Tavistock stands on the River Tavy, below the western edge of Dartmoor. Its old streets radiate from Bedford Square, and older streets may have older pipes. If a drain blocks, ask the engineer to look for the cause as well. Because every blockage is different, methods and prices vary.
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.
Tavistock stands on the River Tavy, below the western edge of Dartmoor. The town calls itself a gateway to the mining World Heritage Site. Devon County Council is the lead local flood authority, 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.
Most blocked drain jobs start with a question about where the water backs up, because that points to the section affected. Then the engineer checks the nearest access point, such as a gully or manhole. Once they find the blockage, they choose a method to clear it.
Tip for Tavistock: Mention the age of your property when you send a request. It helps the engineer prepare for older pipework. 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 Saltash and blocked drains in Plympton. 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 how to keep kitchen drains clear. You can also browse all drainage pages for Tavistock 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.