Mechanical rodding

Mechanical rodding uses screw-together polypropylene drain rods with interchangeable tips to push, pull or break up obstructions in pipework. Typical lengths build up to around 30 metres, which is generally sufficient for a domestic lateral drain in a London terrace. The engineer feeds the rods from an inspection chamber towards the blockage, turning them clockwise so the couplings do not unscrew underground. Rodding is a low-cost first response for soft blockages, accessible chambers and short pipe runs, and is often used before deciding whether jetting or excavation is needed. It will not clear hardened scale, compacted wipes or collapsed sections, and excessive force can damage fragile Victorian clay pipework, so it is normally used as a diagnostic step rather than a final solution.