Rapid Septic Tank Support Over a Busy Weekend
Imagine finding your septic tank backing up, with wastewater spilling out at the front and back of the property. Now imagine trying to deal with that situation as a landlord, from abroad, over the phone, during a Bank Holiday weekend. This case study shows how a responsive emergency drainage service helped resolve a stressful situation for both those staying at the property and the owner, with fast action on-site and a planned septic tank emptying to fully restore the system.
The Challenge: Emergency Drainage and Septic Tank Failure
For the occupants, the situation quickly became unpleasant. Blocked drains, overflowing waste, and uncertainty around using basic facilities turned into a stressful experience. Outside, multiple traps were overflowing, and inside, use of the toilets was affected.
At the same time, the landlord was managing the issue remotely while on holiday on an island in the North Atlantic. Communicating with the tenants at the property, arranging access, and trying to resolve the issue from a distance added significant pressure. With the problem arising just before a Bank Holiday, securing reliable emergency drainage support quickly was critical. It also became clear early on that a full septic tank emptying would be needed to properly fix the problem.
The Solution: Coordinated Emergency Drainage and Septic Tank Emptying
On the day of the initial call, a Metro Rod engineer attended the site in a tanker to respond to the emergency. On inspection, three blocked traps and an overflowing stack were identified. High-pressure drain jetting was used to clear the blockage, restoring flow through the system. Once cleared, all traps were washed down and cleaned, and dye testing confirmed that both toilets were working as they should.
Although this resolved the immediate issue, it was clear that the septic tank was full and needed to be emptied as soon as possible. However, the tanker on site didn’t have the capacity to remove the full volume. Despite the Bank Holiday weekend, arrangements were quickly made for a return visit with a larger tanker, supported by clear communication between the landlord overseas, those at the property, and the Metro Rod Edinburgh team.
On Bank Holiday Monday, a team returned with a tanker and an additional engineer to carry out the septic tank emptying. The tank was located behind bushes, so access was limited and required more resources. The tank was fully emptied within the appointment window, removing a full load of waste. The area was left clean and tidy, with no further issues reported.
This two-step approach ensured the immediate emergency drainage problem was handled quickly, while the follow-up visit resolved the underlying issue.
The Outcome: Restored Septic Tank Performance and Customer Confidence
With the blockage cleared and the septic tank emptying completed on Bank Holiday Monday, the system was fully restored. There were no further signs of backup or overflow, and the property returned to normal use.
Despite being managed remotely from abroad, the entire process ran smoothly thanks to clear communication and a responsive team. The customer was particularly pleased with how quickly the teams responded and how the situation was handled over a busy weekend. The coordination between teams and the ability to deliver both emergency drainage support and full septic tank servicing ensured minimal disruption and a successful outcome.
Testimonial from the Customer
“I wanted to drop you a brief note to congratulate you on the exceptional level of service displayed by your staff in your Edinburgh and Glasgow depots over the weekend of 22 -25 May, in responding to a blocked septic tank at one of my farm cottages. The speed of response to the telephone and the organisation of Chris Goddard, plus a jet spray from Glasgow at 2pm in the afternoon immediately prior to a Bank Holiday, were commendable. Unfortunately, the tanker wasn’t big enough to complete the job, and Frankie from your Head Office made valiant efforts to complete the job over the weekend. On Monday morning, Alex Nimmo took charge and sent Jackson Gallagher to empty the septic tank, and all is now well, to the huge relief of my Dutch tenants who had loo paper and the contents of the tank at the front and back of the house. Thank you for the efficiency, patience and resourcefulness of your staff.
I would particularly single out Shannon McInroy, who took my initial call and organised the Friday emergency rescue, Frankie from Head Office, who covered the weekend shift and above all, Alex Nimmo, who asserted a strong hand of control on Monday.
I am deeply impressed by the quality of your operation at Metro Rod and the quality, responsiveness and behaviour of your staff – particularly as I was speaking to them on a mobile phone from the AZORES! I will definitely use Metro Rod again, but I hope not too soon!”
Talk to your local Metro Rod specialist
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
Get in touch Drainage Services
