CCTV drain surveys
A camera inspection of the pipe to find out why a drain keeps blocking, or to check a drain before you buy.
Blocked drains in Exeter, sorted by a local drainage engineer
Sink won't empty, toilet backing up, or a drain cover overflowing in the garden? Send us the details and we'll get a vetted, independent drainage engineer covering your part of Exeter in touch with you as soon as possible.
Get a free quote
Tell us what's happening and we'll pass it to a local drainage engineer.
Thanks, we have your request. A local drainage engineer will be in touch as soon as possible. If waste water is backing up, stop using water in the house until it has been cleared.
Local to Exeter
We pass your enquiry to an established local drainage engineer with a strong reputation in the area.
Vetted and independent
Every engineer we work with is vetted and runs their own business.
One engineer, not five
Your details go to one drainage engineer, so your phone doesn't ring all day.
Free, no-obligation quotes
Asking costs nothing, and you decide whether to go ahead.
Drain unblocking in Exeter without the ring-round
A blocked drain rarely waits for a convenient moment. Water sits in the sink, the toilet rises when you flush, or the inspection chamber in the garden fills up and starts to smell. The longer it is left, the more likely it is to overflow or back up into the house.
Drain Unblocking Exeter takes the ring-round out of it. You tell us what's happening in a short form, and we pass it to one vetted, independent drainage engineer who covers your area. They contact you, ask anything they need to know, and give you a price before any work starts.
Most household blockages are cleared with rods or a jetter. Where a drain keeps blocking, a CCTV survey shows what is going on inside the pipe, so the cause can be dealt with rather than cleared again and again.
Drainage services in Exeter
Drain jetting
High-pressure water to clear grease, silt, scale and roots from outside drains and the pipes between chambers.
Blocked toilets and sinks
Toilets, sinks, baths and showers that won't drain, cleared from inside the house or from the nearest chamber.
How it works
Tell us what's happening
Fill in the short form with your postcode and a few words about the problem. A photo of the drain or chamber helps.
A local engineer gets in touch
We pass your enquiry to one vetted, independent drainage engineer covering your area, who contacts you as soon as possible.
You get a price first
They'll explain what they think the problem is and what it should cost before any work starts. There's no obligation to go ahead.
Drains in Exeter: who looks after what
In general, you are responsible for the drains inside your property boundary. Since 1 October 2011, lateral drains (the part of your drain outside the boundary) and sewers shared with neighbours that connect to the public network have been the responsibility of the water company, which in Exeter is South West Water. If the blockage is in a shared run or under the pavement, it may be theirs to clear, and a drainage engineer can usually tell you which side of the line it is.
Exeter's river defences were rebuilt and extended by the Environment Agency, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council, and the scheme now protects more than 3,000 homes and businesses with 14 operational flood gates. Those defences keep the River Exe out, but they don't stop a blocked gully or a slow drain overflowing in heavy rain, which is when many blockages come to light.
Large parts of the city sit inside Exeter's 20 conservation areas. If a drain needs digging up rather than clearing, that can affect how the work is planned, so it is worth mentioning if you live in one.
What drain unblocking usually costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Unblocking a toilet | £50–£60 |
| Unblocking a bath or sink | £50–£70 |
| Unblocking a gulley drain | £80–£120 |
| Drain rodding | £80–£145 |
| Drain jetting | £70–£175 |
| CCTV drain survey | £90–£350 |
| Emergency call-out | £100–£200 |
Indicative UK price ranges published by MyJobQuote (updated November 2026). Your drainage engineer will quote after inspecting.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to unblock a drain in Exeter?
It depends on where the blockage is and how it's cleared. As a guide, MyJobQuote's published UK ranges are £50–£60 to unblock a toilet, £80–£145 for drain rodding and £70–£175 for drain jetting, with emergency call-outs at £100–£200. Your drainage engineer will give you a price after looking at the job.
Is the quote free?
Yes. Sending the form costs nothing, and the quote is free and without obligation. You decide whether to go ahead.
What happens after I send the form?
We pass your details to one vetted, independent drainage engineer covering your area. They'll contact you as soon as possible to talk it through and arrange a visit or a price.
Is a blocked drain my responsibility or South West Water's?
In general, you're responsible for drains inside your property boundary. Since 1 October 2011, lateral drains outside the boundary and sewers shared with neighbours that connect to the public network have been South West Water's responsibility. If neighbours are blocked too, the problem may be in a shared sewer. A drainage engineer can usually tell you which it is.
What should I do while I wait?
Stop using water in the house as far as you can so the blockage doesn't back up further, and stop flushing a blocked toilet. Keep children and pets away from any waste water, and wash your hands after touching anything near it. Don't lift a heavy chamber cover on your own.
Blocked drain in Exeter? Send the form and a local drainage engineer will be in touch.