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Gully & Channel Drain Clearance

Clearing rainwater gullies, channel drains and silt traps at homes, car parks and commercial sites across Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and London.

Vacuum
tankers
Pipes jetted
clear
Waste transfer
note every time
Registered
waste carrier
24/7
call-outs

The basics

Do my gullies need clearing?

Gullies and channel drains (often called ACO drains) are what stop rainwater sitting on your driveway, yard or car park. Gullies collect water from roofs and hard surfaces, and channel drains catch it across wide areas like driveways and entrances.

Oil and fuel collected by interceptors needs proper disposal, so see oily and contaminated wastewater removal. If a gully is broken rather than blocked, we can repair or replace it.

We do this work across Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and London, with tankers and engineers in each area most days.

Both are designed to catch silt, leaves and grit before they get into the pipes. That's good for the pipes, but it means the gully pots and channels slowly fill up. Once they're full, water can't get away, so it pools, overflows and can find its way into buildings.

Clearing them regularly keeps the water flowing, especially before autumn leaves and winter storms.

How a rainwater soakaway works Rain runs off the roof into a gutter and downpipe, through an inspection chamber that catches silt, then along a pipe to underground soakaway crates wrapped in membrane. A channel drain across the driveway also feeds the soakaway. Water soaks out of the crates into the surrounding ground. 1 2 3 4 5
  1. 1Gutter and downpipeCarry rainwater off the roof, often into a gully at the bottom.
  2. 2Gully or inspection chamberIts pot catches silt, leaves and grit. Once it fills, water backs up. This is the part we empty.
  3. 3Channel drainCatches water across the drive. The channel and its outlet fill with silt over time.
  4. 4Soakaway or sewerWhere the water ends up. Silt that gets past a full gully ends up here.
  5. 5Into the groundWith a soakaway, the water soaks slowly into the surrounding soil.

What we clear

Gullies, channels and more

Yard and road gullies

We empty the silt and debris from the gully pot and jet the outlet pipe clear.

Channel drains

We lift the gratings, clear the channel along its length and flush it through.

Silt traps and catchpits

The chambers that catch silt before it reaches a soakaway or pipe, emptied before they overflow.

Surface water pipes

Where water still won't drain, we jet the pipes and can CCTV survey them to find out why.

Why it matters

What happens if gullies aren’t cleared?

A blocked gully doesn't just mean a puddle. Standing water can get into garages, basements and buildings, wash silt across your property, freeze into ice in winter and, on commercial sites, create a slip hazard for staff and visitors.

Silt that gets past a full gully ends up in the pipes and soakaways beyond it, where it's much harder and more expensive to deal with.

Most domestic gullies are fine with a clean every year or two. Car parks, busy yards and sites with lots of trees usually need it more often.

Signs your gullies need clearing

  • Water pooling around a grate after rain
  • Water draining away slowly
  • Silt, leaves or litter visible in the gully or channel
  • Bad smells from the grate
  • Flooding in the same spot every time it rains
Book a clearance

On the day

What happens when we clear your gullies

  1. We look at the site

    Tell us how many gullies and channels you have, or send us a few photos, and we'll plan the visit.

  2. We empty them out

    We vacuum the silt, leaves and debris from each gully pot and channel with a tanker.

  3. We jet the pipes

    We jet the outlet pipes to make sure water can get away, and check the grates are seated properly.

  4. We report back

    We'll tell you about any damaged grates or pipes. You get a waste transfer note for the waste we remove.

Book a clearance Call 03333 233566

Why Clearmasters

Why choose Clearmasters?

From a single driveway gully to a whole business park, we'll turn up with the right kit, clear everything properly and tell you honestly about anything we find.

Ask us a question

Always on hand

Routine visits booked at a time that suits you, and 24/7 call-outs when something goes wrong.

Advice from people who know

Our office team can talk you through your system, your options and the rules, or simply get you booked in.

Trained, friendly engineers

Our engineers work with minimal disruption and are happy to answer any questions while they're with you.

Planned maintenance

Regular visits for commercial sites, timed before the leaves fall and the winter rain arrives.

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 September 2026

Read all our reviews

Questions answered

Gully clearance FAQs

How do I know if my gully needs clearing?

Water pooling around the grate, slow drainage after rain, bad smells and flooding in the same spot each time it rains are all signs your gully needs clearing.

What makes a gully block up?

Gullies fill up with silt, leaves, grit, litter and oil washed off the surfaces around them. They're designed to catch it, but once the pot is full, water can't get away.

What does your gully clearance service include?

We vacuum the silt and debris from the gully pot, jet the outlet pipe, check the grate and its seating, take the waste away properly and tell you about the gully's condition.

How often should gullies be cleared?

Most domestic gullies need clearing every year or two. Car parks, commercial yards and sites with lots of trees usually need it at least once a year, and some more often. We can set up a regular visit for you.

Why is regular gully clearance important?

It prevents flooding, stops water standing on driveways, roads and car parks, keeps silt out of your pipes and soakaways, and avoids smells and slip hazards.

What should I prepare before you arrive?

Please make sure the tanker can get near the gullies, with cars and other obstructions moved off the grates. On commercial or busy sites, let us know about any traffic management or site rules.

Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.

Related services

Soakaway MaintenanceWhere your rainwater goes after the gully. High Pressure JettingClearing silt from surface water pipes. Flood Water RemovalWhen the rain has already got in. Drainage SurveysFind out why a drain keeps flooding.

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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