Don't leave it
Blocked drains are the most common call we get. The sooner they're sorted the cheaper they are. Leave one too long and you can end up with overflows, smells, water damage and a much bigger bill.
We've been clearing drains around the Eastern Suburbs for a very long time, from Federation semis with old clay pipes to big strata blocks with shared stacks.
How we clear it
Our vans carry a high pressure water jetter. It blasts the build up off the pipe walls and flushes it out, instead of just poking a hole through it and pushing it further down the line.
Once it's flowing, we run a CCTV drain camera through to see what caused it. Tree roots, a cracked or collapsed pipe, a bad joint, or just years of fat and wipes. You get to see the footage, so you know exactly what you're paying for and whether it's likely to come back.
What blocks drains around here
A lot of the Eastern Suburbs was built before the war, and plenty of houses in Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra and Paddington are still on their original earthenware sewer lines. The joints in those pipes open up over the years and tree roots find their way in. Figs, jacarandas and camphor laurels are the usual culprits.
Closer to the beach it's sand. Sandy soil moves, pipes sag and belly, and stormwater pits fill up with sand and leaves after a big blow. In the older walk up unit blocks around Coogee, Bondi and Maroubra, it's usually the shared stack: one unit's wipes or fat ends up as everyone's problem on the ground floor.
What we clear
- Kitchen sinks, basins and showers
- Toilets and slow flushes
- Stormwater pits, grates and downpipes
- Sewer lines and tree root blockages
- Strata stacks and common lines
- Basement carpark pits and pump systems
- Commercial kitchens and grease traps
Stormwater and pumps
Stormwater gets forgotten until it rains. We clear pits, grates, downpipes and the lines that run to the street, and we look after the pump systems that keep basement carparks and lower ground units dry. If a pump has failed or the pit is full of silt, call us before the next storm, not during it.
If the pipe is broken
If the camera shows a cracked or root damaged pipe, we'll talk you through the options before anyone starts digging. A lot of the time it can be relined from the inside with no trench at all.
Common questions
How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain?
There's no call out fee, and we give you a fixed price before we start. The price depends on where the blockage is and what's causing it, so we have a look first and then tell you the cost. No surprises on the invoice.
Do I need a camera inspection?
If it's a simple blockage in a sink or basin, no. If the sewer or stormwater line has blocked, we'll usually put the camera down after clearing it so you can see why. If it's tree roots or a broken pipe, it will keep coming back until it's fixed, and the footage tells us what the fix should be.
How quickly can you come?
We answer 24/7. For an overflowing drain or sewage coming up we aim to get someone there the same day, and after hours if it can't wait.
Will the blockage come back?
If it was fat, wipes or a one off, usually not. If it's tree roots in an old earthenware line, they'll grow back in time. We'll tell you straight whether it needs relining or a repair, and what that costs, so you can decide.
Who's responsible in a unit block, me or the strata?
It depends where the blockage is. A pipe that only serves your unit is usually yours. The shared stack and the main sewer line are usually common property, so the owners corporation pays. We work out where the problem is and put it in writing so the right party pays.
Can you clear a drain without digging?
Nearly always. The jetter and camera go in through an existing inspection opening or gully. If the pipe turns out to be broken, relining fixes most of them from the inside with no trench.
Where we do blocked drains work
Based in Randwick and working right across the Eastern Suburbs, including:
- Randwick
- Coogee
- Bondi
- Bondi Junction
- Rose Bay
- Woollahra
- Double Bay
- Vaucluse
- Maroubra
- Kingsford
- Kensington
- Bronte
- Clovelly
- Paddington
- Darlinghurst
- All areas
