CLEARMASTERS
call-outs
4,000 psi
the cause
tankers
in drainage
The basics
What is a jet/vac tanker?
A jet/vac combination tanker does two jobs at once. It jets water at high pressure to break up blockages and silt, and sucks the loosened waste straight up into its tank with a powerful vacuum.
They’re the tankers behind our sewer cleaning and gully and channel drain clearance work, and we use them for pump station emptying too.
We do this work across Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and London, with tankers and engineers in each area most days.
That means the drain is cleared and the waste is taken away in one visit, with nothing left in the chamber and nothing washed further down the system.
How it works
Inside a jet/vac tanker
Hover over or tap the numbers to see how the jetting and vacuum work together.
- 1Clean water tankSupplies the water for high-pressure jetting.
- 2Sludge tankHolds everything the vacuum sucks out, up to 4,000 gallons on our largest tankers.
- 3Vacuum and jetting pumpsThe vacuum pump creates the suction, and the jetting pump delivers water at up to 4,000 psi.
- 4Jetting hose reelCarries the long high-pressure hose that goes down the drain.
- 5Jetting at the manholeThe nozzle breaks up the blockage and washes it back to the manhole.
- 6Vacuum hoseSucks the loosened waste, silt and water straight up into the tanker.
What we use them for
When do you need a jet/vac tanker?
Silted drains and sewers
Removing heavy silt and debris rather than washing it downstream.
Gullies and channels
Emptying gully pots and clearing surface water drains.
Interceptors and grease traps
Removing oil, grease and silt, with the paperwork.
Pump stations and wet wells
Emptying and jetting chambers clean.
Flooding
Removing standing water and silt after storms or bursts.
Planned maintenance
Scheduled cleaning for commercial and managed sites.
Why Clearmasters
Why choose our jet/vac tankers?
Our tankers and trained crews clear, clean and empty in one visit, and all waste goes to licensed facilities with a waste transfer note.
Ask us a questionDay or night
We’re on call 24/7, 365 days a year, for blocked drains and flooding.
We find the cause
A camera check shows why it blocked, so it doesn’t keep happening.
We can fix it properly
Root cutting, lining and repairs by the same team, if the drain needs more than clearing.
Paperwork sorted
A waste transfer note with every load we take away.
What our customers say
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Questions answered
Jet/vac tanker FAQs
What is a jet/vac tanker?
A tanker that combines high-pressure jetting with vacuum suction, so it can break up blockages and silt and remove the waste in one operation.
What size are your tankers?
Our tankers range from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, so we can match the tanker to the access and the size of the job.
When would I need a tanker rather than a van?
For heavy silt, large pipes, gullies, interceptors, pump stations and flooding, where there’s waste to take away. For most domestic blockages, a jetting van is enough.
Where does the waste go?
To licensed facilities for treatment or disposal. You get a waste transfer note for your records.
Do you offer planned maintenance?
Yes. We clean drains, gullies and interceptors on a schedule for businesses, managing agents and developers.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
Related services
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.