Drainage help across Dundee and Tayside
Drainage jobs vary a lot, because a blocked sink needs different work from a collapsed pipe. Read about each drainage service listed here before you decide. Each page explains the work and the questions to ask.
The form works for Dundee and nine nearby towns. The Dundee drainage page covers the city, and every other town has its own page. Use the list of areas covered to find the nearest one.
Start with blocked drains if water will not drain away. When the same drain keeps blocking, a CCTV drain survey can show why. Cracked or collapsed pipes need drain repairs instead, since clearing a cracked pipe does not mend it.
Popular drainage services
Drain Unblocking
Drain cleaning inside and outside the home Read about Drain UnblockingCCTV Drain Surveys
A camera look inside the pipe Read about CCTV Drain SurveysDrain Jetting
High-pressure water to clear and clean pipes Read about Drain JettingEmergency Drain Services
Flooding, sewage backup and urgent blockages Read about Emergency Drain ServicesDrain Repairs
Cracks, roots, collapses and relining Read about Drain RepairsHow a request works
1) Send your details
Fill in the form with your postcode and the drainage problem. You can send it day or night, because the form stays open 24/7. Add any detail that helps.
2) The request is passed on
The site passes your request on so an engineer can respond. Since the engineer sets the timing and the price, ask about both. Sending the form does not book a visit.
3) Check before work starts
Ask for a written quote before the engineer starts. Keep it, because it shows what you agreed. If the price changes, ask for the new figure in writing.
Questions to ask the engineer
While the engineer sets the terms, a few questions can protect you. Ask them before you agree to a visit. Then keep the answers in writing.
- Ask for a written quote before work starts.
- Ask whether there is a call-out charge.
- Ask what guarantee covers the work.
- Ask the engineer to confirm their insurance cover.
Whose drain is it in Scotland?
Scottish Water looks after the public sewers, while you look after your own drains. Citizens Advice Scotland says you must arrange and pay for repairs to the pipes that serve your home, up to the point where they join the public sewer. Check your title deeds if you are unsure where that point is.
A pipe shared with neighbours is trickier. Citizens Advice says the owners are jointly responsible, and the title deeds usually set out who pays. Scottish Water adds that a drain which leaves your property, or joins one from another property, becomes a public sewer.
If you rent from Dundee City Council, report a blocked drain to the council. Its council houses drains page names the Customer Service Team and the Housing Offices. Report it there first, because the council may be the one to deal with the repair.
What drain work can cost
MyJobQuote puts outside drain unblocking at £80 to £150, and Book A Builder UK gives £80 to £150 for a basic unblocking. For a CCTV drain survey, less.co.uk gives £100 to £300 for a home, and Book A Builder UK gives the same range. All four figures come from published cost guides, not from quotes.
These are UK guide ranges, so none is specific to Dundee. Jetting and complex jobs can cost more. Ask the engineer for a written quote, because the real price depends on your drain.
Coverage near Dundee
Pick your town to see the services for that area, since each town has its own page. The request form covers ten towns across four council areas. Each page links to the individual services for that town.
Blocked drains in DundeeBlocked drains in Broughty FerryBlocked drains in MonifiethBlocked drains in CarnoustieBlocked drains in ArbroathBlocked drains in ForfarBlocked drains in PerthBlocked drains in Newport-on-TayBlocked drains in TayportBlocked drains in Wormit
Popular requests by town
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for a blocked drain, me or Scottish Water?
Citizens Advice Scotland says owners look after the household pipes up to the point where they join the public sewer, and Scottish Water looks after the public sewer. A drain that serves only your home is usually yours. Find out which pipe is blocked before you pay for work, and see who is responsible for a blocked drain for more.
Is there a call-out fee?
It depends on the engineer who takes your job, since charges vary. Ask before you agree. MyJobQuote lists a standard call-out at £50 to £100 and an emergency call-out at £100 to £200 in its UK price guide. Ask for a written quote before work starts.
How quickly can an engineer respond to an emergency?
The engineer who takes the job sets the response time, so this site promises none. Mark your request urgent and ask for an estimate when the engineer replies. See the page on emergency drain services for what to do while you wait. The request form accepts messages 24/7.
Which towns can I send a request for?
You can send a request for these towns: blocked drains in Dundee, Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Carnoustie, Arbroath, Forfar, Perth, Newport-on-Tay, Tayport and Wormit. See all the locations listed. The engineer who takes the job will confirm whether they can attend.
How much does drain unblocking cost?
UK price guides give a guide, not a quote. MyJobQuote lists outside drain unblocking at £80 to £150, and Fantastic Services says most unblocking costs £80 to £250 outside London. Jetting or complex jobs can cost more. Ask the engineer for a written quote before work starts.
Do Scottish Water unblock drains?
Scottish Water looks after the public sewers, including chokes and collapses in them. It does not look after the private drain that serves only your home. If you are not sure which pipe is blocked, a CCTV drain survey can show where the fault sits.
Send a request for drainage help
You can send a request 24/7 for any town in Dundee and surrounding areas. Mark it urgent if the problem cannot wait.
Send a request