Stubborn Blockage
Stubborn Blockage | Emergency Plumbing | Plumbing | Kelso
When a stubborn blockage brings your Kelso home or business to a stand-still, HEP’s seasoned plumbers arrive fast, fully equipped, and ready to restore the flow. From tree-root-clogged sewer lines to grease-packed kitchen pipes, our team combines high-pressure jetting, CCTV diagnostics, and decades of local know-how to clear the toughest obstructions without delay. You’ll get transparent pricing, tidy workmanship, and a friendly professional who treats your property like their own.
Day or night, one call connects you to true emergency plumbing specialists dedicated to keeping Kelso moving. We never close, we never cut corners, and we never leave until water is running smoothly again—so you can get back to living, cooking, and showering with confidence.
FAQs
What counts as a “stubborn blockage,” and when is it considered a plumbing emergency?
A stubborn blockage is one that cannot be cleared with basic home remedies such as plunging or mild drain cleaners. Typical signs include water backing up into sinks, toilets or showers, gurgling sounds in other fixtures when you run water, foul odours, or complete loss of drainage. It becomes an emergency when it threatens to overflow, causes property damage, renders essential facilities (toilet, kitchen sink) unusable, or creates a health hazard. If you live in Kelso and any of these symptoms arise, call our emergency line immediately—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How quickly can your Kelso emergency plumbers arrive to clear a severe blockage?
Because we operate a true local rapid-response service, most Kelso addresses are reached within 60 minutes of your call. We dispatch the closest on-call engineer via GPS and keep you updated by text or phone with an ETA. During peak times or severe weather we still prioritise emergencies likely to cause flooding or sanitation issues, so you are never left waiting long.
What tools and techniques do you use to remove stubborn blockages safely?
Our Kelso engineers carry a full range of professional-grade equipment: high-pressure water jetting units, mechanical drain augers, CCTV inspection cameras, pipe locators, and where required, root-cutting blades and descaling chains. We start with a camera survey to identify the blockage type (fat deposits, wipes, roots, scale, etc.). Then we choose the least invasive yet most effective method—for example, low-pressure jetting for older clay pipes or rotary chain flails for heavy scale in cast iron. All equipment is calibrated to avoid pipe damage and is fully compliant with WRc (Water Research Centre) standards.
Will emergency blockage removal damage my pipes or property?
No—our engineers are trained to assess pipe material, diameter and condition before starting any work. They select pressure settings and mechanical tools accordingly, and they lay protective sheets in work areas, use backflow prevention devices and shoe covers, and flush the system thoroughly afterward. If a pipe is found to be cracked or collapsed, we can perform a no-dig patch repair or, if necessary, excavate and replace the damaged section with minimal disruption.
How much does emergency blockage clearance cost in Kelso, and are there call-out fees?
For Kelso postcodes (TD5 and surrounding), we charge a transparent fixed call-out fee that covers travel and the first hour on site; this is quoted when you phone so there are no surprises. After the first hour, work is billed in 30-minute increments. High-pressure jetting and CCTV diagnostics are included in the hourly rate. Any materials (pipe patches, new fittings) are itemised separately and approved by you before installation. We accept cash, all major credit cards, and bank transfers, and provide digital invoices for insurance claims.
How can I prevent future stubborn blockages after you clear the emergency?
1) Never flush wipes—even those labelled ‘flushable’—or sanitary products. 2) Collect fats, oils and grease in a sealed container and dispose of them in general waste or Kelso’s recycling centre instead of pouring them down the sink. 3) Fit sink strainers to catch food scraps and hair. 4) Run hot water mixed with a little washing-up liquid down kitchen drains weekly. 5) Schedule an annual CCTV drain survey, especially if your property is over 30 years old or you have mature trees nearby. 6) Ask our engineer about biologically based drain maintenance treatments; they keep pipes clear without harsh chemicals.