Ivybridge lies on the River Erme, and Devon County Council is its lead local flood authority. That role covers surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. A blocked drain at home is a pipe problem, so ask an engineer to trace it. However the job goes, keep any notes or photos you receive.
A blocked drain often shows up as slow water, a gurgle or a bad smell. The cause is often simple, such as grease, wipes or hair. Sometimes, however, it is a fault in the pipe itself, so ask the engineer about the cause as well as the symptom.
Ivybridge lies on the River Erme and has been part of the South Hams District Council area since 1974. Devon County Council is the lead local flood authority. It deals with surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses, while South West Water runs the sewers.
South West Water took over many private sewers on 1 October 2011. A drain that serves only your home is still yours to look after, up to your boundary. A shared pipe, however, or one past your boundary, may belong to the water company, so ask the engineer where the blockage sits.
Before work starts, ask the engineer how they plan to clear the pipe. Rods suit many soft blockages, while a water jet suits grease and scale. If the water stays slow afterwards, ask what they suggest next.
Tip for Ivybridge: Tell the engineer if the blockage is near a shared boundary. It may sit in a pipe that serves your neighbours too. Small details help, because they narrow the search for the engineer.
Say which fixtures are slow and when the problem started. Photos can also help, but you do not need to take anything apart. The more detail you give, the easier it is for an engineer to quote, because they can plan the job.
Since every engineer sets their own terms, ask before work starts. These questions help you compare quotes fairly. Keep the answers, because they are easier to compare in writing.
That depends on the engineer who takes your job and how busy they are. You can send a request at any time, and you can mark it urgent. Ask for an arrival time when the engineer replies, because we cannot promise one.
The price depends on the blockage, the access and the method. Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts. Also ask whether there is a call-out charge, since that varies between engineers.
Common causes are grease, wipes, hair, food waste and tree roots in older pipes. Property age and layout also matter, since older pipes crack more easily. A camera check can show the real cause if the blockage keeps coming back.
The same service is also listed for blocked drains in Plympton and blocked drains in Plymstock. Each page has its own notes on drains and flooding, while the basic steps stay the same. You can read either one to compare.
For background, read the signs of a blocked drain. You can also browse all drainage pages for Ivybridge or the blocked drains overview, since each one covers a different angle. Whichever page you choose, the request form at the top of this page stays the same.