CLEARMASTERS
Basement and riverside pumps
Basements and riverside properties below the sewer depend on pumps. We service them, test floats and alarms, and respond 24/7 when one fails.
Learn moreRichmond is a riverside town of Georgian terraces, Victorian villas and grand houses around the Green, the Hill and the Park, with a busy centre of restaurants, pubs and shops. Many homes have been extended into basements, and the riverside itself floods at very high tides, so pumps and drains are central to our work here.
Old drains under period houses are often shared, altered over the years and prone to roots from mature trees. Riverside properties and basements below the sewer rely on pumps. Restaurants and pubs on the riverside and in the town centre need grease traps emptied, especially in summer.
Our crews work in south-west London most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Richmond drainage services
View all services
Pump Station Servicing
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Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
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Septic Tank Surveys
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Grease Traps & Commercial Waste
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Flood & Groundwater Removal
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Treatment Plant & Pump Repairs
Learn moreCovering
Richmond
Richmond
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
Homes &
businesses
businesses
Waste transfer
notes
notes
Own tanker
fleet
fleet
What we do for Richmond customers
Drains under period homes
Georgian and Victorian drains are often shared and have been altered over the years. We clear blockages, trace which section caused them and remove roots.
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CCTV surveys for buyers and builders
Before buying, extending or digging a basement, a CCTV survey shows where the drains run and their condition, without disturbing anything.
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Grease traps for riverside pubs and restaurants
Busy riverside pubs and restaurants need grease traps emptied regularly, especially in summer. We set up a schedule and leave a waste transfer note every time.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage in Richmond: what to know
Period homes beside a tidal river.
A tidal Thames
The riverside floods at very high tides. Properties right on the river need working pumps and non-return valves.
Basements
Basements below the sewer rely on pumps. Two pumps and an alarm are the best protection.
Listed buildings
Many homes are listed or in conservation areas. A CCTV survey is a non-invasive way to check drains.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Richmond
We cover Richmond and the neighbouring parts of south-west London.
Richmond · and neighbourhoods
- Richmond
- Richmond Hill
- Kew
- Ham
- Petersham
- East Sheen
- North Sheen
- Barnes
Surrounding areas · homes and businesses we cover
- Mortlake
- Twickenham
- St Margarets
- Teddington
- Isleworth
- Chiswick
- Brentford
- Putney
- Roehampton
- Kingston
- Strawberry Hill
- Whitton
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Richmond, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Nearby areas
Why Richmond customers use us
Careful work on period and riverside homes
Whether it’s a basement pump on Richmond Hill or a grease trap on the riverside, here’s what you can expect.
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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.
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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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Paperwork done properly
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
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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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One call for everything
Tanks, treatment plants, pump stations, grease traps and drains, all handled by one team.
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
★★★★★Our family have been using Clearmasters for years and are the only choice as far as we are concerned! All the staff are friendly, helpful and accommodating. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
Stu Google review
★★★★★I have used Clearmasters for years. They are always on time, polite and reliable whether your need them to empty your septic tank or undertake maintenance work. I wouldn’t use anyone else. Local and the best.
★★★★★Work carried out professionally as usual, the only company I'd recommend.
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 you need. If you’re on the river, tell us how close and whether the alarm has sounded.
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Step 2
We come out and do the job
We send the right engineer or vehicle. It helps if:
- you tell us if there’s standing water on the drive or around the chambers
- pump chambers, control panels and manholes are clear and easy to reach
- we know about tides or river levels if you’re right on the bank
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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 Richmond property
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If you’re flooding now, call us instead.
- Free quotes for pumps, drains and surveys
- Basement and riverside pump servicing
- Grease traps for pubs and restaurants
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Richmond drainage FAQs
What homeowners and businesses in Richmond ask us most.
My home is on the river. How can I protect it from high tides?
A working pump with an alarm, and a non-return valve to stop river water backing up the drain, are the key protections. We can service your pump and check the drain.
Can you survey drains in a listed building?
Yes. A CCTV survey goes inside the pipes with no digging and gives you a written report.
How often should a basement pump be serviced?
At least once a year.
Do you empty grease traps for riverside pubs?
Yes, on a schedule that suits your season.
Who is responsible for a shared drain?
Shared drains are usually the water company’s. We can find the problem and tell you whose section it’s in.
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.