Blocked Drain

Clear blocked drain

Commercial, Industrial & Marine Services

We undertake the following services:

Our staff are trained in high pressure jetting, confined space working, working at heights, use of abrasive wheels, manual handling, asbestos awareness and the New Roads and Street Works Act. They all hold CCNSG Safety Passports

We are licensed waste carriers with the local Environment Agency and are licensed to use Southern Water and Thames Water disposal sites.

We have public liability insurance cover of £5 million.

We hope the following information may answer some of your questions regarding the services we provide.

Blocked Drains

Is there a call out charge?
No. Our charges start from when the engineer arrives on site.
How much will it cost to clear the blocked drain?
Costs depend on the method used to clear the blocked drain. As a guide, most toilet blockages can be cleared within 2 hours however this cannot be guaranteed as it depends on the severity of the problem and available access. Our operatives can advise roughly how long they think the blockage will take to clear once they have appraised the situation.
What method will be used?
Our operatives will advise on site, although high pressure water jetting is often requested to ensure the most satisfactory and effective results. Jetting unblocks and cleans the pipework.
How quickly can you get here?
We aim to cover blocked drains the same day however this cannot be guaranteed and does depend on our work load at the time. We do offer a 24 hour service and therefore crews are available to attend outside of normal working hours, for a slightly increased charge.
What areas do you cover?
For blocked drains we cover Rochester, Chatham, Strood, Gillingham, the Hoo Peninsula, Gravesend, Dartford, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Maidstone and the surrounding villages. For more involved drain cleaning services we will cover Kent, South Essex and South East London. If your area is not mentioned please feel free to contact us.
What are your payment terms?
We prefer payment on site by cash or cheque however 21 day's credit may be offered to companies. Unfortunately we cannot accept payment by card but our banking details are on our invoices to allow payment by internet banking
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Cesspools, Septic Tanks and Bio-systems

What areas do you cover?
Our normal areas are the Medway Towns, Gravesend, Dartford, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Maidstone and the surrounding villages. If your area is not mentioned please feel free to contact us.
What do you charge?
Our charges vary depending on the site location. Our standard charge allows for up to 45 minutes on site, and collection and disposal of up to 2000 gallons (9000 litres).
What are your payment terms?
We prefer cash or cheque payment on site however for regular customers we are willing to offer 7 days credit and may offer up to 21 day's credit to companies. Our invoices show our bank details if you wish to pay us using online banking. Unfortunately we cannot accept card payments.
How quickly can you get here?
We are usually able to cover work within 3 working days and in urgent situations may be able to attend the same day.
Do you offer regular emptying services
Yes, we offer service agreements where we attend regularly without the need for you to call and book each time. These can be set up for however often you would prefer.
How often will my cesspit need emptying?
Cesspits vary in size and can hold up to or exceeding 10,000 gallons. The length of time between emptying depends on the amount of water used. Waste is usually taken from showers, baths, toilets, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers etc.
What is the difference between a cesspool / cesspit and a septic tank?
A cesspit / cesspool is a holding tank that collects all foul waste and water from the property. Once full the tank needs to be emptied. Whilst collecting waste from the property a septic tank also filters out the liquid waste into the surrounding ground through a soakaway or watercourse. The remaining solid waste within the tank is then broken down by bacteria into a sludge. The remaining sludge then needs to be collected regularly (minimum twice a year) with a small amount of waste retained in the tank to allow the bacteria to work efficiently.
When will my cesspit need cleaning?
A heavy build up of sludge sometimes affects the efficient collection of waste. Cleaning is required to remove this sludge, restoring the full holding capacity of the tank.
Why is my cesspit filling quicker than usual?
It could simply be a change in use or that a tap has been left dripping. Alternatively it is possible that water is ingressing into the system or there may be another problem. As a result we usually suggest that tanks are cleaned and then inspected.
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CCTV Survey Inspection & Drain Tests

What is a CCTV survey?
A CCTV survey is when a camera is placed into the drain and propelled along the pipework. A recording is often made onto video or DVD. They are often recommended or required if there is a suspected problem or defect or during a house purchase. A CCTV survey is undertaken to establish the condition and integrity of the pipework. It will be able to reveal the cause of any blockages and the location and extent of any problems within the drain.
What information do we get from the CCTV survey?
We will provide you with a video or DVD showing the recording made of the internal condition of the drain, a sketch of your drainage layout and a written report explaining the condition and integrity of the pipework. The CCTV survey report also details the size, material and duty of the pipework surveyed. Any defects found will be described along with recommendations on how they can be fixed. If problems are found we are happy to provide a free estimate for the remedial works. We hold backup copies of DVD recordings for up to 1 year. We do not hold backup copies of VHS video tapes.
What size & lengths of pipework are you able to survey?
We can inspect foul and surface water pipework from a diameter of 2" (50mm) up to 12" (300mm) and larger with more specialised equipment. Although not guaranteed, the pipework serving most domestic properties is 4" or 6" diameter. We can survey lengths up to 200m. We have experience in surveying large sites, often combined with a drain cleaning service.
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Installation, Repair & Maintenance of Drains

Do you offer free estimates?
Yes. We may call when we will be in the area to see if it is convenient to visit and inspect your drainage problem. Otherwise we try to make mutually convenient appointments.
How long will it take to receive my estimate?
We aim to send out estimates within 10 days of the initial visit. Depending on the nature of the problem this could be much quicker.
Can you make connections onto the mains drainage?
We have considerable experience in making connections onto mains drainage and liaising with local water companies, building control etc.
Can you dig in the road?
We have qualified NRSWA operatives who can undertake excavations in the road and are familiar with liaising with the local highways authorities.
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Surface Water Drain Cleaning

Can you clean surface water drains?
We have various vehicles including vacuum tankers, combination vacuum and jetting lorries and specialist jetting vehicles capable of high pressure water jetting up to 10,000psi and high volume water jetting up to 50 gallons per minute. These vehicles can undertake surface water drain cleaning of gullies, soakaways, washbays and interceptors.
How much will disposal cost?
Disposal costs vary depending on the solids and oil content of the waste. The lower the solids content, the lower the disposal costs.
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Planned Preventative Maintenance Services

We offer planned preventative maintenance services. We can visit site to inspect and discuss your requirements and then offer a suitable service agreement. We can be as flexible or rigid in these arrangements as you wish.

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Shutdown Cleaning Services

We can undertake shutdown drain cleaning services. We can visit site to inspect and discuss your requirements and then offer a suitable service agreement.

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Bilge Tank Emptying

Bilge tank emptying is a service we can undertake with our 2000 gallon vacuum tankers.

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Water Delivery for Ground Testing

Our 2000 gallon vacuum tankers can be used to deliver water for ground testing.

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