Blocked drain now? See our blocked drains page or call 0451 001 503, 24/7.
Quick answer: Plumbers unblock drains with plungers, electric eels and high-pressure water jetters. A CCTV camera then shows whether the pipe is damaged. Lasting fixes for broken pipes are relining or replacement.
People often ask what we actually do when we unblock a drain, and why one plumber’s quote can be so different from another’s. Here’s a plain explanation of the tools and methods, and which ones give you a fix that lasts.
Plunger and hand auger
Fine for a blocked toilet or basin where the problem is close to the fixture. If it doesn’t clear quickly, the blockage is further down.
Electric eel
A machine that spins a steel cable with a cutting head down the pipe. It punches through blockages and cuts through roots. It’s quick and it gets water flowing, but it makes a hole through the blockage rather than cleaning the whole pipe.
High-pressure water jetting
A hose with a nozzle that blasts water backwards and forwards at high pressure, scouring the inside of the pipe clean. It’s better than an eel for grease, silt and fine roots, because it cleans the full width of the pipe, not just a path through the middle.
CCTV camera
Not a clearing tool, but the most useful one we carry. After clearing, a camera inspection shows whether the pipe is sound or whether there’s damage that’ll cause the blockage to come back.
Fixing the cause
If the pipe is cracked, collapsed or full of roots, clearing it only buys time. The lasting fixes are relining the pipe from the inside, or digging up and replacing the damaged section. Which is better depends on how deep it is, how long the bad section is, and what’s on top of it.
Why quotes vary
A cheap quote is often just an eel through the line with no camera, which is fine for a one-off blockage. A higher one might include jetting and a camera inspection. Ask what’s included. You want to know whether you’re paying for the drain to flow today or for knowing why it blocked.
Need a drain cleared properly in Ryde, Epping, North West Sydney or nearby? Call me on 0451 001 503. I’ll tell you upfront what I’m going to do and what it costs.
Quick questions
An eel cuts a path through the blockage. A jetter scours the whole inside of the pipe clean.
Some quotes cover only an eel through the line, while others include jetting and a camera inspection. Ask what is included.
