A blocked drain once in a blue moon is annoying, but manageable. But when it keeps happening? That’s a sign that something deeper might be wrong. Recurring blocked drains aren’t just inconvenient. They often point to hidden problems in your plumbing or pipework that need proper attention.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most common reasons why your drains might keep blocking, what warning signs to look out for, and what you can do to solve the issue for good. Whether it’s your kitchen sink, bathroom, or outdoor drains giving you trouble, we’ll help you get to the root of the problem.
Drains are designed to carry waste and water away quickly, but they can’t handle everything we throw at them. Most blockages happen gradually, as waste builds up and restricts water flow over time. If you’ve already cleared a blockage once and it comes back within days or weeks, you may be dealing with something more serious than just leftover food or hair.
Here are some of the key culprits behind recurring blocked drains.
Pouring cooking oil or grease down the sink is one of the most common causes of blocked drains in the kitchen. As the fat cools, it solidifies and sticks to the inside of the pipes, trapping food debris and slowly narrowing the passage until water can barely get through.
It often seems to clear with hot water or a quick blast of washing-up liquid, but that’s usually just a temporary fix. If the fat deposits aren't fully removed, they start building up again almost immediately.
Tip: Never pour fat, oil, or grease down the sink. Let it cool and dispose of it in the bin or a dedicated fat trap.
In showers and bathroom sinks, hair and soap create a sticky mess that clings to the sides of pipes. Over time, this turns into a dense clog that’s hard to shift with household methods alone. You might notice slow draining, gurgling noises, or standing water in the shower.
Even if you manage to pull out some hair with a hook or tool, chances are there’s more stuck deeper in the pipework that keeps causing problems.
Tip: Use a hair catcher over your shower drain and clean it regularly to prevent this from happening again.
One of the worst offenders for recurring blocked drains is flushing things that shouldn’t be flushed. Wet wipes, cotton pads, nappies, sanitary products, and even “flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper does.
They often get snagged in pipe joints, where they catch more waste and quickly grow into larger blockages.
Tip: Keep a small bin in the bathroom and make sure everyone in the household knows to use it for anything that isn’t toilet paper.
Tree roots are a more serious (and less obvious) cause of repeated blocked drains. Roots can grow into tiny cracks in old or damaged underground pipes, especially in clay pipe systems. Once inside, they feed on moisture and nutrients, spreading through the pipe and eventually blocking water flow.
You won’t fix this with plungers or chemicals. If you notice slow-draining toilets, smells outside, or water pooling in your garden, it might be time to get your drains professionally inspected.
Sometimes, blocked drains have nothing to do with what you put down them. If a pipe has collapsed, shifted, or cracked underground, it can interrupt the normal flow of waste and lead to repeated backups.
This is especially common in older properties with ageing drain systems, or after construction work, where ground movement may have displaced pipe joints.
Signs of damage include:
If any of this sounds familiar, DIY fixes won’t solve the root cause. A CCTV drain survey is the most reliable way to find out what’s going on.
Not all plumbing is created equal. If your drainage system was installed without proper gradient, has too many tight bends, or uses incompatible materials, it may never flow smoothly. That means you’ll always be dealing with slow drains and recurring clogs.
Unfortunately, this is more common than people think, especially in extensions, outbuildings, or DIY plumbing work. The only real fix is to correct the layout or upgrade the pipework.
Outdoor gullies collect water from roofs, patios, and kitchen waste pipes. If they’re blocked with leaves, silt, or moss, water won’t be able to drain away properly. In some cases, it may back up into your kitchen or utility area.
Check for standing water in the gully or foul smells outside. If you’re not sure how to clear it, a simple bucket and gloved hand can help, but deeper blockages may need jetting or professional cleaning.
Sometimes, the problem isn’t what you flush, but how much. Low-flush toilets, common in modern homes, can struggle to move heavy loads of paper down narrow pipes. Combine that with cheap or thick toilet paper that doesn’t break down easily, and you’ve got a recipe for repeated blocked drains.
Tip: Flush twice if needed, and avoid using excessive paper in one go. Keep an eye on children or guests who might not know the plumbing quirks of your home.
It’s easy to reach for a plunger or a bottle of drain cleaner when water starts backing up, but if it keeps happening, those fixes might be masking the real issue.
Common signs that DIY won’t cut it anymore:
In these cases, the best next step is to get a professional inspection. Drainage engineers can use high-pressure water jetting, CCTV cameras, and diagnostic tools to locate and solve the issue permanently.
Trying to clear a drain without understanding the cause can make the problem worse. For example, forcing a plunger on a collapsed pipe or using chemicals on a fatberg might lead to overflows, corrosion, or even damage to the property.
A professional assessment helps ensure the right fix is used from the start, saving you time, money, and repeat callouts. And if the problem turns out to be structural or tree-related, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done.
Recurring blocked drains are more than just a nuisance. They’re often a sign of something deeper that won’t go away on its own. Whether it’s fat in the kitchen, roots in the garden, or a damaged pipe underground, the key to solving it is understanding what’s really causing the problem.
You can take steps to prevent some of the most common culprits, but if you’re stuck in a cycle of clearing the same blockage over and over, it’s time to get it checked properly. If you're in the London area (or nearby), we can send our professionals over and get it sorted before it turns into a bigger problem. Book a slot now!
