Constant blocked drain issues

Popp said:

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone might be able provide some clarity. Our house has had ongoing issues with blocked drains. We are getting people out to the house regularly (at least once a month) to clear blockages. And that doesn't include the amount of times I have to plunge the sink myself (probably every other day). I feel like work people are coming out, clearing the initial block but aren't dealing with the route cause of the problem. I have to admit the current drain layouts are terrible. I've got trades people booked for this week to completely re plumb the upstairs toilet as currently there are 5 bends to the pipe work before it exits the property. Who knows what they were thinking when they plumbed everything in. But i wouldn't say that's the biggest issue. For me the biggest problem lays in the kitchen. The drain absolutely stinks and even when not in use we can hear it gurgling away. So we get someone to come out and they suction out the waste water that has backed up into the u bend. Then they leave. 5 minutes later we turn the taps back on and its blocked again. Rinse and repeat over and over. They clear the blockage but aren't dealing with the route cause of the problem. So I tried to take matters into my own hands and this is when I've come across multiple issues. First, the man hole cover lays directly under the boundary fence. And second the waste pipes don't actually come out of the building as you might expect, the pipes go straight down under the house and into the drains. So it's not like I can even check anything.
I feel like the main issue is people flushing wipes. I don't want to point the finger but one of our neighbours (a group of 5 terraced houses) on the end are a disabled couple who have carers regularly at the property and I feel like they're probably flushing wipes. All our neighbours (row of 5) have the same drain problems. I know the disabled couple often get the council out to jet wash the drain.
So basically I want some advice on what I need to do. Is it normal for the drains to go directly under the house without coming out the side of the house before entering the drain?
Long story short, I'm tired of having people come out to just fix the initial block and never deal with the root cause of the issues. I think it’s time to call Quick Quality Plumbing, because the drains just stink, it’s unhygienic, and I’m fed up with being fobbed off. We are very careful with what goes down our drains, I’m pretty OCD about it, so I just need proper advice on how to tackle this issue once and for all.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to provide me with some direction going forward

Click to expand...

carlosadar said:

Hello. I live in an old house. I therefore have old drains. Over the years nearby trees and plants have discovered them and direct their roots into them. I have rodded them and called out "experts" with CCTV who have cleared them with high pressure jets only washing away any remaining cement between the pipes. I have had more luck dosing the effected gullies and traps with acid, which I’d been able to buy by the bottle at plumbers merchants where I was known. Since the acid attack in South London new restrictions are in place and now it is only sold to certified plumbers. I don’t know any tame plumbers who would get it for me and I’m too much of an old skinflint to pay someone else to do what I am perfectly capable of doing myself. What do others on this forum in the same predicament as me now do clear roots they cant get a rod to?

Click to expand...