How much does drain jetting cost?
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Typical cost per job
£100 – £300
Drain jetting in the UK typically costs £100–£300 for a domestic job, depending on how bad the blockage is and how long the drain run is. A simple blockage cleared with rods can cost less, while out-of-hours call-outs and root cutting cost more. A CCTV drain survey, often done alongside jetting, adds roughly £100–£300.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Drain unblocking with rods | £70 – £150 |
| High-pressure jetting, domestic | £100 – £250 |
| Jetting, long run or heavy build-up | £200 – £400 |
| Out-of-hours / weekend call-out | £150 – £350 |
| CCTV drain survey, camera only | £100 – £200 |
| CCTV survey with written report | £150 – £350 |
| Root cutting or descaling | £200 – £600 |
| Patch lining a cracked pipe | £300 – £800 per patch |
| Gully clearing | £60 – £120 |
| Hourly rate after first hour | £60 – £100 per hour |
Typical UK guide prices — see the note at the foot of this page.
Plumbing prices by region
Labour rates vary across the UK, so the same plumbing job usually costs more in London and the South East than in the South West, Wales or the North. Here is roughly how the typical range shifts by region (per job).
| Region | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| London | £130 – £390 |
| South East | £110 – £340 |
| East of England | £105 – £320 |
| South West | £100 – £300 |
| Midlands | £95 – £290 |
| Scotland | £95 – £290 |
| North of England | £90 – £280 |
| Wales | £90 – £270 |
| Northern Ireland | £85 – £260 |
Estimates based on regional labour rates, not quotes — your price depends on the job itself.
Drain jetting prices in the UK
Most drainage engineers charge a fixed price for the first hour, then an hourly rate after that. For a typical house, high-pressure jetting usually comes in at £100–£250, and most domestic blockages are cleared within the first hour.
Jetting uses water at high pressure through a hose with a nozzle that blasts its way along the pipe, breaking up fat, silt, wipes and scale. It cleans the full bore of the pipe rather than just poking a hole through the blockage, which is why it is often the better choice for a drain that blocks repeatedly.
Long drain runs, heavy fat build-up or drains shared with neighbours take longer, and £200–£400 is not unusual. Evening, weekend and bank holiday call-outs are typically charged at a higher rate.
Drain unblocking cost: rods vs jetting
Simple blockages near a manhole, such as a build-up of wipes, can often be cleared with drain rods for around £70–£150. Many engineers will try rods first and only bring out the jetter if needed.
Jetting costs a little more but does a more thorough job, and is the normal approach for kitchen drains with fat build-up, silt in older clay pipes, or drains that keep blocking.
If the drain blocks again soon after being cleared, there is usually an underlying fault such as a dip in the pipe, a displaced joint or root ingress, and a CCTV survey is the sensible next step rather than paying for repeated jetting.
CCTV drain survey cost
A CCTV survey sends a small camera along the drain to show its condition. A basic camera inspection with the engineer talking you through it usually costs £100–£200. A full survey with a written report, footage and a drawing of the drain layout is more like £150–£350.
Surveys are worth paying for if a drain blocks repeatedly, if you suspect a collapse or root problem, or before buying a house, particularly an older one or one with large trees near the drains.
If you are going to claim on insurance, ask for the full report, as insurers usually want to see the footage before approving repairs.
Who is responsible for which drain?
This matters, because you may not have to pay at all.
Since October 2011, most shared drains and lateral drains in England and Wales that connect to the public sewer were transferred to the water companies. In broad terms, you are responsible for the drain that serves only your property, within your property boundary. Once the pipe is shared with a neighbour, or runs outside your boundary, it is usually the water company's responsibility.
If several houses are affected, or the blockage is in a manhole that serves more than one property, call your water company first. They will normally clear blockages in their pipes free of charge. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements, so check with Scottish Water or NI Water.
Private septic tanks and cesspits are always the owner's responsibility.
What affects the price?
Cause of the blockage. Wipes and fat are quick to clear. Tree roots and scale need cutting heads and take much longer.
Access. An open manhole near the blockage is easiest. Blocked drains with no access point, or manholes under patios and decking, add time.
Length and depth of the run. Long or deep drains take more hose and more time.
Timing. Emergency and out-of-hours work costs more. If it can wait until a weekday, it usually costs less.
What is found. If the camera shows a cracked or collapsed pipe, repair is a separate job, from a few hundred pounds for a patch liner to considerably more for excavation.
Work out your own price
1. Check whether the drain is shared. If it is, call the water company first. 2. If it is your private drain, allow £100–£250 for jetting on a weekday. 3. Add £100–£350 if you want a CCTV survey to find out why it blocked.
Example: a kitchen drain that keeps backing up. Jetting £120–£200, plus a CCTV survey with a report £150–£250, gives roughly £270–£450. If the survey shows only fat build-up, that is usually the end of it. If it shows a cracked joint, a patch repair might add £300–£800.
On BidMyJob you can post the job with a photo of the manhole and a note of the symptoms, and local drainage engineers bid, so you can compare prices before agreeing anything.
How to keep the cost down
Do not pour fat, oil or grease down the sink. Wipe pans and bin the fat once it sets.
Only flush toilet paper. Wipes, even those labelled flushable, are a common cause of blockages.
Fit sink strainers and keep gullies clear of leaves.
Ask for a fixed price before work starts, and check what is included in the first hour.
Get a survey before paying for repeated jetting. Fixing the cause is cheaper than clearing the same blockage every few months.
Check your home insurance. Many policies cover accidental damage to underground pipes, and some include drain cover as an add-on.
Frequently asked questions
How much does drain jetting cost?+
Usually £100–£250 for a domestic drain on a weekday, and £200–£400 for long runs or heavy build-up. Out-of-hours call-outs cost more.
How much does it cost to unblock a drain?+
About £70–£150 for a simple blockage cleared with rods, or £100–£250 with high-pressure jetting. If the drain is shared, your water company may clear it for free.
How much is a CCTV drain survey?+
Around £100–£200 for a camera inspection, or £150–£350 with a written report and footage. A report is worth having for insurance claims or house purchases.
Who pays to unblock a shared drain?+
In England and Wales, shared drains and sewers are generally the water company's responsibility since 2011, and they clear them free. You are usually only responsible for the drain serving your property alone, within your boundary.
Is drain jetting better than rodding?+
Jetting cleans the whole pipe wall rather than just pushing through the blockage, so it is better for fat, silt and recurring blockages. Rodding is fine for a simple one-off blockage.
Does home insurance cover blocked drains?+
Standard policies often cover accidental damage to underground pipes but not routine blockages. Some insurers offer drain cover as an add-on, so check your policy.
Can drain jetting damage pipes?+
In sound pipes, no. In very old or already cracked pipes, high pressure can make an existing fault worse, which is why engineers often survey fragile drains first.
Related price guides
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