Blocked Drains in Balbriggan
Sink, toilet, shower or the drain outside. Send the job and one local plumber who covers Balbriggan rings you with a price.
Free, no obligation. One local plumber prices it, not five.
What does it cost in Balbriggan?
Unblocking a drain in Balbriggan costs €80–€250 in normal hours, and a blocked sink €35–€130. Out of hours it's €130–€250. Most are cleared in under an hour with rods or a jetting machine.
What to do first
- Stop running water into it. Every flush makes an overflow worse.
- Don't pour drain cleaner into a sink that's full: it splashes back and the plumber can't work in it.
- Lift the cover of the manhole outside. If it's full, the blockage is further down. If it's empty, it's between the house and the manhole.
- If it's a shared drain in an estate or a block of flats, tell the plumber. It can be the council's or Uisce Éireann's side.
What happens on the day
- The plumber checks the manholes to find which side of the blockage you're on.
- Sinks and traps are cleared by hand. Pipes are rodded or jetted from the nearest access point.
- A drain that keeps blocking gets a camera down it to look for roots, a broken pipe or a dip where waste sits.
- They run water through and check it flows before they go.
What can go wrong, and how a good plumber avoids it
It blocks again a month later
Ask what caused it. Fat and wipes come back. Roots and a broken pipe need a repair, not another rodding.
A mess in the garden or the bathroom
Covers down, the area cleaned and the waste taken away. Ask for it on the phone.
Paying for a pipe that isn't yours
The pipe inside your boundary is yours. Past it, the public sewer is Uisce Éireann's. A good plumber tells you which.
In Balbriggan
Most homes in Balbriggan are newer: 72% were built from 1991 on. Their drains are plastic, so most blockages are wipes, fat or a toy, not roots.
Send the job in four taps
Tell us what's wrong. It goes to one local plumber who covers Balbriggan, and they ring you about it.
Other jobs
Emergency plumberBurst pipes, leaks through the ceiling, no water at all.Emergency plumber in Balbriggan →
Leaks and burst pipesDamp patches, a meter that never stops, pipes that burst.Leaks and burst pipes in Balbriggan →
Toilets, taps and showersRunning toilets, dripping taps, showers and pumps.Toilets, taps and showers in Balbriggan →
Hot water and immersionsNo hot water, immersion faults and cylinders.Hot water and immersions in Balbriggan →
Radiators and heatingCold radiators, leaks, pumps, valves and power flushing.Radiators and heating in Balbriggan →
Boiler service and repairYearly services, breakdowns and new boilers.Boiler service and repair in Balbriggan →Plumber guides & price breakdowns
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Blocked drains: questions
Is the blocked drain mine or Uisce Éireann's?
The pipes inside your property boundary are yours. Once a drain leaves your property and joins the public sewer, it's Uisce Éireann's. If neighbours are blocked too, ring Uisce Éireann first.
Can I use drain cleaner?
On a slow sink, once. On a sink full of water, no: it sits there and the plumber has to work in it.
How long does it take to unblock a drain?
Most take under an hour. A drain that needs a camera survey or a repair takes longer, and you're told the price first.
Do you need to dig up the garden?
Almost never to unblock it. Only a broken or collapsed pipe needs digging, and the camera shows that first.
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