Reassure me about my drain, someone...

[sticksantaupyourchimney]

The outside drain seemed slightly blocked, so I got a bottle of that unbunging stuff and poured some down it, it still doesn;t seem to have cleared (this was about 2 hours ago) - it did say on the bottle that it might have to be left overnight, but am stressing as everything is just horrible at the moment and there is no way on earth I can afford to get a plumber round.

[ceciliaaherne]

Sorry but is the stuff you used not for internal drains? Think you might need a lot more than one bottle for an industrial sized drain.

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

Caustic soda for an outside drain?

[sticksantaupyourchimney]

It said on the bottle that it was safe/suitable for use on outside drains.

[ceciliaaherne]

Is it overflowing?
Does it smell?
Has there been heavy rain?

[ceciliaaherne]

I do think you would need to leave it overnight for an outside drain. I leave it overnight in my shower drain. Try not to check again til morning and hopefully it will be better news.

[skrimbo]

Can you get access anywhre near the blockage, hatch on pipe or drain cover?

If you can get access you can pour in cleaner neare to the blockage or help it along by poking it with a long wire or something.

[sticksantaupyourchimney]

It is peeing with rain and has been doing so all day. There is no smell/flooding or anything (at least, not that's noticeable above the amount of water in the garden due to the rain).
I think it will probably clear by morning, if not, will pour the rest of the bottle of glop down the drain and see if that helps.

[sticksantaupyourchimney]

Farking drain. ONe entire bottle of drain nuke later and it is still draining veeeeerrrry sllloooooowwwwwly. It does seem to be a bit full of gunge (it's the drain the kitchen sink pipe/washing machine/guttering goes into). I have poked it a bit with a wire, but I suppose I need to take the grille off and dig the gunk out.
Or do I dare get some caustic soda (given that I already poured something else down it?)

[skrimbo]

Just keep poking

[BrownSugaSprinkledOnPumpkinPie]

Our landlord used a kind of compressed air thing on ours. Wasn't very expensive, and worked straight away. That could be worth a try.

[BrownSugaSprinkledOnPumpkinPie]

Our landlord used a kind of compressed air thing on ours. Wasn't very expensive, and worked straight away. That could be worth a try.

[Fizzylemonade]

Our outside drain regularly backs up as the large drain thing where several pipes come into it is sited incorrectly (according to Drain Man who came out to clear it) so we use a long plastic pipe and wiggle it around, I think it helps get some air in that helps move it along.

It is awful though and the pipe lives outside next to my shed

The drain people we called guaranteed a price to come out and clear it so there was no chin scratching and sighing as they worked out how much they could fleece us for

You might have something similar in your area. It was £45 here, I'm in Yorkshire

[sticksantaupyourchimney]

Well I went to B&Q and bought a long wiggly wire, which I poked the drain with.I think it may be happier but as the light has gone I am now going to leave it alone till tomorrow and see if it has cleared.