Blocked drains
A blocked drain rarely fixes itself. Slow-draining sinks, gurgling toilets, bad smells or water coming up through the floor waste are all signs of a blockage that's getting worse.
Common causes
- Tree roots, the most common cause in bayside suburbs with older clay sewer pipes. Roots enter through joints and grow into a dense mat.
- Fat, oil and food scraps in kitchen sinks.
- Wet wipes, sanitary items and paper towel in toilets. Even "flushable" wipes don't break down.
- Hair and soap scum in showers and basins.
- Collapsed or cracked pipes, often after dry summers or nearby building work.
How we clear it
- We find the blockage, usually from your overflow relief gully or an inspection opening.
- We clear it with an electric eel (a motorised cable that cuts through roots and debris) or a high-pressure hydro-jetter for grease and stubborn build-up.
- For repeat blockages we run a CCTV drain camera through the pipe and give you a video report showing the cause and location.
- If a pipe is broken, we quote for repair, including pipe relining (a new pipe inside the old one, usually without digging).
Prices
Blocked drain clearing from $249, including call-out and up to one hour on site. CCTV inspection $295. Hydro-jetting from $450. See all prices.
Is it an emergency?
If sewage is overflowing inside or from your gully, stop using water and toilets in the house and call us any time. Overflowing sewage is a health risk.
Who pays for a blocked sewer?
Inside your property boundary, the drain is usually the owner's responsibility. If the blockage is in the water authority's main (often under the footpath or in an easement), the authority pays. Our CCTV report shows where the blockage is, so you can claim from the right party. Tenants should contact their property manager first. We work with most local real estate agents.