Drains Cleared
High-pressure drain jetting hose ready for blocked drain clearance

Drainage services across the UK

From blocked gullies to collapsed pipes. Learn what is wrong, then send a free quote request to a local drainage engineer.
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Drainage services

Choose a service below to find a local engineer for your area.

How a drain request works

Four steps from request to repair.
  1. 01

    Request a quote

    Describe the problem and give your postcode. We pass your request to a local engineer.

  2. 02

    Engineer contacts you

    The engineer decides when they can visit. We cannot promise a time, because the engineer decides.

  3. 03

    Find the cause

    The engineer looks at the problem, and may use a camera because that shows the cause. Ask for a price for any extra work before it starts.

  4. 04

    Clear and record

    Once the work is done, ask for a note of what was found. Ask too what the engineer guarantees.

Common drainage problems we fix

Pick the problem that matches yours to learn more.

Drainage problems you can ask about

UK drains range from old clay pipes to modern plastic. Each type fails in its own way. A grease-blocked kitchen drain may need jetting, while a root-filled clay pipe may need repair.

The right fix depends on the cause, so ask the engineer to find it first. A camera can help, because it shows what is wrong inside the pipe. Ask them to explain what they find before they quote for extra work.

Some jobs need a follow-up visit, such as a relining survey or an excavation. Ask for the cost, scope and timing before you agree, because a second visit adds to the bill.

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  • High-pressure water jetting
  • CCTV drain surveys and condition reports
  • Mechanical rodding and drain clearing
  • Root-cutter and descaling attachments
  • Drain repairs — patch lining, re-lining, dig-and-replace
  • Gully and soakaway clearing
  • Shared-sewer investigations
  • Planned drain maintenance
Drainage engineer operating high-pressure jetting equipment on a UK residential drain

Tools a drainage engineer may use

Rods alone cannot solve every blockage. A good drainage engineer has a few methods to hand. Ask what equipment the engineer will bring, because it varies.

  • High-pressure jetter A water jet that washes fat, grease, scale and silt off the pipe wall.
  • Drain camera A push-rod camera with a monitor shows the inside of the pipe.
  • Root cutter A rotating cutter can remove roots from inside the pipe without digging.
  • Tracing equipment Locators can find where a pipe runs without digging.

CCTV drain surveys — what to expect

A CCTV survey sends a small camera along the drain, usually from an inspection chamber. The engineer records what it sees and notes where each defect sits.

Many UK reports grade defects with the WRc Manual of Sewer Condition Classification, on a scale of 1 to 5. Reports vary, so ask what yours will include. The time a survey takes depends on the length and condition of the drain, because long or blocked runs take longer.

Solicitors, insurers and water companies decide for themselves what evidence they accept. Check with them before you book a survey, because each one sets its own rules.

About CCTV surveys Get a free quote
CCTV drain survey camera being lowered into inspection chamber

Who looks after your drain?

Since 1 October 2011, water companies in England and Wales look after most private sewers and lateral drains. You usually stay responsible for the drain inside your property boundary, and for soakaways. Ofwat gives this guidance.

Scotland differs, because Scottish Water looks after public sewers and a pipe serving more than one building counts as a sewer. Northern Ireland has its own rules, so check with NI Water. Knowing which side of the line your pipe sits on affects who pays for repairs.

If you are not sure, ask your water company before you book a repair. The local engineer who takes your job may also be able to tell you.

Drainage engineer repairing cracked clay drain pipe in excavated trench
Related guides: Bathroom drain problems What a CCTV survey covers Boiler service guide

Drainage FAQs

What drainage problems can I ask about?
You can ask about blocked drains, root ingress, collapsed pipes, gully and soakaway problems, shared drain blockages and drain jetting. You can also ask for a CCTV drain survey. Describe what you see, and the engineer who contacts you can say whether they can help.
How much does a drain engineer cost?
The price depends on the problem, how easy the drain is to reach and what equipment the job needs. We do not set prices, because the engineer does. Ask for a price before work starts, and ask whether there is a call-out charge.
Can I ask about commercial drainage?
Yes. Send a request and describe the premises, such as a restaurant, care home or rented property. Say how often the drains block. The engineer can then say whether they take commercial work and suggest a plan.
How long does unblocking take?
That depends on the blockage. A simple blockage takes less time than a greasy kitchen run or a damaged pipe. A camera survey can add time, but it shows the cause. Ask the engineer for an estimate when they contact you.
Do I need permission to repair or build over a drain?
A like-for-like repair to your own drain may not need permission, but rules vary, so ask your local council's building control. If you plan to build over or near a public sewer, you usually need permission from the water company. Planning permission does not replace that consent.
Who is responsible for the drain, me or the water company?
In England and Wales, water companies took over most private sewers and lateral drains on 1 October 2011. You usually stay responsible for the drain inside your property boundary, and for soakaways. In Scotland, Scottish Water looks after public sewers and your drain inside the boundary is usually yours. Northern Ireland has its own rules, so check with NI Water. If you are unsure, ask your water company before you pay for work.
Can a drain be relined without digging?
Sometimes. Patch lining and cured-in-place pipe lining can repair cracks and joint faults without digging up the whole run. A CCTV survey shows whether the pipe suits this. Not every pipe or type of damage does.
What should a CCTV drain survey report include?
Reports vary, so ask. A good one lists each defect, says where it sits and grades how serious it is. Some UK reports use the WRc grading scale, from 1 for excellent condition to 5 for the most severe damage. Insurers, solicitors and water companies decide for themselves what evidence they accept.

Blocked drain? Send a free quote request

Tell us the problem and your postcode, because the engineer needs both. We pass your request to a local engineer.

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