What Drain Doctor does

Drain Doctor is the UK's largest domestic and commercial drainage and emergency plumbing company, operating a franchise network of 60+ local locations with hundreds of engineers delivering 24/7, 365-day service. The company serves both residential homeowners (blocked drains, toilet unblocking, leaking pipes, emergency plumbing, shower and tap repairs) and commercial customers across hospitality, food production, local government, facilities management, education, healthcare, property management, construction, and manufacturing. Its commercial offering has expanded beyond reactive unblocking into Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), Key Accounts with dedicated account management, grease trap and FOG management, rainwater harvesting, flood prevention, and large-diameter CCTV surveys.

Name

Drain Doctor

Legal name

Dwyer (UK Franchising) Limited

Website

https://draindoctor.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Drain Doctor is a UK franchise network operating 60+ locations that provides 24/7 residential and commercial drainage and emergency plumbing services to homeowners, enterprises, and public-sector customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plumbing & Drainage Services

NAICS

Septic Tank and Related Services (562991), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Drain Clog Removal & Hydro-Jetting (HSAOAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drain Cleaning (Residential) (HSAOABAA), Drain Cleaning (Commercial/Industrial) (HSAOABAB), Sump Pump & Sewage Ejector Pump Service (HSAOABAM)

Keywords

• Drain unblocking services
• Emergency plumbing repairs
• Commercial drainage maintenance
• CCTV drain surveys
• No-dig drain relining

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Emergency Plumbing Services: Revenue from emergency call-outs and repairs including drain unblocking, toilet unblocking, leaking pipe repairs, burst pipe repairs, and shower repairs. Free call-outs offered with quoted pricing for work.
2. Planned Maintenance Contracts: Recurring revenue from Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) agreements for commercial clients, providing scheduled inspections and servicing to prevent drainage and plumbing issues.
3. Key Account Services: Dedicated account management services for commercial customers including priority support, custom reports, and personalised service contracts tailored to business needs.
4. Drainage Installations: One-time revenue from new drainage system installation, replacement drainpipes, and drainage infrastructure projects for both residential and commercial properties.
5. Tanker Services: Waste removal services using vacuum tankers for septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, and cesspits. Can include rolling/recurring emptying service agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drain Doctor provides 24/7 drainage and emergency plumbing services across the UK through a franchise network of local engineers covering residential customers and commercial businesses. Its service portfolio spans drain unblocking and jetting, CCTV drain surveys, drain repair and no-dig relining, off-mains drainage and tanker waste removal, and emergency plumbing (leaking pipes, toilets, taps, showers, water mains), with commercial offerings including planned preventative maintenance, grease trap and FOG management, and dedicated Key Accounts account management.

Product overview

Drain Doctor is the UK's largest domestic and commercial drainage and emergency plumbing company, operating a franchise model with over 60 locations nationwide. The company offers a unified service portfolio comprising residential drainage services (drain unblocking, toilet unblocking, drain repair, CCTV drain surveys, drain clearing and jetting, drainage installations, off mains drainage, pump installation, tanker services, and drain relining), residential plumbing services (emergency plumbing, toilet repairs, tap repairs, leaking pipe repairs, plumbing repairs, shower repairs, and water mains repairs), and commercial services (commercial drainage, commercial plumbing, commercial CCTV, planned preventative maintenance, pump maintenance, grease trap and FOG management, flood prevention, gutter cleaning, rainwater harvesting, large diameter CCTV surveys, sewage treatment plants, tanker services, and key accounts management). The company operates 24/7 with free call-outs and no-obligation quotes, serving both homeowners and commercial businesses across multiple sectors including hospitality, healthcare, education, local authorities, property management, property sales, construction, and manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drain Unblocking Fast, reliable residential drain unblocking service using professional equipment and proven techniques to identify the cause and rectify blockages, restoring normal flow and preventing repeat issues.
• Toilet Unblocking Professional toilet unblocking service that quickly identifies and clears blockages, whether from paper build-up or deeper drainage issues, using industrial-grade equipment for residential customers.
• Drain Repair Professional drain repair services for damaged, leaking, or collapsed drains using modern techniques and specialist equipment for long-lasting residential results, including no-dig trenchless methods.
• CCTV Drain Survey CCTV drain surveys using state-of-the-art cameras to identify blockages, leaks, damaged pipes, root ingress, and corrosion before they become major residential issues.
• Drain Clearing and Jetting Professional residential drain clearing and high-pressure water jetting services using Water Jetting Association approved equipment to restore flow quickly and prevent recurring blockages.
• Drainage Installations Quality drainpipe installation, pipe lining and repair, and drainage mapping services for new residential properties or replacement drain pipes for existing systems.
• Off Mains Drainage Professional off-mains drainage services for residential properties including sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, and cesspits, with advice on General Binding Rules compliance.
• Pump Installation Services Pump installation and servicing to remove wastewater safely and efficiently for residential customers, moving water from low points of homes upwards, with routine servicing and prompt repairs.
• Tanker Services Specialist tanker services to remove, transport, and dispose of waste from residential septic tanks, sewage treatment plants, and cesspits using professional vacuum tankers, with rolling/recurring emptying agreements available.
• Drain Relining Expert residential drain relining using modern no-dig technology to repair cracked, leaking, or damaged pipes by inserting a flexible liner coated with durable resin, cured to form a seamless new pipe within the old one.
• Emergency Plumbing 24/7 emergency plumbing services for residential customers covering damaged pipes, leaks, overflowing toilets and sinks, blocked drains, low water pressure, and flooding, with free call-outs, fixed quotes, and no extra fees for out-of-hours work.
• Toilet Repairs Professional toilet repair services for residential customers including unblocking, replacement parts, and toilet installation for broken ball valves, leaks, and serious blockages.
• Tap Repairs Fast and effective residential tap repairs for leaking or faulty kitchen and bathroom taps, fixing worn washers, damaged valves, corrosion, and internal faults.
• Leaking Pipe Repairs Professional leaking pipe repairs for residential customers covering slow leaks, burst pipes, and hidden leaks behind walls or under floors, using leak detection equipment.
• Plumbing Repairs 24/7 residential emergency plumbing support for leaking taps, burst pipes, blocked sinks or showers, and broken water pumps with no additional fees for out-of-hours work.
• Shower Repairs Professional shower fixes for residential customers covering leaking showerheads, blocked shower drains, low water pressure, and temperature fluctuations using state-of-the-art equipment.
• Water Mains Repairs Emergency residential water mains repair services for burst water main repair, water moling, CCTV surveys, and leak detection using advanced diagnostics and no-dig methods.
• Commercial Drainage Professional commercial drainage services for businesses including drain unblocking, toilet unblocking, drain repair, urinal maintenance, CCTV surveys, grease management, and drainage installations.
• Commercial Plumbing Commercial plumbing services for businesses including toilet repairs, tap repairs, leaking pipes, bathroom maintenance, pressure testing, installations, shower repairs, and water mains repairs.
• Commercial CCTV Commercial CCTV drain inspections for businesses including drain surveys, pre-purchase surveys, pre-build surveys, drainage mapping, flood investigation, and gutter inspections.
• Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) Bespoke Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) agreements for commercial clients covering drainage, plumbing, FOGs, septic tanks, flooding, guttering, and all-in-one maintenance programmes on a recurring basis.
• Commercial Pump Maintenance and Installation Commercial pump installation and maintenance services for clean water and wastewater pumping systems at business premises, including regular maintenance and anti-flood services.
• Grease Trap and FOG Management Commercial FOG management for food service and hospitality businesses including grease trap cleaning, high-pressure drain jetting, FOG compliance inspections, planned maintenance programmes, and grease trap installation.
• Flood Prevention Commercial flood prevention services for businesses including proactive anti-flood solutions, pump maintenance, and anti-flood valve installation.
• Gutter Cleaning Professional commercial gutter cleaning services to reduce the risk of long-term damage to gutters, downspouts, and surrounding roofing on business premises.
• Rainwater Harvesting Commercial rainwater harvesting solutions to help business owners save, store, and utilise rainwater at their premises.
• Large Diameter CCTV Surveys Specialist CCTV services for large diameter pipes and sewers, intended for industrial sites and major commercial infrastructure.
• Sewage Treatment Plants and Septic Tanks (Commercial) Commercial sewage treatment plant and septic tank services including servicing, maintenance, installation, and emptying for business sites.
• Commercial Tanker Services Fast, professional commercial tanker services for waste removal, drainage clearance, and emergency response supporting commercial sites.
• Key Accounts Service Tailored drainage and plumbing solutions for key commercial accounts with priority support, dedicated account management, custom reports, and IT integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15-minute response time commitment for customer enquiries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Neighborly (Dwyer Franchising LLC)coreOthersParent company ownership. Drain Doctor is owned by Dwyer (UK Franchising) Limited, which is part of Dwyer Franchising LLC, a US-based franchising company operating under the Neighborly brand. Neighborly is headquartered in Texas, USA.
• EquanscoreOthersCommercial customer and facilities management partner. Equans featured in commercial client logos on Drain Doctor homepage, indicating an ongoing commercial services relationship.
• Leeds City CouncilcoreOthersLocal government customer. Leeds City Council listed as commercial client on Drain Doctor website, indicating municipal drainage and plumbing services provision.
• HovisminorOthersCommercial customer in the food production sector. Hovis bakery brand listed as a client requiring commercial drainage services.
• McDonald'scoreOthersMajor hospitality franchise customer. McDonald's UK restaurants require regular commercial drainage and plumbing maintenance.
• Rainbow RestorationminorOthersRestoration company partner. Rainbow Restoration listed on commercial partners page, indicating referral or collaborative relationship.
• Simba SmobyminorOthersManufacturing partner customer. Simba Smoby toy manufacturing facility uses Drain Doctor for commercial drainage services.
• FranchiseescoreOthersNetwork of independent business owners operating as Drain Doctor franchises across 60+ UK locations. Each franchisee is responsible for their own data protection compliance and operational service delivery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pimlico Plumbers: London-headquartered plumbing, drainage and emergency home services brand offering 24/7 service with employed (rather than franchised) engineers. Comparable premium service positioning and emergency response model.
• Aspect: UK national home maintenance and repair provider covering plumbing, drainage, heating and electrical trades. Comparable multi-trade service model serving both residential and commercial customers across the UK.
• Dyno-Rod: UK drainage specialist offering 24/7 drain unblocking, CCTV surveys and commercial drainage services. Directly comparable national-scale emergency drainage franchise model; owned by British Gas/Centrica, giving it comparable resources to Drain Doctor.
• Metro Rod: UK-wide drainage and plumbing service franchise with national coverage of emergency drain unblocking, CCTV surveys and commercial maintenance. Closest like-for-like franchise competitor to Drain Doctor in the UK drainage market.
• Mr. Rooter Plumbing: US-based plumbing and drainage franchise owned by Neighborly — Drain Doctor's sister brand under the same parent. Directly comparable franchise model, service portfolio and Neighborly operating playbook.

Broad incumbents

• Homeserve: Large UK home emergency cover and repair provider (plumbing, drainage, heating, electrical). Overlaps Drain Doctor's emergency plumbing/drainage service but is broader in scope and operates primarily through insurance/warranty distribution.
• British Gas Homecare / Local Heroes: National energy and home services incumbent offering plumbing, drainage and heating cover through Homecare contracts and Local Heroes platform. Significant overlap with Drain Doctor's emergency plumbing/drainage offering, backed by brand and customer base at scale.
• Roto-Rooter: Largest US plumbing and drainage service franchise with national coverage of emergency drain cleaning, plumbing and water damage restoration. Comparable service portfolio and franchise economics, though operating in the US market.

Emerging players

• Pro Drainage: UK drainage and plumbing services provider offering CCTV surveys, drain unblocking and commercial maintenance. Smaller regional competitor with overlapping service mix.
• Drain 247: UK specialist drainage contractor offering emergency drain unblocking, CCTV surveys and commercial drainage maintenance. Partial overlap with Drain Doctor's core services, focused on the drainage niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DrainDoctorLtd
• Xx.com/DrainDoctorLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drain-doctor-limited

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drain Doctor