How to Protect Your Drains During Autumn & Winter

Blocked drains don’t take a holiday. In fact, we see a spike in call-outs every autumn and winter across Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish and down into the South Hams — often caused by problems that could’ve been prevented.

Here’s how to protect your drains before the colder months really kick in, and avoid unwanted overflows, smells, or costly repairs later.

Why Are Autumn and Winter So Tough on Drains?

• Falling leaves and moss clog gullies

• Heavy rainfall overwhelms older systems

• Fat and grease harden faster in colder weather

• Tree roots become more aggressive in their search for moisture

• External pipes are more prone to freezing and cracking

Even well-installed systems can struggle if they aren’t maintained — especially in older properties or areas with lots of trees.

What You Can Do to Protect Them

1. Clear Gully Grates and Drain Covers

Leaves, twigs, and dirt quickly block external drain covers. A blocked gully can cause water to overflow back toward your walls or foundations.

Quick fix: Use a gloved hand or a garden trowel to clear them weekly, especially after high winds or storms.

2. Stop Pouring Fat and Oil Down the Sink

As temperatures drop, cooking oils and fats solidify much faster in pipework — causing blockages further down the line.

Instead: Wipe pans with kitchen roll before washing up. Let fat cool and bin it instead of tipping it away.

3. Use Drain Guards on Kitchen and Bathroom Plugs

Hair, food scraps and soap scum are year-round culprits, but they build up faster in colder weather due to slower water flow.

Solution: Install plug guards to catch debris before it enters the pipework.

4. Jet or Rod Your Drains Before It’s a Problem

If your drains have backed up in the past, or they’re starting to smell or gurgle — get them cleared now before it’s freezing or flooded.

At EPM, we offer fast-response jetting and CCTV services across Devon — ideal for clearing autumn build-up before winter hits hard.

5. Insulate External Waste Pipes

External condensate and waste pipes can freeze and crack in very cold weather.

Tip: Use foam lagging on any exposed pipework outside — especially if you’ve had a boiler issue in the past due to a frozen condensate pipe.

What It Might Cost

• Preventative drain jetting: £150-300

• CCTV survey (if recurring issues): £150–£250

• Minor drain repairs or insulation fitting: Estimate given after site check

Final Word from EPM

We see far more blocked and broken drains in autumn and winter than any other time — and most of them were avoidable.

If you’d rather stay warm indoors than deal with foul water outside, get ahead of it now. We’ll sort it fast — and we won’t leave a mess behind.