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Blocked drains, Northern Beaches
Sink, shower, toilet or sewer. Licensed plumbers can clear it and find out why it blocked.
One slow drain may be a small clog. Several drains gurgling, or sewage coming up, means the main line is blocked. That needs a licensed plumber.
Sewage inside or outside the house? Do this first.
Is it a plumber job?
Quick checks before you call. They take a minute.
Check these
- Is it one drain or several?
- Is water or sewage coming up anywhere else, like the yard?
- Does the toilet gurgle when the shower or washing machine runs?
- Stop using water in the house while you find out.
Don't do this
- Don't pour caustic drain cleaner down. It can burn skin and damage old pipes, and the plumber then has to work around it.
- Don't flush again if the toilet is full.
- Don't push a hose or wire down a drain you can't see the end of.
Still not working? Get a licensed plumber to look.
One fixture or the sewer main?
A blocked fixture is local. A blocked sewer main backs up wherever the pipes are lowest.
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| One sink or shower drains slowly | A blockage in that fixture's own pipe. |
| Toilet gurgles when the shower or washing machine runs | The shared pipe is partly blocked. |
| Several fixtures gurgle or drain slowly at once | Sewer main, or the line under the house. |
| Water or sewage bubbling from the overflow relief gully outside | Sewer main is blocked. Call a plumber now. |
The overflow relief gully is the open drain in the yard near the house wall. If it is running, treat it as an emergency.
Tree roots
Roots grow into small gaps in older pipes, then catch paper and waste. It can keep coming back until the pipe is fixed. If roots have been cleared twice, ask a plumber about relining or repair.
Why a licensed plumber
A plunger and a bottle of cleaner can't see inside the pipe. A licensed plumber brings the tools that find the cause, not just clear the symptom.
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| CCTV drain camera | Shows what is blocking the pipe and whether it is cracked or collapsed. |
| High-pressure water jetter | Blasts grease, silt and roots off the pipe wall. Cleans better than a cable. |
| Relining | A sleeve is fitted inside a damaged pipe. This can avoid digging up the yard. |
If sewage has damaged your home, ask your insurer if they need a plumber's report on the cause.
Not sure who is responsible in a unit block? Check with your strata manager first. See who fixes what.
What changes the price
Ask for a quote before work starts. These are the things that move it.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Where the blockage is | A sink trap is quick. A main line under the house takes longer. |
| Time of day | Nights, weekends and public holidays cost more than business hours. |
| Cause | Roots or a damaged pipe may need a repair or relining, not just clearing. |
Asking is free. Hot water problems too? See hot water. Water bill high and no blockage? See leak detection.
Blocked drains by suburb
Pick your suburb for local advice, then ask for a callback.
- Blocked drains in Dee Why NSW 2099
- Blocked drains in Manly NSW 2095
- Blocked drains in Collaroy NSW 2097
- Blocked drains in Narrabeen NSW 2101
- Blocked drains in Warriewood NSW 2102
- Blocked drains in Mona Vale NSW 2103
- Blocked drains in Belrose NSW 2085
- Blocked drains in Curl Curl NSW 2096
- Blocked drains in Forestville NSW 2087
- Blocked drains in Brookvale NSW 2100
- Blocked drains in Cromer NSW 2099
- Blocked drains in Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
- Blocked drains in Freshwater NSW 2096
- Blocked drains in Balgowlah NSW 2093
- Blocked drains in Terrey Hills NSW 2084
- Blocked drains in Newport NSW 2106
- Blocked drains in Avalon Beach NSW 2107
Blocked drain questions
Can I use drain cleaner?
Avoid it. Caustic cleaners can burn skin and harm old pipes. They are also unsafe for the plumber who has to open the pipe later.
Why does my drain keep blocking?
Usually roots, grease or a damaged pipe. A camera check shows which. Clearing alone only fixes the symptom.
Is a blocked toilet an emergency?
Not always. If it is one toilet and nothing is overflowing, stop using it and call a plumber. If it overflows or other drains back up, treat it as an emergency.
Not sure which drain it is? Describe what's gurgling and a licensed plumber can help you work it out.
Get a plumber to clear it
A licensed plumber calls you to book a time that suits.