Blocked Outside Drains in Liverpool
Overflowing outside drain? We'll find it, clear it, and explain why it happened.
Last updated
In short: Need help with blocked outside drains in Liverpool? Network Drains covers the whole of Liverpool and Merseyside, including Woolton, Aigburth, Allerton, Wavertree, Childwall, Garston, Mossley Hill, Speke, Kensington, Old Swan, Anfield, West Derby, Sefton Park, Dingle, Bootle, Fazakerley, Croxteth, Huyton, Litherland, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Aintree, Seaforth, Hunts Cross, Prescot and Prenton. You speak directly to the engineer, the likely cost is discussed before we attend, and we explain what caused the problem. Call or WhatsApp 07455 859451.
An overflowing gully or a manhole that won't stay down usually means a blockage somewhere in the run between your property and the main sewer. It's one of the most common calls we get, especially on older terraced streets with shared drainage.
We start by lifting the nearest manhole covers to see where the water is and isn't flowing, which tells us roughly where the blockage sits before we even start clearing it. That means less guesswork and less disruption to your garden or driveway.
Aigburth's tree-lined streets are one of the most common sources of root ingress we deal with in outside drains, while in Wavertree's dense terraces a blocked outside drain is often a shared run rather than one house's problem alone. Either way, we lift the nearest manholes to trace where the blockage actually sits before we start clearing it.
Signs you need this
- A gully or manhole overflowing when it rains
- Standing water in the garden or yard near a drain cover
- A bad smell hanging around an outside drain
- Water backing up into a downstairs toilet or sink during heavy rain
How we handle it
- 1 Manhole-by-manhole check to trace where the blockage is
- 2 Jetting or rodding to clear the run
- 3 CCTV survey if the drain run is old or has blocked before
Questions people ask
Will you need to dig up my garden?
Almost never for a straightforward blockage — rods and jetting clear the vast majority of outside drain problems without any digging. Excavation is only needed for a genuine structural repair, and we'd always show you the CCTV footage and agree that before starting.
Why does my outside drain keep blocking?
Recurring outside blockages are usually tree roots finding their way into a joint, or a section of pipe that's settled and created a dip where debris collects. A CCTV survey pinpoints exactly which it is.