Repeatedly blocked drains! Help!

[ErickBroch]

This is obviously grim but in the last month the wastage drain outside the front of our home has backed up twice! There is only two of us living here and we only flush toilet paper - nothing else. We have also lived here for two years with no issues, now all of a sudden is repeating.

We have booked Dyno Rod to come back again (for free) to see what's going on and clear it next week, but can anyone else point out something ridiculous we may not be seeing? I am not sure how we can suddenly be causing this after years of no problems.

Our water company, Southern Water came out yesterday afternoon and they cleared the blockage. I will embarrassingly say it was lumps of flushable wipes that we could clearly see were not biodegrading like the rest of the stuff in the pipe. they kindly cleared it all from the three manholes on our side and completed a CCTV survey of the drain from our drive down to the main sewer to be sure nothing was stuck. All in all, a great service! We didn't feel judged by them.

Like @VeniVidiWeeWee we are also a 1930s estate and the water company did mention our drains also not having a sufficient fall so things could stick but we shall jet it every so often to ensure nothing catches.

Hope it is all sorted now

If it’s an older house and other peoples drains connect into yours it may well be the responsibility of the water company. Ring them up and tell them you think it might be a section 24 sewer....in which case they have to sort it for free, not dynorod. Sounds like you need a cctv camera survey if it’s a reoccurring issue.

www.ofwat.gov.uk/nonhouseholds/supply-and-standards/responsibility-supply-pipes/

[quote ErickBroch]@stillcrazyafterall they are coming for free as part of a guarantee - so no charge this time. Our water provider came this morning and as it's blocked they couldn't look. Said to get dynorod to look with cameras and see how pipes connect and then call them back asap. Which we will do.

Checked our B&C insurance this morning and it's confusing but hoping it covers any possible drain damage! I think it does.[/quote]
That’s poor practice by them. If there’s any question it’s a section 24 sewer they should be clearing it and doing the survey themselves!

Definitely check if it’s a shared sewer. If it is the water company are responsible. My drains are shared, they blocked and the water company came out unblocked them and did a camera survey. It was an nappy thaf had been flushed by the occupants of my house 3 years previously!
If the drain still repeatly block and are shared it is the water companies responsibility to improve the the drains

If your drain feeds into someone elses or theirs into yours call the water board. Ours has a bit of a dip in it apparently and frequently blocks somewhere between us and our neighbour. The water board always clear it free of charge