How Much Is It to Unblock a Drain in Bristol?
If you’re Googling price, you want a straight answer and a working drain. Flow Sure Drains keeps it simple: Fixed price, No call-out fee, Same-day service across Bristol and nearby towns — and where possible, a 12-month free call-back on the same fault. We clear properly (not just poke a hole) and prove the result with CCTV when needed.
Call: 0117 427 4565 • Email: admin@flowsuredrains.co.uk
We’re Checkatrade members and we encourage you to read our Google reviews before you book anyone. You’ll see the same themes: clear quote, clean work, fast fix — without the “extras”. Many competitors still run hourly rates plus add-ons for jetting, CCTV, PPE, “disposal”, or “priority” slots. We don’t play that game. We agree a fixed price on arrival after a quick on-site check, then we get it flowing — end of.
What you’re actually paying for (and what’s included)
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Rapid diagnosis at the door (traps, first bends, chambers, interceptors).
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Mechanical clearance to break through wipes, fat collars, silt or paper snarls.
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HPWJ (High-Pressure Water Jetting) to clean the pipe wall to full bore (not a skinny tunnel).
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CCTV confirmation when needed, so you can see the result and any underlying issues.
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Prevention tips matched to your set-up.
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No call-out fee — you’re not paying us to knock.
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Fixed price agreed on arrival — you know the number before we begin.
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Where possible: 12-month free call-back on the same fault*.
*Fair use: call-back applies where the line is sound and used normally. Structural defects, foreign objects, building debris, misuse (e.g., wipes/fats poured in after the visit) or third-party works are excluded. We’ll explain on site in plain English.
Why we don’t publish a “price menu”
Bristol’s stock is a mix of Victorian clay terraces, post-war estates with long garden runs, shared stacks, and leaf-heavy gullies. Two jobs that look the same online can be very different in the ground. Publishing a flat sticker price is usually marketing fluff. Our way is honest: arrive the same day, assess, give a fixed price you approve, then clear it properly — with no call-out, no hourly meter running, and no add-on surprises.
What affects the price (in plain English)
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Access & length of run — long gardens/hidden chambers may take longer.
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Pipe material & age — clay with displaced joints behaves differently to newer plastic.
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Location of the restriction — first bend vs. deep main run or an interceptor trap.
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What’s in there — fat, wipes, sanitary items, coffee grounds, building debris, roots.
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Shared vs private line — shared lines need careful proof and neighbor comms.
We check these fast and then give you a fixed price. No hourly watch-tapping, no “jetting extra”.
How we keep your cost down (and the fix lasting)
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Fast, accurate diagnosis — we target the real restriction, not guesswork.
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HPWJ deep clean — cleans the pipe wall, so it stays clear longer.
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Stocked vans — if a simple part helps, we likely have it.
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Evidence — CCTV and photos reduce repeat visits and disputes on shared lines.
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Practical prevention — small habits that save you ringing again.
Bristol symptoms (what a real blockage looks like)
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Kitchen sink slowing to a glug, then belching air.
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Toilet level rising and settling slowly; gurgles elsewhere.
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External gully filling during a normal shower — water lapping at the cover.
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Sewer smells by the back door or utility, especially after rain.
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Two fixtures misbehaving together = the main run is restricting, not just a trap.
Left alone, fats harden, wipes compact, and silt settles. In older lines with interceptor traps or displaced clay joints, a minor clog becomes a full standstill fast. Act today — cleaner, cheaper, and far less hassle with neighbours.
Safe things you can try before we arrive
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Kitchen trap check: bowl under, unscrew carefully, clear and re-seat seal.
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Gully test: lift the grid (if safe), run a tap — if it fills, restriction is downstream.
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Pause chemicals: caustic/acid often makes it worse; if used, tell us so we can work safely.
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Red flags (call now): toilet rising/overflowing, multiple fixtures slow together, repeat blockage within days.
What we actually do (plain English, first-visit mindset)
1) Diagnose (5–10 mins).
From symptoms to cause: traps/first bends, external chambers, interceptors (common in Bristol), then the run to boundary. We confirm your fixed price up-front.
2) Mechanical clearance (10–20 mins).
Rods and powered cutters break through wipes, fat collars, silt ridges and paper snarls.
3) HPWJ (10–25 mins).
High-Pressure Water Jetting scrubs the pipe wall and flushes residues (fat, coffee grounds, scale lips, early root hairs at clay joints). Result: a clean bore.
4) CCTV (when needed, 5–15 mins).
We prove the fix and check for defects: displaced joints, cracked collars, settled interceptors, root ingress, foreign objects. Clips available — ideal for landlords/agents.
5) Prevention briefing (2 mins).
Simple, specific tweaks for your set-up. No lectures.
Same-day coverage across Bristol (map-style in words)
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Central (BS1–BS8): Clifton, Redland, Bishopston, Cotham, St Pauls, Bedminster, Southville.
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North & NW (BS9–BS11): Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze, Shirehampton, Avonmouth.
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East & South (BS14–BS16, BS30–BS31): Brislington, Knowle, Kingswood, Downend, Keynsham.
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Ring & Coast (BS20–BS21): Portishead, Clevedon.
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North fringe (BS32–BS37): Bradley Stoke, Patchway, Yate.
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Nearby: Thornbury, Nailsea, Filton, Emersons Green, Chepstow.
If you’re just outside, ask — if we can make today, we will.
Typical local case notes
Clifton (BS8) — Kitchen standstill at brunch
Mechanical path made; HPWJ to the first chamber. Flow restored; strainer + hot-rinse habit advised. 35 minutes on site.
Bishopston (BS7) — WC gurgle + smell at back door
Cutter broke wipes bundle at first outside bend; jetting cleared residue; CCTV showed a slightly displaced clay joint. 50 minutes, clip shared.
Keynsham (BS31) — Interceptor backing up after rain
Jetting cleared a fat/silt mat to boundary; downstream checked; photos for landlord. 45 minutes.
Why customers choose us (and what to compare)
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Fixed price on arrival vs competitors’ hourly rates + add-ons (jetting/CCTV/PPE/“priority”).
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No call-out fee vs “attendance fee” line items.
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CCTV proof when needed vs “trust us, it’s clear”.
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Where possible, 12-month free call-back on the same fault vs “charge again”.
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Checkatrade member + Google reviews you can verify.
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Same-day service that delivers an actual fix, not a temporary poke-through.
Practical prevention tips you’ll actually keep
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Bin wipes — even “flushable” ones snag on clay joints.
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FOG discipline: Fats, Oils, Grease → cool, scrape, bin.
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Leaf season: sweep gullies weekly.
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Hot-rinse habit: short hot rinse after heavy washing-up.
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Don’t bury access: keep inspection covers clear.
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Coffee grounds: bin them; they cement in traps/first bends.
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Hair guards: cheap mesh guards keep shower lines clear.
Fixed price. No call-out. Same-day. 12-month call-back where possible.
Call: 0117 427 4565 • Email: admin@flowsuredrains.co.uk
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“How much to unblock a drain in Bristol?” — We give a fixed price on arrival, no call-out, and 12-month call-back where possible.
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“Do you have good reviews?” — Yes — check our Google reviews and Checkatrade profile.
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“Can you come today?” — Same-day across Bristol where possible; we confirm a 2–4 hr window.
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“Do you charge hourly?” — No — we quote a fixed price; competitors often add hourly rates and extras.
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“Will you prove it’s clear?” — Yes — CCTV confirmation when needed.