agreements for London terrace extensions. Where a pipe is damaged, pipe relining is a no-dig repair. Fulham is part of the wider Hammersmith and Fulham borough, and that page covers the neighbouring areas.

Blocked drains in Fulham: what we usually find

A blocked drain in Fulham (SW6) can be a one-off clog or a sign of a deeper fault. Slow sinks, gurgling toilets, wet patches outside and overflowing drains all deserve a proper look. The first job is to find out where the problem sits.

• Shared drain runs under converted houses, where one blockage can back up several flats
• Fat, grease and wipes building up in kitchen and bathroom pipes
• Cracked or displaced pipes, or roots in a joint, which cause repeat blockages
• Leaves and silt blocking gullies, especially after heavy rain
• Lower-ground and basement drains backing up in heavy rain, where a non-return valve may help

We start by finding where the problem is. Then we clear it with rods or high-pressure jetting. If the blockage keeps returning, a CCTV survey shows the cause, so you can choose between regular clearance and a repair. Where a pipe is damaged, no-dig pipe relining can repair it without digging up the garden.

Thames Water is responsible for public sewers and lateral drains. You are responsible for the pipes between your property and them. In a block of flats, ask the managing agent who is responsible before you arrange any work.