Commercial and Domestic Soil Stack Cleaning
DrainBoss provide soil stack cleaning service for both commercial building customers and domestic household customers.
What is a soil vent? Stack Pipe
A soil vent pipe is a pipe that takes all the waste from the toilet, bath, basin, sink and all other types of soil wastes to an allocated drain usually located externally but also vents above the house or commercial building in a safe way to make sure there are no un-wanted fumes and gases that filter back inside the property.
How do waste and soil stack pipes get blocked?
Often, the reasons a horizontal waste pipe will block can be from non-flushable items such as wet wipes, as well as the common culprit of fat, oil and grease. Symptoms of a blocked soil stack are:
- Toilets not flowing when flushed
- Sinks or baths not emptying efficiently
Vertical soil stack pipes can also get blocked up with these items and also uratic salt can build up creating scale and narrow the soil stack pipe’s diameter. Blockages are typically worse at the bottom of a soil stack pipe.
These blockages can appear as:
- Water bursting from the joints of the soil stack pipe
- Overflowing dirty water from the bottom of the pipe
How to solve a blocked soil stack
To solve a blocked soil vent pipe our experienced engineers will first make entry into the stack pipe usually via a rodding eye/access point. If your stack does not have one we will cut into the stack pipe to gain access but also to enable us to fit a rodding eye.
We have various methods to clear and maintain a stack pipe.
Cable Machine -
There are both manual and an electric drain auger/cable machine. A manual auger is one that you crank by hand through the blockage and pull it back out. With an electric drain auger, you’re able to use machine power to push it through a blockage and pull it out. With long enough cables it is sometimes used to cable down a soil vent pipe.
High Pressure Water Jetting -
In many situations high pressure water jetting is one of the most effective ways of clearing or descaling a stack. We have varying jetting equipment with different ranges of pressures. Our 10,000 psi jetting unit is often useful on commercial properties with multiple stacks. It is also beneficial to maintain stack pipes to ensure no scale or rust builds up thus preventing blockages.
Milling -
Drain milling, a new modern technology allows us to remove any potential blockages from your drainage system including stack pipes it allows water to flow fluently. The innovative equipment has a special function that targets the affected area
Soil stack milling prevents the need to excavate or renew pipes that are repeatedly blocked, Drain Milling can help to remove the blockage and descale without having to completely renew the pipe by targeting the specific areas with issues.
How much does it cost it de-scale a stack pipe?
Our rates vary for each individual project depending on numerous factors however we can advise on the cost prior to any work being carried out.
If you are having problems with soil stack blockages, whether in a large, commercial premises, or a domestic dwelling, call DrainBoss on 03302235789. We cover Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, South London and parts of Kent and will be happy to discuss your problem, advise the best solution and provide an estimate.
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A soil stack pipe is the main vertical pipe that carries wastewater from toilets, sinks, baths and other appliances safely into the drainage system. It also allows harmful gases and air pressure to vent away from the property properly. If the system becomes restricted or blocked, wastewater may begin backing up into the building or leaking from pipe joints. Keeping the stack clean and functioning correctly is essential for hygiene, drainage performance and preventing unpleasant odours. Regular maintenance can also help avoid larger structural plumbing issues later on.
There are several warning signs that may indicate the stack pipe is becoming restricted internally. Toilets may flush slowly, sinks and baths can struggle to drain, and unpleasant smells may begin appearing around the property. In more serious cases, dirty water may overflow from external pipe joints or collect around the base of the stack itself. Gurgling noises and repeated drainage problems across multiple fixtures can also point to restricted vertical pipework. Early investigation helps prevent the blockage from developing into a more serious system failure.
Most stack pipe issues develop gradually due to the build-up of waste materials inside the system. Wet wipes, grease, fat deposits and non-flushable items are among the most common causes of restrictions in residential and commercial buildings. In vertical systems, uric scale and mineral deposits can slowly narrow the internal diameter of the pipe over time. Older systems may also experience corrosion or rust accumulation internally, especially in cast iron pipework. Without proper cleaning, these restrictions can eventually lead to complete blockage or overflow.
Professional engineers use a range of specialist methods depending on the severity and location of the blockage. Mechanical cable machines are commonly used to break through compacted debris and restore flow within the pipework. High-pressure water cleaning may then be used to remove scale, grease and residue from the internal pipe walls more thoroughly. In severe cases, specialist milling equipment can remove hardened build-up without the need for excavation or full pipe replacement. The correct method is selected after assessing the condition and accessibility of the system.
Yes, preventative maintenance can significantly reduce the risk of recurring blockages and expensive emergency repairs. Regular cleaning removes grease, scale and debris before they build up enough to restrict flow throughout the system. Preventative servicing is especially beneficial for commercial properties, flats and buildings with high daily usage. Routine maintenance also allows engineers to identify early signs of wear, corrosion or structural defects before they become major issues. Keeping the system clean helps improve reliability, hygiene and the overall lifespan of the drainage network.