How often should I get my drains checked?

Maintaining clean and fully functional drains is crucial for every home. Yet, it’s often neglected—until a blockage or foul odour forces urgent action. This guide explains how frequently you should get your drains checked, signs that indicate it’s time, inspection methods, and tips to keep your drainage system in peak condition.

Why Regular Drain Checks Matter

1. Prevent Clogs Before They Escalate

Even minor debris can accumulate over time, causing sluggish water flow. Left unchecked, these blockages can lead to complete pipe obstructions, sewage backups or costly, bulky repairs.

2. Identify & Address Hidden Damage

Older pipes can crack due to age, soil shifts, tree roots or corrosion. A routine check enables early detection, allowing targeted fixes before damage becomes extensive and expensive.

3. Maintain Hygiene & Air Quality

Stagnant water or organic buildup in drains emit unpleasant odours and attract pests, bacteria or mould. Keeping drains clean helps sustain healthy indoor air and prevents health hazards.

4. Safeguard Your Property & Finances

Drain emergencies can result in water damage, structural disruption, and emergency repair costs. Proactive inspections are more cost‑effective and less disruptive over time.

What Frequency Works Best? Drain Check Guidelines

Annual Professional Inspection – The Foundation

  • Recommended once a year for most households.
  • Particularly important for long-established homes, older plumbing systems, or trees around your property.
  • A professional will use CCTV or snake‑camera technology to inspect blockages, deterioration, root intrusion, and pipe alignment.

More Frequent Checks for High‑Use Areas

  • Kitchen and bathroom drains can require cleaning every 3–6 months, depending on usage:
    • Large households, frequent cooking, long hair etc. accelerate buildup.
    • Quarterly checks may be advisable for such high‑traffic drains.

After Major Works or Lifestyle Changes

  • Renovations, landscaping near drain pipes, or structural works might cause debris ingress or disturb pipe lines.
  • It’s wise to inspect drains soon after such activity.

New Home or Pre‑Purchase Inspection

  • Always arrange a professional drain survey before buying a property—especially older ones.
  • A CCTV drain survey can uncover hidden damage that general house inspections can miss.

Warning Signs: Don’t Wait for the Annual Check

Slow Draining Fixtures

A bath, sink, or shower taking longer than usual to empty could signal a developing clog. Don’t ignore gradual slow-down—call a plumber early.

Foul Smells Around Drains or Outdoors

Persistent drainage odours may indicate trapped organic matter or a disconnected vent pipe. Immediate professional inspection is warranted.

Gurgling or Unusual Noises

If water in one sink causes noise in another, or you hear gurgling when flushing a toilet, air might be trapped due to a blockage. This needs prompt attention.

Recurring Blockages

Recurrent blockages are a red flag for deeper issues like misplaced pipes, root invasion, or partial collapses. A camera survey will diagnose the root cause.

Pooling Water Outdoors

Water bubbles up from outside drains or gullies? This could indicate an obstructed or damaged external drain or underground pipe.

Inspection Methods & Tools

1. Drain Snake (Manual)

  • The traditional auger tool is manually fed into the drain to remove simple blockages.
  • Useful for light matters like hair, soap scum or minor food debris.

2. Power‑Snaking or Electric Auger

  • Ideal for tougher, deeper clogs. Provides more torque and reach than manual snakes.

3. Drain‑camera (CCTV) Survey

  • A flexible waterproof camera probes pipes, making internal pipe conditions clearly visible.
  • Detects hairline cracks, root infiltration, misalignments and pipe corrosion.

4. Jetting (Hydro‑jetting)

  • High‑pressure water flushes out grease, sludge, roots.
  • Often combined with camera inspection for a thorough clean‑and‑check.

5. Dye & Smoke Testing

  • Used to identify leaks or misconnections in immovable or hidden drains.
  • Smoke or coloured dye is introduced to the system; technicians trace leaks above or below ground.

Factors That Influence Drain Check Frequency

Age & Material of Drainage System

  • Older materials like earthenware clay or cast iron are prone to cracking and corrosion—inspections should be annual.
  • Modern plastic (PVC) pipes last longer but still require routine checks, especially in homes with trees or dense soil.

Household Size & Usage Patterns

  • Homes with multiple occupants, frequent cooking, or pet usage need more frequent monitoring—perhaps every 3–4 months for kitchen drains, and bi‑annual checks for bathroom routes.

Landscaping & Tree Proximity

  • Roots are naturally drawn to moisture and can invade pipes via tiny cracks.
  • If trees are over or near the drain line, inspect annually, despite age or usage.

Past Problems or Repairs

  • If past inspections uncovered minor damage, bolt-on repairs or sandboxing, revisit that section within six months to ensure the fix worked.

Local Water Quality

  • Hard water causes scale buildup; water with silt or debris can also accumulate in traps.
  • Homes on boreholes or private supplies may need more frequent checks.

Do‑It‑Yourself Drain Care: Maintenance Tips

Weekly Preventative Steps

  • Use drain covers to catch hair and debris. Empty them weekly.
  • Run hot water through kitchen grease catchers after cooking—but never pour grease directly down the sink.
  • Clean bathroom drains with mild biobased cleaners to melt soap build‑up.

Monthly Maintenance

  • Pour a kettle of boiling water down drains to dissolve minor blockages.
  • Use baking soda and white vinegar: ½ cup baking soda, follow with ½ cup vinegar, leave 10–15 mins, then flush with boiling water.
  • Inspect accessible traps (such as basin U‑bends) to remove debris.

Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners

Frequent use of harsh chemical cleaners can corrode pipes and kill beneficial bacteria. Reserve them for stubborn blockages and follow up with clean water.

What to Expect During a Professional Drain Inspection

Initial Assessment & Booking

  • A plumbing professional will ask about past issues, noise, smells, or slow drainage.
  • They may perform a pre‑inspection test by flushing potable water or running hot water to detect immediate flow issues.

On‑Site Visit & Inspection

  • Technician will engage any blockages using an auger or power tool.
  • They’ll conduct CCTV survey, backing up camera footage with timestamped photos.
  • For outdoor or underground issues, they may use tracer dye or smoke testing.

Diagnosis & Recommendations

  • An inspection report is provided, detailing issues observed (e.g., misplaced joints, root intrusion, soil corrosion, or grease-line).
  • Clear recommendations are offered: repair, relining, replacement, or no action if pipes are free of concern.

Clean‑Up & Confirmation

  • Most cleaning services include flushing the system after repairs.
  • Some plumbers re‑run camera footage to show that blockages and faults have been resolved or fixed.

Costs & Value: What You’re Paying For

Typical Drain Check Prices

  • Manual auger & basic clean: £65–£100
  • CCTV survey (per drain run): £150–£250
  • Jetting with camera inspection, if needed: £200–£400

Budget vs Value

  • Basic clean is cost‑effective for minor issues.
  • CCTV, though pricier, helps uncover hidden or recurring problems—often averting major work and cost in future.

When to Call Emergency Plumbing

  • Sewage backups or overflow from drains/gullies should be treated as an emergency.
  • Same‑day, often weekend‑rate costs may apply, but health and property protection takes priority.

In Summary: A Recommended Drain Maintenance Plan

FrequencyInspection/Cleaning Tasks
WeeklyPlughair traps; flush with boiling water + baking soda/vinegar
MonthlyConfirm drains flow freely; maintain covers and strainers
Quarterly (kitchen)Minor professional clean; grease flush, basic auger if needed
Bi‑annual (bathrooms)Light professional clean, especially in family homes
Annual (all drains)Full inspection & CCTV, along with jetting & cleaning
After work or purchaseImmediate inspection post‑sale, renovation or landscaping
On warning signsCall plumber ASAP for slow drains, odours, gurgling or pooling

Boost Your Drain Health: Proactive Steps to Take Now

  1. Install quality strainers in sinks, baths, showers—empty them regularly.
  2. Educate household members: no wipes, grease, or foreign objects down the drain.
  3. Schedule routine flushes with boiling water monthly, plus DIY baking soda/vinegar treatments.
  4. Book professional inspections at recommended intervals, or immediately after warning signs or property changes.
  5. Maintain records of inspections and repairs to track your drain’s history—helps plumbers identify recurring issues.

Final Thoughts

Clean drains form the backbone of a well‑functioning home. By following an intentional maintenance schedule—weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually—you safeguard against clogs, odours, damage, and costly repairs. A CCTV‑based professional inspection is the gold standard for durable peace of mind. Don’t wait for trouble; act now to protect your drains and future‑proof your plumbing.If you’re based in Scotland, Drainmaster Scotland offers expert drainage inspections, emergency unblocking, and preventative maintenance services—available 24/7. Contact our Perth-based team today to book a fast, professional solution wherever you are in the country.

Drainmaster Services Scotland
Glenearn Works
Glenearn Road
Perth PH2 ONJ

Perth: 01738 646566
Dundee: 01382 725000