Keeping Private Sewers Flowing Across the County
Jet Plumb provides sewer maintenance Gloucestershire-wide for homeowners, landlords, managing agents and businesses whose waste runs through a private or unadopted sewer. We clear blockages, jet clean the pipework and set up routine visits, so small problems are dealt with before they back up into your property.
We are an independent, family-run drainage company based in Ebley, Stroud, with over 20 years of experience looking after drains and sewers. Every visit comes with no call-out charge, and quotes are free with no obligation to go ahead. Residential, commercial and industrial sewers are all covered, and we welcome contract work.
How Our Sewer Maintenance Works
A sewer carries the combined waste of a property, or of several properties, so a blockage tends to show up in more than one place at once. Wet wipes, nappies, sanitary products, fat and grease, silt and tree roots are the usual culprits. Left alone, they narrow the pipe until flow stops and sewage backs up through the lowest gully or manhole.
We start by finding out what is going on. Where the cause is not obvious, we often suggest a CCTV survey first, so we can see the condition of the pipe and choose the right method rather than guessing. Blockages are then broken up and washed through or pulled out, using rods where they suit the job and high-pressure jetting at 3,000 to 4,000 psi for heavier build-up. Heavy fat deposits and hardened scale may need several passes before the pipe is properly clear.
Once flow is restored, we can scour the full run to strip scale, grease and debris from the pipe walls. For properties with recurring trouble, we arrange regular visits so the sewer is checked and cleaned before anything has a chance to back up.
- Sewer unblocking for wipes, grease, debris and foreign objects
- High-pressure jet cleaning to scour pipe walls and restore full flow
- Root ingress cut out and cleared from sewer pipes
- Planned maintenance visits for homes, estates and commercial sites
- Septic tank outlet pipes cleared and checked
- Grease trap maintenance for restaurants and hotels
Blocked Sewer Clearance
When a shared or private sewer stops flowing, we break up the obstruction with rods or a high-pressure jet and wash it through to the next chamber, then run water along the line to confirm everything is moving freely again.
Full Jet Cleaning Runs
A full jet clean scours fat, scale and silt from the whole inside of the pipe, not just the spot that blocked. It returns the sewer to its proper capacity and leaves a clean surface that is far less likely to catch debris.
Roots Inside Sewers
Fine roots that have crept through a joint are cut back and flushed out of the run. We then look at the entry point on camera and advise whether a patch or liner is needed to stop the growth from returning.
Annual Maintenance Visits
A yearly visit to check, clean and record the condition of your sewer catches problems while they are still small. It suits homeowners, landlords, managing agents and small private estates that share an unadopted sewer and need someone to look after it.
Clearing Tank Outlets
The outlet pipe carries water from the tank to the soakaway, so a blockage here can back the whole system up. We clear the pipe, check for a missing or damaged dip pipe and inspect the drains on both sides of the tank.
Commercial Grease Traps
Restaurants and hotels send a lot of fat towards the drains. Regular grease trap maintenance stops it reaching the sewer, where it cools and hardens, narrows the pipe and eventually forms a blockage that can close a busy kitchen.
Septic Tank Outlet Pipes
Many rural properties around Stroud and the Cotswolds rely on a septic tank, and the pipe leaving it is a common trouble spot. Solids carried over from the tank, roots and missing or damaged dip pipes can all slow the flow to the soakaway.
We clear and inspect outlet pipes and the drains running to and from the tank, then explain what we found and what, if anything, needs repairing. If the outlet keeps blocking, a camera check usually shows why.
Routine Maintenance for Homes and Businesses
We recommend having a private sewer checked and cleaned at least once a year. A planned visit causes far less disruption than an emergency, and it gives you early warning of cracks, displaced joints or root growth while they are still simple to put right.
For commercial and industrial sites, restaurants, hotels and managed housing, we can agree a maintenance contract that fits your schedule and work around opening hours. Kitchens benefit from regular grease trap maintenance alongside sewer jetting, which keeps fat out of the pipes in the first place.
If an inspection turns up structural damage, we can repair it with lining, patch lining or excavation, so one local team handles the whole job from diagnosis to repair.
Warning Signs in a Private Sewer
Sewer problems rarely appear overnight. Call us if you notice any of the following, especially if more than one drain on the property is affected.
- Toilets, sinks and showers draining slowly throughout the property
- Sewage odours around manholes, gullies or inspection chambers
- Gurgling from plugholes when another appliance empties
- Manhole covers lifting or chambers filling with waste
- Blockages that clear and then return within weeks
- Wet, sunken or unusually green patches over the pipe run
- Waste backing up at a septic tank outlet
Get a Sewer Maintenance Quote
Whether you need a blocked sewer cleared today or a maintenance plan for the year ahead, call Jet Plumb on 01453 827124. Quotes are free and carry no obligation, and there is no call-out charge. For sewage backing up out of hours, ring our emergency number, 07966 142960.
We cover Stroud and all of Gloucestershire, including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and Dursley. We are fully insured, we guarantee all our work, and we will always call you back and keep you informed.
Sewer Maintenance FAQs
Common questions about sewer maintenance in Gloucestershire.
If the sewer sits within your property boundary and serves only your home, it is normally your responsibility. Since 2011, most shared lateral drains and sewers beyond the boundary have passed to the water companies. Unadopted sewers on private estates can be the shared responsibility of the owners they serve, so check your deeds or ask us to trace the run.
At least once a year is a sensible minimum for most homes and businesses. Sites with heavy use, commercial kitchens or large trees nearby may need more frequent visits. After the first clean and inspection, we can suggest an interval based on what we actually see inside the pipe.
In everyday terms, a drain carries waste from one property, while a sewer collects waste from two or more. The difference matters because it affects who is responsible for the pipe. A pipe that only serves your house is a private drain; once it joins a neighbour's, it usually becomes a sewer.
Yes. Our high-pressure jetting equipment and root cutting tools can remove most root ingress. Roots get in through cracks and loose joints, so they will grow back unless the entry point is sealed. After clearing, we can show you the damage on camera and recommend lining, patch lining or a repair.
Sewer cleaning and unblocking are carried out through existing manholes and access points, so digging is not normally part of routine maintenance. Excavation only comes into the picture when a pipe has collapsed or needs a repair that cannot be done from inside. If that happens, we explain why before any work starts.
Yes. As well as homes and rental properties, we look after sewers serving shops, offices, restaurants, hotels, farms and industrial units across Gloucestershire. Contract work is welcome, and we can plan visits around trading hours to keep disruption to a minimum.
Stop using toilets, sinks and appliances that drain into the system, keep children and pets away, and call our emergency line on 07966 142960. We answer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Avoid lifting covers or trying to clear the blockage yourself, as raw sewage carries a real health risk.
Related Drainage Services
Drain Jetting
High-pressure water at 3,000 to 4,000 psi clears fat, silt, wipes and roots, then scours the pipe clean. Ideal for stubborn blockages and planned maintenance at homes and businesses.
Tree Root Removal
Roots found on camera, cut and jetted out of drains and sewers, then the entry point sealed with lining or a repair so they stay out. No call-out charge and every quote is free.
CCTV Drain Surveys
A camera inspection that shows blockages, cracks, root ingress and collapses inside your pipes. Every survey is recorded, you get a copy of the footage, and we give clear advice on the next step.