Price Guide

How Much Does a Drain Specialist Really Cost?

Compare prices for 12 services across 342 UK locations. Data-driven pricing updated for .

12 services priced 342 cities covered Updated

National pricing

Drain Specialist Prices

National average prices. Select a city below for local pricing.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

Blocked Drain Clearance

Low

£60

Average

£120

High

£250

30 minutes to 2 hours

More details

Clearing a blocked external drain using drain rods or basic equipment. Includes locating the blockage, rodding through the obstruction and flushing the drain. Does not include jetting.

~92% labour, ~8% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity and location of the blockage
  • Whether it is an internal or external drain
  • Access to the nearest manhole
  • Time of call-out (emergency rates apply out of hours)

CCTV Drain Survey

Low

£90

Average

£230

High

£450

1-3 hours

More details

Inspecting the internal condition of drains using a CCTV camera pushed through the pipe system. Includes video footage, a written report identifying defects and recommendations for repair.

What affects the price

  • Length and complexity of the drainage network
  • Whether a basic or full survey with mapping is required
  • Accessibility of manholes and drain access points
  • Property size (more drains take longer to survey)

Drain Relining (Per Metre)

Low

£70

Average

£100

High

£150

Varies by length

More details

Repairing a cracked or damaged drain pipe without digging it up. A flexible liner coated in resin is pushed through the pipe, inflated, and left to harden, creating a new pipe inside the old one. Much less disruptive than digging. Price per metre.

~55% labour, ~45% materials

What affects the price

  • Pipe diameter (100mm, 150mm, larger pipes cost more)
  • Total length of pipe to be relined
  • Number and severity of defects
  • Whether jetting is needed first to clean the pipe

Drain Excavation and Repair

Low

£500

Average

£1,200

High

£2,500

1-2 days

More details

Excavating to expose a damaged section of drain pipe and replacing it with new pipework. Includes digging, pipe replacement, backfilling and reinstatement of the surface above.

~79% labour, ~21% materials

What affects the price

  • Depth of the drain pipe
  • Length of pipe section to be replaced
  • Surface type above (lawn, paving, concrete, tarmac)
  • Whether shoring or dewatering is needed for deep drains

Drain Jetting

Low

£100

Average

£200

High

£400

1-2 hours

More details

Blasting high-pressure water through drains to clear stubborn blockages, fat buildup, and tree roots. Much more powerful than drain rods — the water jet scours the pipe walls clean.

~95% labour, ~5% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity and type of blockage (fat, roots, debris)
  • Length of drain to be jetted
  • Pipe diameter and accessibility
  • Whether a CCTV survey is needed before or after

Manhole Cover Replacement

Low

£150

Average

£300

High

£600

1-3 hours

More details

Replacing a damaged, rusted or non-compliant manhole cover and frame. Includes breaking out the old frame, bedding the new cover in mortar and sealing. Price per manhole.

~58% labour, ~42% materials

What affects the price

  • Size and load rating of the cover (pedestrian, light vehicle, heavy duty)
  • Whether the frame also needs replacing
  • Surface type (paving, tarmac, recessed tray covers)
  • Depth of the manhole and condition of the brickwork

Soakaway Installation

Low

£500

Average

£900

High

£1,800

1-2 days

More details

Installing an underground pit that collects rainwater and lets it soak away into the ground naturally. Includes digging the hole, filling it with drainage crates or gravel, connecting the pipes, and covering it back over.

~64% labour, ~36% materials

What affects the price

  • Size of soakaway required (based on roof or patio area)
  • Soil type and percolation rate (clay soils are slower)
  • Distance from the property and depth of excavation
  • Whether a percolation test is needed beforehand

Drain Mapping

Low

£150

Average

£300

High

£500

2-4 hours

More details

Creating a detailed map of all the drains under and around your property, showing where every pipe runs, how deep it is, and where it connects. Done using cameras and tracing equipment. Often required before building an extension or for planning applications.

What affects the price

  • Size and complexity of the drainage system
  • Number of drain runs and manholes
  • Whether sonar tracing or dye testing is needed
  • Purpose of the mapping (planning, homebuyer, insurance)

Septic Tank Emptying

Low

£150

Average

£225

High

£400

30-60 minutes on site

More details

Emptying a domestic septic tank using a vacuum tanker. Includes pumping out all waste, basic inspection and disposal at a licensed treatment facility. Recommended annually.

What affects the price

  • Tank size (1,000 to 4,000+ litres)
  • Access for the tanker vehicle
  • Distance from the nearest treatment works
  • Whether the tank needs cleaning or de-sludging

Collapsed Drain Repair

Low

£800

Average

£1,800

High

£3,500

1-3 days

More details

Excavating and replacing a section of collapsed drain pipe. Includes CCTV survey to locate the collapse, excavation, new pipe installation, backfilling and surface reinstatement.

~82% labour, ~18% materials

What affects the price

  • Depth of the collapsed section
  • Length of pipe requiring replacement
  • Surface type above (garden, driveway, under a building)
  • Whether temporary drainage is needed during works

Root Removal from Drains

Low

£150

Average

£300

High

£600

1-3 hours

More details

Removing tree roots that have grown into your drain pipes, causing blockages. Done using high-pressure water jetting, mechanical cutting tools, or both. Includes a camera inspection before and after to check the pipes are clear.

~95% labour, ~5% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity and extent of root ingress
  • Method used (jetting, mechanical cutting, chemical treatment)
  • Whether the pipe joint needs repairing after root removal
  • Risk of future root ingress (may need relining)

Drain Odour Investigation

Low

£80

Average

£150

High

£300

1-2 hours

More details

Investigating the source of foul drain smells inside or outside a property. Includes smoke testing, dye testing, checking traps and seals, and CCTV if needed. Repair costs are additional.

~93% labour, ~7% materials

What affects the price

  • Number of potential sources to investigate
  • Whether smoke or dye testing is required
  • Complexity of the drainage system
  • Whether a CCTV survey is needed as part of the investigation

Popular locations

Drain Services Costs by City

London

£75–£310

Birmingham

£55–£235

Leeds

£60–£245

Glasgow

£65–£260

Sheffield

£60–£245

Manchester

£60–£245

Bradford

£55–£220

Edinburgh

£70–£285

Liverpool

£60–£245

Bristol

£65–£270

Coventry

£55–£240

Leicester

£50–£215

Local pricing

Find Drain Specialist Costs in Your City

Browse all 342 cities for local drain specialist pricing.

Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley London
Brighton Milton Keynes Reading Southampton
Bournemouth Bristol Gloucester Plymouth
Colchester Luton Norwich Peterborough
Birmingham Coventry Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton
Derby Leicester Northampton Nottingham
Bradford Leeds Sheffield York
Bolton Liverpool Manchester Warrington
County Durham Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Cardiff Swansea
Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Belfast

Regional comparison

Blocked Drain Clearance by City

Average cost of blocked drain clearance across key UK cities.

London
+24% £150
Manchester
-2% £115
Birmingham
-7% £110
Glasgow
+5% £125
Bristol
+7% £130
Leeds
-3% £115
Cardiff
-2% £120
Belfast
-13% £105

Overview

What Does a Drain Specialist Do?

A drain specialist provides professional services covering drain clearance, repair, surveys and installation services. They handle everything from routine maintenance and inspections to full installations and emergency repairs. Whether you need a small repair or a major project, hiring a qualified drain specialist ensures the work is done safely, to code, and to a professional standard.

You should hire a drain specialist whenever you need work that requires specialist skills, tools, or qualifications. Many types of drain specialist work are regulated and must be carried out by a certified professional. Attempting DIY on regulated work can be dangerous, void your insurance, and create costly problems down the line.

Pricing for drain specialist services depends on the complexity of what you need, the options chosen, and where you live in the UK. Simpler services sit at the lower end of the scale, while more involved or premium options will be significantly more expensive. The prices on this page give you a realistic range for each type of service so you know what to expect before getting quotes.

When hiring a drain specialist, always get at least three quotes from different tradespeople. Read recent reviews and ask for references. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews. A reputable drain specialist will be happy to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and explain exactly what is included in their quote.

Related services

Related Services

Services often needed alongside a drain specialist.

Plumber UK price guide £50–£200 Boiler & Gas Engineering UK price guide £2,000–£4,500 Damp Proofing UK price guide £250–£1,000 Builder UK price guide £30,000–£80,000 Gutter Services UK price guide £50–£110 Roofing UK price guide £80–£275 Pest Control UK price guide £120–£350 Cleaning UK price guide £25–£45

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about drain specialist costs in the UK.

What is a CCTV drain survey and when do I need one?
A CCTV drain survey involves feeding a camera through your drains to inspect their condition. You might need one if you have recurring blockages, are buying a house, planning an extension, or suspect damage to underground pipes. The survey produces a report and video showing any defects, cracks or root ingress.
Who is responsible for blocked drains — me or the water company?
You are responsible for drains within your property boundary. Shared sewers and drains beyond your boundary are the responsibility of your water company. Since 2011, most shared or lateral drains that serve more than one property have been adopted by water companies. If you are unsure, contact your water company.
Can tree roots really damage my drains?
Yes. Tree roots are one of the most common causes of drain damage in the UK. Roots seek out moisture and can penetrate small cracks in clay or concrete pipes, eventually causing blockages and structural collapse. If you have large trees near your drains, regular CCTV inspections can catch problems early.
What is drain relining and is it better than digging up pipes?
Drain relining (also called no-dig repair) involves inserting a resin-impregnated liner into the damaged pipe and curing it in place to create a new pipe within the old one. It is quicker, less disruptive and often cheaper than excavating and replacing pipes, though it is not suitable for severely collapsed drains.
How do I know if I have a blocked drain?
Common signs include water draining slowly from sinks, baths or showers, gurgling sounds from plugholes, foul smells coming from drains or manholes, and water backing up or overflowing from gullies. If multiple fixtures in your home are draining slowly at the same time, the blockage is likely in your main underground drain rather than in an individual pipe.
How long does a CCTV drain survey take?
A standard domestic CCTV drain survey takes one to three hours depending on how many drain runs your property has. A small terraced house with a simple layout can be done in under an hour, while a larger detached property with multiple drainage connections may take two to three hours. You typically receive the report and footage the same day or within 48 hours.
Can I fix a blocked drain myself?
Simple blockages near a plughole can often be cleared with a plunger, drain snake or boiling water and soda crystals. However, blockages in your main underground drains usually need professional equipment such as drain rods or a high-pressure jetter. Attempting to rod a drain yourself without experience risks pushing the blockage further or damaging the pipe.
Do I need a drainage report to sell my house?
A drainage report is not legally required to sell a house in England and Wales, but buyers and their solicitors increasingly request one as part of due diligence, especially for older properties. A pre-sale CCTV drain survey can flag issues before they become deal-breakers and gives buyers confidence that the drains are in good condition.
How much does an emergency drain call-out cost?
Emergency or out-of-hours drain call-outs typically cost £150-£350, compared to £60-£120 during normal working hours. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays attract premium rates. If the problem is not causing flooding or sewage backup inside your home, it is often worth waiting until the next working day to save on call-out fees.
Will my home insurance cover a blocked or damaged drain?
Most home insurance policies cover sudden damage to underground drains such as a collapse, but not gradual wear and tear or blockages caused by lack of maintenance. You will usually need a CCTV survey report to support your claim. Check your policy wording carefully — some policies include drain cover as an add-on rather than as standard.
How much does a drain specialist cost in the UK?
The most common drain specialist job, blocked drain clearance, costs between £60 and £250 nationally, with an average of £120. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and your location within the UK.
What affects drain specialist prices?
The main factors are the complexity and scope of what you need, the options and products chosen, and your location. London and the South East are typically 15-35% more expensive than northern regions. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
How do I find a reliable drain specialist?
Get at least three quotes from different tradespeople, check recent reviews and references, and ask for a detailed written quote that breaks down all costs before committing. Always check qualifications, insurance and recent reviews.
Do drain specialist prices vary by location?
Yes, significantly. London is the most expensive area, with prices typically 20-35% above the national average. The South East is also above average. Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be 5-15% below the national average. Our city pages show exact local pricing for 342 UK locations.
Do the prices shown include materials?
The prices on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some tradespeople break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.
When is the best time to hire a drain specialist?
Demand for drain specialist services tends to peak in autumn and winter, which can mean longer wait times and higher prices. If your job isn't urgent, booking during spring or summer may get you a better rate and faster availability. Emergency work will always cost more regardless of the time of year.