Drainage Guide
How Often Should You Get Your Drains Serviced?
There's no single answer that fits every property — it depends on the age of your drainage, how the property is used, and whether you've had problems before. Here's a realistic starting point.
Average Homes: Annually
For most houses with no history of blockages, an annual check or clean is enough to catch grease, silt and root ingrowth before it becomes a problem — particularly useful ahead of winter, when cold weather and heavier rainfall put more pressure on drainage systems.
Older Properties: Every 6–12 Months
Homes with older clay drainage, common across much of Greater Manchester's Victorian and inter-war housing stock, are more prone to root ingrowth and joint displacement. If you've had a blockage before, or know your drains are original to the property, a more frequent check is worth the modest cost compared to an emergency call-out.
Rental Properties: Between Tenancies
Landlords and letting agents often build a quick drain check into their standard turnaround between tenancies — it's a small additional cost that avoids an awkward emergency call-out during a new tenant's first weeks in the property.
Commercial Kitchens: Quarterly or More
Grease is the single biggest cause of commercial kitchen drain blockages, and it builds up faster than most operators expect. Quarterly jetting is a common schedule for busy kitchens, with some high-volume sites going monthly — both far cheaper than a closure-risk blockage during service hours.
Signs You Need a Check Sooner
- Slow-draining sinks or showers that have started recently
- A drain that's blocked more than once in the past year
- Persistent smells near an external gully
- You're buying a property and have no drainage history for it