Drainage vs Plumbing: What’s the Difference and Who Should You Call?

Drainage&Plumbing Ltd

16/06/2025

Drainage Services

Drainage vs Plumbing: What’s the Difference and Who to Call for Help

When you face a water problem at home or work, you might wonder whether you need a plumber or a drainage specialist. In many situations, people instinctively call a plumber for anything involving water.drainage vs plumbing. However, not every problem is strictly plumbing. Some issues are better handled by drainage experts.

Understanding the difference between drainage vs plumbing is essential for every property owner, whether you manage a small home or a large commercial building. By recognising which system is causing the issue, you can contact the right professional straight away. This not only saves valuable time but also helps reduce costs and prevents unnecessary call-outs. In addition, it can significantly lower the risk of further damage, as the correct specialist will arrive prepared with the right tools and expertise from the very beginning. In South East England, where both households and businesses rely heavily on well-maintained water systems, knowing exactly who to call can make the difference between a quick, affordable fix and a prolonged, expensive repair.

This detailed guide will explain:

What plumbing is and the types of work it covers
What drainage is and the problems it solves
The key differences between the two
Why both are important for a healthy property
How Drainage & Plumbing LTD can help with both

What Is Plumbing?

Plumbing is the system that brings fresh water into your property, distributes it to various fixtures, and removes wastewater from those fixtures before it reaches the main drainage system.drainage vs plumbing.

Plumbing is a complex system made up of pipes, fittings, valves, tanks, and appliances, all working together to control the supply, heating, and distribution of water. In practical terms, a plumber’s role is to ensure that water reaches every required location within a property — whether it’s a tap, shower, or appliance — in the correct quantity, at the desired temperature, and with the right pressure. By managing these elements effectively, they help maintain comfort, hygiene, and efficiency in both residential and commercial buildings.

Main Responsibilities of Plumbing

1. Fresh Water Supply
Plumbers play a vital role in installing and maintaining the network of pipes that carry clean, drinkable water from the main supply directly into your property. In many cases, this work involves more than just initial installation. For example, they may be called upon to locate and repair hidden leaks, replace damaged or corroded sections of pipe, and ensure that the entire water supply system is operating safely and efficiently. By addressing these issues promptly, plumbers help prevent water wastage, protect property from damage, and maintain a consistent flow of fresh water throughout the building.drainage vs plumbing.

2. Water Distribution
Once water enters the building, plumbing controls how it flows to taps, showers, toilets, and appliances. This covers both hot and cold water lines.

3. Fixture Installation and Repair
Plumbers fit sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, and water heaters. They also repair or replace faulty fixtures, taps, and valves.

4. Water Heating Systems
Plumbing includes installing and servicing boilers, combi-boilers, and hot water cylinders. This ensures you have hot water when you need it.

5. Leak Detection (Internal)
Plumbers locate and repair leaks inside the property, such as those in walls, under floors, or within supply pipes.

6. Pipe Repair and Replacement
Plumbers replace corroded or damaged pipes and fix burst pipes quickly to prevent flooding.

7. Appliance Connections
Plumbers are also responsible for connecting household and commercial appliances that need a direct water supply. This includes washing machines, refrigerators with built-in water dispensers or ice makers, and a variety of other water-fed equipment. By ensuring that each appliance is properly installed, tested, and securely connected to the plumbing system, they help prevent leaks, improve efficiency, and extend the lifespan of the equipment.drainage vs plumbing.

What Is Drainage?

Drainage focuses on removing wastewater and rainwater from your property. While plumbing brings water in, drainage takes it away. Most drainage systems are underground and less visible than plumbing systems.

A drainage system carries used water from sinks, showers, toilets, and appliances to the public sewer or a septic tank. It also manages rainwater to prevent flooding and damage.drainage vs plumbing.

Main Responsibilities of Drainage

1. Wastewater Removal
Drainage systems take wastewater from your internal plumbing fixtures and transport it away from the building.

2. Clearing Blocked Drains
Drainage experts remove blockages caused by hair, grease, food waste, foreign objects, or tree roots.

3. Drain Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular cleaning using high-pressure water jetting prevents blockages and keeps drains running efficiently.

4. Drain Repairs
Specialists fix cracked, collapsed, or misaligned pipes, which can lead to leaks and bad odours.

5. CCTV Drain Surveys
Using cameras, drainage experts inspect pipes to locate damage, blockages, or root intrusion without digging.drainage vs plumbing.

6. Removing Fat, Oil, and Grease (FOG)
In many cases, especially within commercial kitchens, fat, oil, and grease — often referred to as FOG — can gradually accumulate inside the drainage system. Over time, this build-up hardens and narrows the pipes, which can eventually cause persistent and stubborn blockages. As a result, trained drainage specialists use targeted cleaning methods, such as high-pressure water jetting, to break down and remove these deposits. In addition, they provide preventative maintenance advice and tailored solutions to help kitchen operators avoid recurring problems in the future.

7. External Drainage Systems
This includes maintaining gutters, downpipes, and storm drains to manage rainwater.

Drainage vs Plumbing: Key Differences

While both deal with water and pipes, drainage vs plumbing have very different roles.

Feature	Plumbing	Drainage
Main Function	Bringing clean water in and distributing it	Removing wastewater and rainwater
Typical Problems	Leaky taps, burst pipes, low pressure, water heater faults	Blocked drains, bad smells, collapsed pipes, flooding
Tools Used	Wrenches, pipe cutters, soldering tools	High-pressure jetting, CCTV cameras, drain rods
Location of Work	Inside kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms	Underground pipes, manholes, outdoor drains
Water Type	Clean water and initial wastewater	Wastewater and stormwater

In simple terms:

Plumbing = water in.
Drainage = water out.

Why It’s Important to Know the Difference

Recognising the difference between drainage vs plumbing helps you:

Get faster service – The right specialist brings the right tools.
Save money – Avoid unnecessary call-outs and misdiagnoses.
Prevent further damage – Quick action can stop problems from worsening.
Get specialist expertise – Drainage and plumbing require different skills and equipment.

Drainage & Plumbing LTD – Experts in Both

Most companies specialise in either plumbing or drainage, but Drainage & Plumbing LTD offers complete solutions for both. This means one call gets you the right help, whether water is coming in or going out.

We work across South East England, serving areas such as Croydon, Sutton, Wallington, Coulsdon, Banstead, Bromley, Mitcham, Epsom, Reigate, Redhill, Leatherhead, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Richmond, Caterham, Guildford, Crawley, and Haywards Heath.

Our Drainage Services

Blocked & Broken Drains – Fast diagnosis and repair using CCTV and high-pressure water jetting.
FOG Removal – Safe removal of fat, oil, and grease build-up.
Drain Cleaning – Preventative maintenance for clear, free-flowing drains.
Drain Repairs – Fixing structural damage to underground pipes.
CCTV Drain Surveys – Detailed inspections to pinpoint issues.
Leak Detection (Drainage) – Finding hidden leaks before they cause damage.
Toilet Blockages – Quick, clean, and professional unblocking.drainage vs plumbing

Our Plumbing Services

General Repairs – Fixing leaks, dripping taps, and minor faults.
Fixture Installation – Installing sinks, showers, baths, and taps.
Water Pressure Solutions – Diagnosing and fixing low water pressure.
Water Heater Maintenance – Ensuring reliable hot water.
Bathroom & Kitchen Plumbing – From tap repairs to full installations.

Why Choose Us?

24/7 Emergency Service – Day or night, we’re ready to help.
Certified Technicians – Skilled, experienced, and fully trained.
Latest Technology – From CCTV surveys to jetting machines.
Transparent Pricing – No hidden fees.
Fast Response – We aim to arrive within 60 minutes.
Proven Track Record – Over 5900 successful projects completed.

How We Work

Book a Visit – Call, email, or WhatsApp us any time.
Fast Response – We aim to be with you within an hour for emergencies.
Problem Solved – We diagnose and fix the problem quickly and professionally.drainage vs plumbing.