Drainage in Edinburgh: Tenements, Back Courts and Kitchens
Call 07427 195142For drainage in Edinburgh, our work centres on three situations: communal tenement drainage, food premises with grease in the pipes, and basement flats that flood when a shared run backs up. We attend 24 hours a day with no call-out charge and give factors a written report. In a tenement, six or eight households typically feed one soil stack and one back-court run, so a fault in one flat is often a fault in everyone’s drain. That is why we treat the whole shared length as the job, not just the pipe under one sink.
Communal drainage for factors
Once the shared run is flowing, we record it and hand over photographs with a written report. A factor can file that, and owners can see exactly which section was at fault, which makes splitting a common repair or clearance bill far less contentious.
Restaurants, bars and takeaways
Commercial kitchens in the city send warm fat down the waste, where it cools and hardens against the inside of the pipe. High-pressure jetting removes that lining completely. Pushing a rod through leaves most of the deposit in place, so the next blockage is only weeks away. Much of this is booked overnight so service is unaffected.
Basements and lightwells
Being the lowest point, a basement flat or lightwell is where water appears first when the communal run is restricted. After clearing, the camera shows whether the restriction was roots, a collapsed length or a joint that has moved, and that decides whether a repair is needed.
Drain repairs under historic streets
The Georgian New Town and the Old Town, much of it rebuilt in the Victorian period, sit on some of the oldest drain runs in the city, and together they form a World Heritage Site. Edinburgh has 50 conservation areas, from Stockbridge Colonies to Portobello and the Grange, where building work carries extra controls. When a drain repair in those streets would mean lifting paving or disturbing a frontage, it is worth finding out first whether the pipe can be repaired from inside. Our drain relining page explains when that works, and drain repairs covers excavation when it does not.
One drainage company from blockage to repair
Drain repair in Edinburgh usually starts with a clearance and ends with a decision about the pipe, and that goes more smoothly when one contractor handles both. We clear drains with rods or jetting, film the run, write up what we find and carry out the repair, whether that is a patch liner or excavation. For businesses, see commercial drainage. If the problem is inside the flat rather than in the drain, such as a leaking trap or a toilet leaking at the base, see our plumber in Edinburgh page.
Currie and south-west Edinburgh
We also cover Currie and the south-west of Edinburgh for drain unblocking, CCTV surveys and repairs. A property with its own garden drain and a flat using a shared run need different access arrangements, so tell us where the chambers are and whether neighbours are affected when you describe the problem.
Need the pipe filmed rather than cleared? Book a CCTV drain survey in Edinburgh. Burst pipe or overflowing toilet? See emergency plumber in Edinburgh. For booked plumbing jobs, see our plumber in Edinburgh page.
Who pays when a communal tenement drain blocks?
It is usually treated as a common cost. Our footage identifies the section at fault, which helps owners agree the split.
Can you work at night?
Yes. We are available 24/7 and there is no call-out charge.
Will the factor get paperwork?
Yes. We provide photographs and a written report once the communal drain has been cleared.
Is jetting better than rodding for a restaurant drain?
For grease, yes. Jetting clears the hardened fat from the pipe wall instead of just opening a narrow channel through it.
Do you repair drains in Edinburgh conservation areas?
Yes. Where a repair would disturb paving or a frontage, lining from inside is often worth considering first, and digging may need checking with the council.
What should I look for in an Edinburgh drainage company?
One that can clear, film, report on and repair a drain, so the same firm follows the fault from blockage to fix and you are not paying for two surveys.
Do you handle commercial drainage in Edinburgh?
Yes. Restaurants, bars, shops and offices can book planned jetting, surveys and repairs, as well as urgent unblocking.
Do you cover Currie and south-west Edinburgh?
Yes. Currie and south-west Edinburgh are within our Edinburgh coverage for drain unblocking, surveys and repairs. Tell us the address, which outlets are affected and whether the drain is shared, so access and the appropriate work can be discussed.
Get help in Edinburgh
Need help with a drainage problem?
Professional drainage services designed to resolve drainage issues quickly and efficiently. From emergency drain unblocking and blocked drains to CCTV surveys, drain repairs, and commercial drainage services, Curran Drainage Services provides dependable support for homes and businesses throughout Central Scotland.