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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying in Haywards Heath

Scheduled and emergency tank emptying for homes and farms in the Mid Sussex countryside around Haywards Heath.

Haywards Heath grew up around its railway station in Victorian times, and its streets are on the public sewer. The rural parishes around it are a different story. Farms, cottages and larger country houses out towards Ardingly, Balcombe, Staplefield and Highbrook are often too far from a sewer and depend on a septic tank or cesspit, sometimes one that has served the house for decades.

Around the town, the ground is sandstone and clay in alternating bands. Along the Ouse valley to the north, and south towards Bolney, there is heavier Weald clay. Clay drains slowly, so a drainage field there needs a well-emptied tank to keep solids away from the pipes. On the sandier ridges, fields generally cope better, but they still fail if sludge is allowed to spill over.

Each of our tankers, whether it holds 2,000 or 4,000 gallons, has jetting kit on board. Our crews are in Mid Sussex almost every day, and you can call 03333 233566 at any hour if a tank is overflowing or a cesspit alarm is sounding.

What's included

How we empty your tank

A tidy job, start to finish, by our own crew.

  • A full pump-out

    The tank is emptied into one of our own tankers, which hold between 2,000 and 4,000 gallons.

  • Inlet and outlet cleared

    Every tanker carries jetting kit, so a blocked inlet or outlet pipe can be cleared on the same visit.

  • Paperwork you can keep

    Your waste transfer note shows what was taken and where it went, which is useful when you sell or let the property.

  • Tidy and careful

    Hoses are laid neatly and anything we spill is cleaned up before we leave.

  • A reminder when it’s due

    If you’d like one, our office will get in touch when your next empty comes round.

  • Long hose runs

    We carry enough hose to reach tanks well away from the drive, through gardens and across paddocks.

Frequency, price and access

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Clearmasters tanker on a rural driveway, with its hose run through the garden to the tank

Along the Ouse valley

The River Ouse winds east below Balcombe and Ardingly and on past Lindfield, with Ardingly Reservoir filling one of its side valleys. Low fields beside the river and its streams can stay wet all winter, and a drainage field laid in that kind of ground has a hard time.

If yours is struggling, emptying the tank more often helps in the short term. If the field has given up altogether, we can advise on drainage field replacement and what is likely to work on your ground, and whether a different position in the garden would drain better.

Learn more
02
Clearmasters tanker emptying an underground septic tank through an open manhole

What affects the price?

The cost depends mainly on how much there is to take away and how easy the tank is to reach. A tank at the end of a long drive, or one that needs its pipes jetting as well, takes longer than one by the road.

We give you a free quote before we start. Call 03333 233566 or use the form below.

Learn more

Local to you

Septic tank emptying around Haywards Heath

Our crews empty tanks and cesspits all over the Haywards Heath area, including Lindfield, Cuckfield, Ardingly, Balcombe, Highbrook, Horsted Keynes, Scaynes Hill, Walstead, Wivelsfield, Ansty, Bolney and Staplefield. Farms and isolated houses between them are covered too, wherever a tanker can reach. See the full Haywards Heath area list.

Other services in Haywards Heath

We look after the whole system, not just one part of it.

Related services

Call 03333 233566

What our customers say

9.84/10

Checkatrade

From 134 reviews · Read them
4.9/5

Google

From 63 reviews · Read them

Scores as of October 2026

★★★★★

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.

John E. Google review
★★★★★

Work carried out professionally as usual, the only company I'd recommend.

Mary M. Google review
Read all our reviews

Free, no-obligation quote

Book a septic tank or cesspit empty in Haywards Heath

Tell us about your tank and we’ll come back with a price and a date. If it’s overflowing, call us instead.

  • Free quotes, one-off or regular emptying
  • Our own crews and tankers
  • Emergency call-outs 24/7
Emergency? 03333 233566

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Questions answered

Septic tank and cesspit questions

Are the villages around Haywards Heath on mains drainage?

The larger ones, such as Lindfield and Cuckfield, are mostly connected. Smaller hamlets and isolated properties often are not, especially around Ardingly, Balcombe, Highbrook and Staplefield. If your water bill has no sewerage charge on it, that’s a good sign your home has a private system.

How big a tanker do you send?

Our tankers range from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons. We choose the size to suit your tank and the access, so tell us about narrow lanes or soft ground when you book.

Can you empty my tank in an emergency?

Yes, we take emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Until we arrive, cut your water use right down: no baths, showers, washing machine or dishwasher, and flush as little as possible. Then call 03333 233566.

Why does my drainage field struggle near the Ouse?

Ground close to the river and its streams is often clay with a high water table, especially in winter. Liquid from the tank has nowhere to soak away, so it pools on the surface or backs up. Emptying on time helps, and a survey will show whether the field needs replacing.

Should I add anything to my septic tank?

Generally no. A healthy tank works on its own bacteria. The best thing you can do is keep wipes, fat, oils and strong chemicals out of it and have it emptied regularly.

Do I need to be home when you come?

Not always. As long as we can reach the tank, the lid is uncovered and any gates are open, we can usually do the job and leave the paperwork. Let us know when you book.

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.

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