Drain unblocking in Belgium
Internal pipework almost never blocks suddenly: kitchen fats, hair and soap residue from the bathroom and washing powder build a layer that narrows the bore step by step. Water first drains slowly, then gurgles, and finally stands still. We look for the point along the run where the pipe narrows, remove the build-up down to the pipe wall, and then confirm that every connected appliance drains normally again.
- Final price given before we start
- Up to 2 years warranty on labour
- Emergency line available 24/7
- Direct phone contact: +32 2 000 00 00
Our approach
A drain cleared methodically
On every pipe we work in the same order: find the cause before acting, then pick the technique that clears it without damaging your installation.
- 01
Locating
We establish whether the blockage sits in the trap, in the room's pipe or further along the collector. That reading drives the method directly.
- 02
Targeted clearing
Depending on the case: a powered mechanical auger for a local blockage, high-pressure jetting for grease and limescale along a long run.
- 03
Inspection if needed
For a repeat blockage or a buried pipe, the camera reveals the pipe's real condition: back-fall, grease build-up, a crack or roots that have worked in. We see the cause instead of assuming it.
- 04
Flow check
We confirm the waste runs freely and durably, and that the neighbouring outlets drain normally again. You see the result for yourself before we pack the equipment away.
Common causes
Why a drain pipe blocks up
In the kitchen, grease and food residue cool and set into a stubborn layer along the pipe wall. It thickens with every wash-up until barely any water gets through. In the bathroom it is hair, soap and shampoo knotting into a matted mass in the trap and the waste pipe.
Limescale does the rest: in hard-water areas it slowly narrows the pipe's usable diameter. Add wet wipes, cotton pads and kitchen roll, which never break down, and the passage closes into a complete blockage. On buried pipes the cause often lies further away still: a reverse gradient, a build-up of sand and leaves, or roots working in through a joint.
Knowing the real cause prevents repeat call-outs. So we do more than restore the flow: we tell you where the blockage came from and how to avoid it.
Every kind of drain
Each pipe, its own method
Every type of outlet has its characteristic blockage. We know the cause that belongs to each drainage point and choose the technique that suits it, from the sink trap to the buried pipe.
Warning signs
Spotting a blocked drain in time
A blockage rarely appears overnight. These signs mean it is time to act, before the water stops moving altogether.
- Water drains noticeably more slowly at the sink, basin or shower.
- Gurgling noises in the waste pipe while the water goes down.
- A drain or rotting smell around the plughole.
- Water stands in the shower tray, the bath or the sink.
- Several outlets slow down at once, the sign of a deeper cause.
- The blockage returns shortly after a simple clearance.
Until we arrive
What to do before we get there
A few simple steps limit the damage and speed up the visit. Above all, avoid aggressive chemical drain cleaners.
- 01
Remove what you can see
Take out the plug or grate and clear the hair, grease and residue you can reach by hand. A surface blockage sometimes clears at this stage.
- 02
Try hot water
Pour hot (not boiling) water to soften the grease, then work the plunger in steady strokes.
- 03
Stop using it if it overflows
If the water stands and threatens to overflow, stop using that outlet and mop up the excess.
- 04
Call us, skip the chemicals
Chemical cleaners attack PVC and seals without dissolving a real blockage. Call us instead.
Transparent pricing
What determines the price
Our call-outs start from €63.60 incl. VAT (6 % for homes over 10 years old, otherwise 21 %).
The price of unblocking a drain depends on the nature of the blockage, where it sits and the method required. A local clearance in a trap is not billed like high-pressure jetting on a fouled buried pipe. We always start from your actual situation, never from an inflated flat rate.
You get a clear estimate before we begin, and the job is only closed once the flow is fully restored and checked. Call us for a price indication, with no obligation.
Benefits
- Method matched to the pipe material and diameter
- Cause identified, not just the symptom
- Flow checked before we leave
- Prevention advice matched to your installation
Equipment & techniques
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Question not on the list? We answer it by phone, no obligation.
+32 2 000 00 00How much does drain unblocking cost?
Our call-outs start from €63.60 incl. VAT (6 % for homes over 10 years old, otherwise 21 %). The price of unblocking a drain depends on the nature of the blockage, where it sits and the method required.
How long does unblocking a drain take?
Most blockages in a trap or an internal pipe are cleared quickly once we are on site. A buried pipe needing high-pressure jetting or a camera takes longer. We tell you that before we start.
Can the auger or the jetting damage my pipes?
Not when used correctly. We match the tool and the pressure to the pipe's material and diameter. That is exactly why we locate the blockage before acting rather than forcing blindly.
Does a buried pipe have to be dug up?
In the vast majority of cases, no. High-pressure jetting goes in through an existing inspection chamber, and the camera locates the problem and measures its distance from the access point. Excavation stays the exception, for broken or collapsed pipes.
Do shop-bought chemical drain cleaners work?
Rarely on a real blockage, and they attack PVC, seals and metal. They also make the job more dangerous for the technician. Better to pour nothing in and call us.
Do you come out at night and at weekends?
Yes, our emergency line answers 24/7, weekends and public holidays included; the response time depends on the area and availability.
When should you call a drain technician straight away?
Some signs mean the blockage is no longer local: waste water backing up into a shower, sink or toilet, several fixtures draining slowly at the same time, water rising from a yard gully, or a sewer smell that lingers despite ventilation. In those cases, avoid reaching for chemical drain cleaners again and again: they attack seals and pipework without reaching a blockage further down the run.
Present in Brussels, in Wallonia and in Flanders
42
cities served · drainage
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Cities we serve
Why Van Dijk Home
Most repeat blockages come from build-up that was only pushed further along. We take the layer back to the pipe wall and then retest each appliance. Up to 2 years warranty on labour; parts carry the manufacturer’s warranty. You also learn which habit created the build-up and how to avoid it in practice.
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