Unblocktober 2026: Do You Know What’s Going On Inside Your Drains?

Every October, Unblocktober encourages households and businesses across the UK to think more carefully about what they put down their toilets, sinks and drains.

The campaign has a simple message. Many of the blockages affecting our drainage and sewer networks are preventable. Fats, oils, grease, wet wipes, sanitary products and other unsuitable materials can accumulate within drainage systems, contributing to blockages, fatbergs and unnecessary pollution.

At CDC Draincare, clearing blocked drains is something we do every day. But Unblocktober isn’t simply about dealing with a blockage once it happens. It’s about looking after our drainage systems properly and preventing problems wherever possible. Sometimes that means finding out what’s already going on inside your drains.

What Is Unblocktober?

Unblocktober is an annual campaign encouraging people and businesses to improve the way they use their drains throughout October and beyond.

One of the biggest problems is flushing or pouring things into drainage systems that simply shouldn’t be there. Wet wipes are a common example. Even products marketed as flushable can behave very differently from toilet paper once they enter a drainage system. Fats, oils and grease can create similar problems when poured down kitchen sinks. Over time, these materials can combine with other debris and deposits to restrict the internal diameter of drainage pipes.

The easiest contribution anyone can make to Unblocktober is therefore straightforward: only flush the three Ps, pee, poo and paper, and keep fats, oils, grease and food waste out of sinks and drains.

But What’s Already Inside Your Drains?

Changing our habits is an important part of Unblocktober, but it doesn’t tell us what has happened inside a drainage system over the previous five, ten or twenty years.

A drain can continue flowing despite already having a significant build-up of grease, scale, silt or debris inside it. Eventually, another wipe, heavy rainfall or additional waste can be enough to turn that restriction into a complete blockage.

There may also be problems that have nothing to do with what has been flushed down the toilet.

Tree root ingress, cracked pipes, displaced joints and collapsed sections of drainage can all restrict flow and cause recurring problems. This is where a CCTV drain survey can provide a much clearer picture.

See What’s Really Happening With a CCTV Drain Survey

At CDC Draincare, we provide professional CCTV drain surveys using specialist cameras to inspect drainage systems from the inside. Rather than simply guessing why a drain keeps blocking, our engineers can investigate the pipework and identify potential problems.

A CCTV drain inspection can reveal issues including root ingress, cracks, displaced joints, damaged pipes, scale deposits, accumulated debris and partial collapses. We can then provide a detailed drain report explaining what we’ve found and, where necessary, recommend the most appropriate course of action.

For homeowners, landlords and commercial property owners, it can be particularly useful when a drainage problem keeps returning after the immediate blockage has been cleared.

Drain Cleaning Can Help Prevent Future Blockages

Unblocktober isn’t only about identifying problems. Prevention is equally important. Professional drain cleaning can remove material that has accumulated within drainage systems before it develops into a more serious obstruction.

At CDC Draincare, we use high-pressure water jetting equipment to thoroughly clean drainage pipework and remove grease, silt, scale and other deposits.

For commercial kitchens and other businesses producing larger quantities of fats, oils and grease, regular drain cleaning can form an important part of preventative drainage maintenance.

Keeping pipework clean helps maintain its available capacity and reduces the likelihood of an unexpected blockage disrupting your home or business.

What If a CCTV Survey Finds Damage?

Finding damage doesn’t necessarily mean the entire drainage system needs digging up. Depending on the condition and location of the pipework, there are several possible repair options.

CDC Draincare provides drain repairs, pipe relining and excavation works where required. Pipe relining can allow certain damaged drains to be repaired internally, creating a new lining within the existing pipe without extensive excavation.

Where more significant structural problems are identified, our experienced engineers can advise on the appropriate repair.

The important thing is identifying why the problem is occurring rather than repeatedly clearing the same blockage.

Make Unblocktober About Prevention

Most people don’t think about their drains until something goes wrong. Unblocktober provides a useful reminder that what we put into our drainage systems matters. Small changes at home and in the workplace can help reduce blockages and protect the wider sewer network.

But if your drains are already slow, regularly blocking, producing unpleasant smells or showing other signs of trouble, October could also be the ideal opportunity to investigate why.

At CDC Draincare, we’ve been helping homeowners and businesses with drainage problems for more than 30 years. From CCTV drain surveys and preventative drain cleaning to blocked drain clearance and repairs, our team can help identify problems and keep your drainage system flowing properly.

How Can CDC Draincare Help You Support Unblocktober?

At CDC Draincare, we've been providing professional drainage services for more than 30 years. Our experienced drainage engineers work throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire, helping homeowners, landlords and businesses prevent blockages, investigate recurring drainage problems and keep their drains flowing properly.

As part of your approach to Unblocktober, we can provide:

• CCTV drain surveys to see exactly what's happening inside your drainage system
• High-pressure water jetting to remove grease, scale, silt and accumulated debris
• Professional drain cleaning to help prevent restrictions developing into blockages
• Blocked drain clearance to restore normal flow
• Root removal where tree roots have entered damaged drainage pipes
• Drain repairs for cracked, displaced or damaged underground pipework
• Pipe relining to repair suitable damaged drains without extensive excavation
• 24-hour emergency drainage services for urgent blockages and overflows

Unblocktober is about changing the way we look after our drains, and prevention can be just as important as knowing what not to flush. Whether you want to investigate a recurring blockage, clean accumulated deposits from your pipework or simply find out what's happening inside your drains, CDC Draincare can help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unblocktober

What is Unblocktober?

Unblocktober is an annual UK campaign held throughout October encouraging households and businesses to change how they use their drains and sewers, helping reduce blockages and environmental pollution.

What shouldn’t I put down my drains?

Fats, oils, grease, food waste, wet wipes, sanitary products, cotton buds and other non-degradable materials should not be put into drainage systems. Toilets should generally only be used for the three Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper.

Can wet wipes really block drains?

Yes. Wet wipes don't break down in the same way as toilet paper and can become caught inside drainage systems. They can then combine with grease and other material to contribute to significant blockages.

What can a CCTV drain survey find?

A CCTV drain survey can identify problems including cracked pipes, displaced joints, root ingress, structural damage, accumulated deposits and partial collapses. It can help establish why a drainage problem keeps returning.

Can CDC clean drains before they become blocked?

Yes. CDC Draincare provides professional drain cleaning and high-pressure water jetting. Preventative cleaning can remove grease, silt, scale and accumulated debris before it develops into a more serious blockage.

What happens if CDC finds a damaged drain?

The appropriate solution depends on the type and extent of the damage. CDC Draincare provides drain repairs, pipe relining and excavation services, allowing our engineers to recommend a suitable repair once the problem has been identified.

Support Unblocktober With CDC Draincare

If Unblocktober has made you think about the condition of your own drains, we can help you find out exactly what’s happening underground.

CDC Draincare provides CCTV drain surveys, drain cleaning, high-pressure water jetting, blocked drain clearance, drain repairs and pipe relining for domestic and commercial customers.

Whether you want to investigate a recurring blockage or take a more preventative approach to your drainage system, contact our team to discuss your requirements.