What are the best drain cleaning tools for your trade business?

For a professional drain cleaning business in the UK, having the right tools is crucial for handling drain blockages effectively. But, which tools do you need? In this guide, we’ve put together a list of the best drain cleaning tools for you.

Whether you’re starting a new drain cleaning business or expanding your existing one, it’s important to understand what drain cleaning tools are out there.

So, keep reading to find out which tools are available and how to choose the right ones for your business.

Best drain cleaning tools in the UK

To help you decide which tools you need to clean and unblock drains, here are some of the best drain cleaning tools commonly used by professionals.

Drain jetting tools

High-pressure drain jetters use water to break up blockages and clean the inside of pipes.

They’re ideal for clearing stubborn blockages, grease, fat, and debris from large drains and sewer lines.

Depending on the scale of jobs you handle, here are some of the drain jetting tools you might use:

• Portable jetters are compact, mobile units for smaller residential jobs

• Vehicle-mounted jetters offer more power for use on large-scale drain cleaning

• Electric jetters are ideal for indoor drain cleaning as they have no fumes

• Hydraulic jetters are popular for high-demand industrial drain cleaning tasks

Typically, the larger and more powerful the drain jetting tool is the more it will cost. Therefore, it’s good to do your research on makes and models within your budget.

CCTV drain inspection cameras

One of the most useful pieces of equipment for professional drain cleaning is a CCTV drain inspection camera.

By using a CCTV drain camera you can inspect the inside of drains to locate blockages, cracks, or other issues without having to excavate.

CCTV cameras give you a clear view of the inside of the drain so that you can diagnose problems before taking action. This is particularly useful for any jobs with underground drains.

Tools for lifting drain covers

When it comes to professional drain cleaning, being able to safely and efficiently lift drain covers is an important part of the job. But, which tools do it best?

Here are some of the best tools for lifting drain covers that are designed to handle heavy, often awkwardly positioned covers:

• Manhole cover lifting keys – Available in various shapes and sizes to fit different keyhole slots and lifting eyes on drain covers

• Magnetic drain cover lifters – Ideal for metal drain covers without keyholes these powerful magnets grip metal covers and allow you to lift them easily

• Hydraulic manhole cover lifters – For large and heavy drain covers that are difficult to lift manually, hydraulic lifters are perfect for the job

• Manhole cover lifting trolleys – Designed to lift covers using leverage and then wheel them out of the way

• Drain cover lifting clamps – They provide a strong grip and can be used with other lifting mechanisms

• Drain cover lifting shovels – Specifically designed with a wedge-shaped end to pry open covers that are flush with the surrounding ground

It helps to have a combination of the above tools for lifting drain covers to make sure you're prepared for a wide range of drain scenarios.

Slot drain cleaning tools

A slot drain cleaning tool is specifically designed to clean narrow or shallow trench drains, otherwise known as slot drains.

These drains are typically used in areas like car parks, driveways, and commercial kitchens – where surface water needs to be efficiently drained.

Features of an effective slot drain cleaning tool include:

• A long and thin design that allows it to fit into the narrow slot of the drain

• Flexible rods or brushes that can be inserted into the slot to dislodge debris

• Water jet attachments (optional) to flush out dirt and blockages using high-pressure water

If you find yourself dealing with narrow or restricted drain openings, you’ll want to invest in slot drain cleaning tools.

Drain rodding tools

A decent drain rod set is a must-have for any professional drain cleaning business in the UK.

These flexible rods can be manually screwed together to reach and dislodge debris. They’re particularly effective for outdoor and underground drainage systems.

When buying drain rodding tools, here are a few points to consider:

• Choose rods that are flexible but strong enough to manoeuvre around bends

• Make sure the rods have a reliable interlocking system to prevent them from coming apart in the drain

• You’ll want rods of various lengths so that you can reach drains of different depths

• Go for rods made from a durable material, like polypropylene or steel

• Different rod attachments will help you tackle different types of drain blockages

• Be prepared for some physical work, especially on stubborn blockages

For recommendations of specific brands and models of drain rodding tools, speak to your local trade equipment suppliers.

You might also want to check out our guide on the best places to buy tools.

Other drain unblocking tools

Here are some of the other tools you might want to buy to help you when unblocking drains:

• Plumbing snakes (also known as drain augers) are coiled metal cables used to deal with medium to large blockages in domestic and commercial pipes

• Inflatable drain cleaners (or drain bladders) build pressure behind the blockage and force it through the pipe

• Chemical drain cleaners dissolve grease, hair, and organic build-up in pipes – but should only be used when mechanical methods don’t work

You’ll often find that the more drain cleaning work you do, the quicker you’ll know which drain cleaning tools you’ll need for the job.

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How to choose the right drain cleaning tools

Buying drain cleaning tools is an investment for your business, so you want to make sure you’re spending wisely.

To help you pick the right tools, here are some key considerations for choosing drain cleaning tools:

• Pipe size and material – Different tools are suited to different pipe sizes and materials

• Power supply – Some tools work manually while others require electrical power or water pressure

• Portability – For ease of use, you’ll often want to use portable equipment like electric drain snakes and compact jetting tools

• Health and safety – Make sure that all the drain cleaning tools you use comply with UK health and safety regulations (especially high-pressure water jetters and chemicals)

• Budget – The price of tools can vary widely but we always recommend investing in the best quality tools that you can afford

When choosing tools, it pays to do your homework. That way you can be confident that you’re buying the best drain cleaning tools for you and your business.

Insurance for your drain cleaning tools

Having the right tradesperson insurance is important to protect you and your business.

If you’ve invested in professional drain cleaning tools, it’s important to have tools insurance to cover them in the event of theft or damage.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a guide to talk through everything you need to know about tools insurance:

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FAQs

Which are the best drain tools for sewer cleaning equipment?

When cleaning sewers, you'll need heavy-duty drain cleaning tools to do the job. Here are some of the best drain tools for sewer cleaning equipment:

• High-powered sewer jetters

• Heavy-duty drain rods

• CCTV drain inspection cameras

• Mechanical plumbing snakes

• Drain cover lifters

You want to make sure that you use tools that are suitable for more industrial-level cleaning and that can help keep sewers running smoothly.

What are the best storm drain cleaning tools?

If you’re hired to clean a storm drain, you’ll most likely want to use a combination of the following tools:

• Drain rods

• High-pressure jet washer

• Plumbing snake

• CCTV drain inspection camera

The exact tools you’ll need will depend on the location and severity of the blockage in the storm drain.