Tanker Services
Leeds & Yorkshire
Recyclers, 4,000-litre tankers, and jet vacs — the heavy-duty fleet for long-distance jetting, root removal, gully cleaning, and new-build site cleans. Up to 150 metres of hose. 24/7, no call out fee.
Heavy-Duty Tanker Services Done Properly
When a standard jetting van is not enough — because the run is too long, the blockage too severe, or the volume of waste too great — our tanker fleet steps in. We operate recyclers, 4,000-litre tankers, and jet vacs across Leeds and West Yorkshire, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our tankers carry up to 150 metres of hose, making them the right tool for long-distance jetting, deep root removal, large-scale gully cleaning, and new-build site cleans where standard equipment simply cannot reach or handle the volume.
Whether it is a blocked main sewer on a commercial site, a gully network on a new housing development, or a large-scale industrial drain clean, our tanker fleet has the capacity and reach to complete the job in a single visit.
Our Tanker Fleet
Recycler Units
Our recycler tankers are built for continuous, high-volume jetting operations. Unlike a standard jetter that must stop and empty when its water supply runs low, a recycler filters and recirculates the water it uses — meaning the jetting never has to stop. This makes recyclers the right tool for long, uninterrupted drain runs and large-scale commercial cleans where downtime is not an option.
Recyclers are particularly effective for root removal on long drain runs, where sustained jetting pressure over a significant distance is needed to cut through and flush out root masses. With up to 150 metres of hose, our recyclers reach blockages that no standard van-mounted jetter can touch.
Max Hose
150 metres
Best For
Long runs & root removal
4,000-Litre Tankers
Our 4,000-litre tankers combine high-pressure jetting with large-capacity waste storage — the right combination for jobs where significant volumes of liquid waste, silt, or debris need to be removed from site. A standard jetting van clears the blockage but leaves the waste in the drain; our tankers jet and remove simultaneously.
These units are ideal for septic tank emptying, cesspit emptying, large inspection chamber cleans, and any job where the volume of waste exceeds what a smaller unit can handle. The 4,000-litre capacity means fewer trips off site to empty, keeping the job moving efficiently.
Tank Capacity
4,000 litres
Best For
High-volume waste removal
Jet Vac Units
Jet vac units combine high-pressure water jetting with simultaneous high-powered vacuuming in a single pass. The jetter breaks up and dislodges the blockage or debris; the vacuum removes it from the drain at the same time. This makes jet vacs the most efficient tool for gully cleaning, silt removal, and new-build site cleans where large quantities of debris need to be cleared quickly.
On new-build housing and commercial developments, construction debris, concrete slurry, and silt routinely enter the drainage system during the build process. Left in place, this debris causes blockages and structural damage. Our jet vac units clear it efficiently before handover, ensuring the drainage system is clean and fully functional from day one.
Best For
Gully cleaning & site cleans
What Our Tankers Handle
Long-Distance Jetting
With up to 150 metres of hose, our tankers reach blockages deep in long commercial and infrastructure drain runs that no standard van-mounted jetter can access. Ideal for main sewers, large commercial sites, and highway drainage.
Root Removal
Tree root ingress on long drain runs requires sustained jetting pressure over a significant distance. Our recycler units deliver continuous jetting without stopping, cutting through and flushing out root masses that shorter equipment cannot reach.
Gully Cleaning
Road gullies, car park drainage, and surface water networks cleaned using jet vac units — jetting and vacuuming simultaneously for fast, efficient clearance. Ideal for local authorities, housing associations, and commercial property managers.
New-Build Site Cleans
Construction debris, concrete slurry, and silt cleared from new drainage systems before handover. Our jet vac units ensure the drainage network on new housing and commercial developments is clean and fully functional from day one.
High-Volume Waste Removal
Septic tanks, cesspits, large inspection chambers, and industrial sumps emptied using our 4,000-litre tankers. The high capacity means fewer off-site trips and faster job completion.
Industrial Drain Cleans
Large-scale drain cleaning for industrial sites, food processing facilities, and manufacturing plants where standard equipment cannot handle the volume or the nature of the waste. Our tanker fleet is built for the most demanding commercial and industrial drainage work.
How It Works
Call or Contact Us
Get in touch 24/7 by phone, WhatsApp, or our online form. We assess the job and deploy the right unit from our fleet — recycler, 4,000-litre tanker, or jet vac.
Fleet Deployment
The right tanker unit arrives on site fully equipped. Up to 150 metres of hose, the correct nozzle configuration, and an experienced operator ready to start immediately.
Jet, Vac, and Clear
We jet, vacuum, and remove — clearing the blockage, debris, or waste in a single efficient operation. Long runs, root masses, gully networks, and high-volume waste are all handled in one visit.
Check and Report
Once the job is complete, we confirm the drainage system is clear and fully functional. We provide a report on completion and advise on any follow-up work or preventative maintenance.
Case Studies
New Housing Development — Full Site Drain Clean Before Handover
The Problem
A major housebuilder contacted us two weeks before handover of a 120-plot housing development in Leeds LS14. During the build, concrete slurry, silt, and construction debris had entered the drainage system across the site. The drainage contractor had signed off the system as installed, but the builder needed it cleaned and verified before the site could be handed over to the housing association.
The Job
We deployed two jet vac units to the site over three days. Working systematically through the drainage network, we jetted and vacuumed every gully, lateral drain, and inspection chamber across the development. The jet vac units cleared significant quantities of concrete slurry and compacted silt that had accumulated during the build — the kind of debris that causes blockages and structural damage within months of occupation if left in place.
The Result
All 120 plots cleared and verified clean. The site was handed over on schedule. The housebuilder now uses us on all new developments in Yorkshire as standard before handover.
Food Processing Plant — Root Ingress at 120 Metres
The Problem
A food processing facility in Bradford reported recurring drain blockages affecting their production floor drainage. Two previous contractors had attended with standard jetting vans and cleared the immediate blockage, but it had returned within weeks each time. The facility could not afford production downtime and needed a permanent solution.
The Job
We attended with our recycler unit. The 150-metre hose reached the root mass at approximately 118 metres into the drain run — well beyond the reach of any standard van-mounted jetter. The recycler delivered continuous jetting pressure without stopping, cutting through and flushing out a substantial root mass that had been growing through a cracked joint for years. A CCTV survey confirmed the entry point, and a patch lining repair was recommended to seal it permanently.
The Result
Root mass fully cleared in a single visit. The patch lining was carried out the following week. The facility has had no recurrence in the 18 months since. The previous contractors had been unable to reach the blockage — the 150-metre hose capacity of our recycler was the difference.
Road Gully Network — 200 Gullies Cleared in Two Days
The Problem
A local authority highways team contacted us after heavy rainfall had caused surface water flooding on a residential estate in Leeds. An inspection revealed that the majority of the road gullies on the estate had silted up significantly over several years of deferred maintenance. Approximately 200 gullies needed cleaning before the next forecast period of heavy rain.
The Job
We deployed two jet vac units to the estate. Working in parallel, the teams systematically cleaned every gully on the network — jetting to break up the compacted silt and vacuuming it out simultaneously. The jet vac units cleared an average of 100 gullies per day, completing the full network in two days.
The Result
All 200 gullies cleaned and verified clear within the two-day window. No surface water flooding was reported during the subsequent rainfall events. The local authority now has us on an annual maintenance contract for the estate.
Industrial Sump and Drainage Network — High-Volume Waste Removal
The Problem
An industrial site in Wakefield contacted us after their on-site drainage network and sump had reached capacity. The sump contained approximately 3,500 litres of contaminated liquid waste and the connecting drain network had partially blocked with silt and industrial debris. The site needed the sump emptied and the drainage network cleared in a single visit to avoid a production shutdown.
The Job
We attended with our 4,000-litre tanker. The tanker emptied the sump in a single pump-out — the 4,000-litre capacity meant no off-site trip was needed mid-job. We then used the tanker's jetting capability to clear the connecting drain network, removing the silt and debris build-up and restoring full flow throughout the system.
The Result
Sump emptied and drainage network cleared in a single four-hour visit. No production shutdown was required. The site now has us on a quarterly maintenance schedule to prevent recurrence.
Related Services
Our tanker fleet works alongside our full range of drainage services. When the tanker clears the immediate problem, we have the equipment and expertise to resolve the underlying cause permanently.
Drain Unblocking
Van-mounted Andy Guest 4 Series jetting for standard blockages — 16 gallons per minute, same-day service.
CCTV Drain Survey
Identify the root cause of recurring blockages after the tanker clears the immediate problem.
Patch Lining & Relining
No-dig repair for the cracked joints and root entry points our tankers expose.
Drain Excavations
Full excavation for collapsed or severely damaged pipes that jetting alone cannot resolve.
Septic Tank Emptying
Scheduled and emergency septic tank emptying using our 4,000-litre tankers.
Commercial Drainage
Full commercial drainage services for sites of any size across Leeds and Yorkshire.
Accreditations & Industry Recognition
Drains First Limited is independently verified and approved across the leading trade directories — giving commercial clients and homeowners alike the confidence to book.
CHAS Elite
CHAS Elite accreditation — the highest level of CHAS certification. Required for local authority contracts, housing association work, and large commercial sites. Our operators are fully trained and our fleet is fully insured.
Checkatrade
Listed and independently reviewed on Checkatrade with verified customer reviews and our full trading history.
Rated People
Verified on Rated People with genuine customer ratings from homeowners and commercial clients across Yorkshire.
TrustATrader
Listed on TrustATrader — background-checked and independently verified customer reviews.
Google Business Profile
4.9-star rating from over 200 genuine customer reviews. Search Drains First Limited to see our full review history.
Yell.com
Listed on Yell.com — one of the UK's largest business directories — for customers across Leeds and Yorkshire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a Tanker? We Will Be There.
No call out fee. Same-day attendance. 24/7 availability. Recyclers, 4,000-litre tankers, and jet vacs — covering Leeds and the whole of West Yorkshire.