Urgent Help

Emergency Drain Enquiries in Reading

If you have a serious drain emergency — sewage backup, flooding, or a completely blocked toilet — submit an enquiry now and we'll aim to connect you with a local drainage specialist as quickly as possible.

Important — please read: Reading Drain Cleaning is an enquiry referral service. We are not a 24-hour emergency call-out company. We will pass your enquiry to a local drainage specialist, but we cannot guarantee response times. For a true emergency that is causing property damage or poses a health risk, you should also try to contact a local drainage company directly. If sewage is entering your property or the public highway, contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

Submit an Emergency Enquiry

Please give as much detail as possible so we can match you with the right specialist quickly.

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What to Do Now

Immediate Steps for a Drain Emergency

1. Stop using the affected fixtures

If sewage is backing up, stop flushing toilets and running sinks immediately. Every flush adds more water to an already full system and increases the risk of a more serious overflow.

2. Check other fixtures

If multiple sinks, toilets, or baths are backing up at the same time, the blockage is likely in the main drain or sewer rather than a single branch pipe. This usually means a larger clearance job.

3. Check the outside inspection chamber

If you can safely access an outdoor manhole cover in your garden, lifting it carefully (use a screwdriver or drain key) will tell you whether the chamber is full of water or empty. Full means the blockage is downstream; empty means the blockage is in the pipe between the house and the chamber.

4. Do not use drain chemicals

Caustic drain unblocking chemicals are of limited use in a serious blockage and can be dangerous if they splash back. They can also damage older pipes. Leave them alone until a specialist has assessed the problem.

5. Protect your property

If water or sewage is at risk of spreading, lay down old towels or sandbags to protect flooring and furniture. Keep children and pets away from the affected area.

6. Contact Thames Water if needed

If you believe the blockage is in the shared public sewer (not your private drain), you can contact Thames Water free of charge on 0800 316 9800. They are responsible for maintaining the public sewer network in Berkshire.

Not sure if it's your drain or the public sewer? As a rough guide: if only your property is affected, it's likely your private drain. If neighbouring properties are also affected or the blockage is in a manhole chamber shared with neighbours, it's more likely a public sewer issue for Thames Water to deal with.