CLEARMASTERS
Blocked drains on steep streets
Old houses on steep hills, many divided into flats, mean shared drains, old pipes and difficult access. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting and tell you whose drain the problem is in.
Learn moreHastings is an old fishing town built on steep hills, with the Old Town squeezed into a valley, St Leonards stretching west, and estates and industrial areas spreading north to Hollington and Ore. It’s on mains drainage, and steep streets of old houses, many split into flats, keep us busy with blocked and broken drains.
Seafront restaurants, fish and chip shops and cafés need grease traps emptied, and the industrial estates around Ponswood and Churchfields have gullies and interceptors to clean. Some hillsides are prone to ground movement, which can crack and shift old drains.
Around the town, villages like Fairlight, Westfield, Guestling and Three Oaks have homes on septic tanks and treatment plants. Our crews work in East Sussex most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day.
Our Hastings drainage services
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Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
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Grease Traps & Commercial Waste
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Septic Tank Surveys
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Gullies & Interceptors
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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
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Treatment Plant Servicing
Learn moreCovering Hastings
& villages
& villages
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
Homes &
businesses
businesses
Waste transfer
notes
notes
Own tanker
fleet
fleet
What we do for Hastings customers
Grease traps for the seafront
Fish and chip shops, restaurants and cafés along the seafront and in the Old Town need grease traps emptied regularly. We set up a schedule and leave a waste transfer note every time.
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CCTV surveys and ground movement
Where hillsides move, old clay drains crack and joints pull apart. A CCTV survey shows what’s happening and gives you a written report for your insurer or landlord.
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Septic tanks in the villages
In Fairlight, Westfield, Guestling and the farms around Hastings, we empty septic tanks and cesspits and service treatment plants.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage in Hastings: what to know
Steep hills, old houses and busy kitchens.
Steep, narrow streets
Access can be tight. Tell us about parking and steps when you book and we’ll plan the right vehicle and hose.
Ground movement
Some hillsides move slowly, which can crack old drains. Repeated blockages may be a sign.
Converted houses
Many houses are now flats sharing one drain. Managing agents should know who’s responsible for which part.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Hastings
We cover Hastings, St Leonards and the villages around them.
Hastings · and neighbourhoods
- Hastings
- Old Town
- St Leonards
- Ore
- Silverhill
- Hollington
- Bohemia
- West St Leonards
Surrounding villages · including homes on septic tanks
- Fairlight
- Pett
- Westfield
- Guestling
- Three Oaks
- Baldslow
- Crowhurst
- Icklesham
- Sedlescombe
- Battle
- Bexhill
- Hooe
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Hastings, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Nearby areas
Why Hastings customers use us
Used to hills, flats and busy kitchens
Whether it’s a blocked drain in the Old Town or a septic tank in Fairlight, here’s what you can expect.
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Day and night, all year
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
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34 years in drainage
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
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The right kit for the job
Tankers from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, jet/vac combination units, CCTV survey kit and confined space teams for pump station wet wells.
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Paperwork done properly
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
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One call for everything
Tanks, treatment plants, pump stations, grease traps and drains, all handled by one team.
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Trained engineers
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
What our customers say
9.84/10
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
4.9/5
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★Clearmasters have been emptying and servicing our treatment plant for the last 7 years and their service and quality of work is of a high standard. I would highly recommend them.
Angus C. Google review
★★★★★Efficient, courteous, customer-facing. Would not hesitate to recommend to others.
★★★★★I've used Clearmasters for at least 10 years and always find them reliable, helpful, knowledgable and great at what is a really unpleasant job! I won't use anyone else.
How it works
What happens when you book
The same simple process for every job.
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Step 1
Tell us what you’ve got
Call us or book online and tell us what’s happening, which flat you’re in and anything about access.
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Step 2
We come out and do the job
We send the right van or tanker. It helps if:
- you tell us about parking restrictions or a loading bay we can use
- manhole covers and gullies are clear of bins, cars and stock
- we know about shared drains or other flats affected
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Step 3
Paperwork and the next visit
You get a waste transfer note for anything we take away, and a written report after a survey or service. If it’s a regular job, we’ll remind you when the next one is due.
Free, no-obligation quote
Get a quote for your Hastings property
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now.
- Free quotes for drains, grease traps and surveys
- Septic tanks in the villages
- Reports for landlords and insurers
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Hastings drainage FAQs
What homeowners, landlords and businesses in Hastings ask us most.
Can ground movement damage my drains?
Yes. On hillsides that move, old clay drains can crack or pull apart at the joints. A CCTV survey will show any damage and the report can support an insurance claim.
Our building’s shared drain keeps blocking. Who should fix it?
Drains shared with neighbouring buildings are usually the water company’s. Within a building, it’s often shared between leaseholders. We’ll find the blockage and tell you where it is.
How often should a fish and chip shop’s grease trap be emptied?
Fryers produce a lot of oil and grease, so often more frequently than other kitchens. We’ll suggest a schedule based on your trap and how busy you are.
Do you empty septic tanks in Fairlight and Westfield?
Yes. Some homes and farms around Hastings are off the mains, and we empty and service their systems.
Can you reach houses up steps or steep lanes?
Usually. Our tankers carry long hoses. Tell us about access and we’ll plan for it.
Are you available out of hours?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 03333 233566.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
Fully accredited & compliant
We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.
SafeContractor
Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.
RISQS
Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.
Achilles UVDB
Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.
Trading Standards Approved
Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.
NADC Member
Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.
Registered Waste Carrier
Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.