BPC Licensed · Drainage Specialists · 40+ Years Experience

Blocked Drains Melbourne:
Is Your Drain Backing Up?

Call 0413 522 220 · Written quote before any repair

Blocked sewer, toilet won't flush, or sewage overflowing outside?

Yes, a blocked sewer or drain in Melbourne can be cleared, and an experienced specialist can attend. High pressure jetting clears it, with a camera if it keeps blocking.

Call 0413 522 220 and talk it through. You get the options and an honest opinion.

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Who clears blocked drains in Melbourne's inner east?

Drain Solutions is a specialist drainage company in Kew East that clears blocked drains, sewers and stormwater pipes across Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs. Drainage is all we do, and we have done it for over 40 years.

We are not a general plumber who does a bit of everything. We carry a high pressure water jetter and a CCTV drain camera. The blockage is cleared first, and a camera inspection can be added once the drain is clear if you want to see the cause or check the pipe. We handle pipes from 40mm household drains up to 600mm commercial sewers, for homes, schools, commercial buildings and industrial sites.

All work is carried out by BPC licensed plumbers under Licence No. 21741. We explain our rates before we start, and you get a written quote before any repair work. Call 0413 522 220

Blocked drain or blocked sewer? Call 0413 522 220

Same-day service for emergency work, with call-outs outside business hours.

White jet truck with a red hose reel parked beside a building during a blocked drain job in Melbourne

Plumber at an open pit feeding a CCTV drain camera cable to inspect a blocked drain in Melbourne

What are the signs of a blocked drain?

The most common signs of a blocked drain are slow-draining sinks and showers, gurgling pipes, sewage smells, and water backing up inside or pooling around outdoor drains after rain.

Your sink, shower or bath drains slowly and water pools around the outlet.
Pipes gurgle when water goes down a drain somewhere else in the house.
There is a sewage smell from drains inside or outside the property.
Water backs up into a sink, shower, floor drain or toilet when you flush or run water elsewhere.
Water pools around an outdoor drain pit or at the base of a downpipe after rain.

Blocked drains rarely appear overnight. They build up and give warning signs first, and the longer they are left, the harder and more expensive they are to fix. If you are seeing any of these, call Drain Solutions on 0413 522 220.

What causes blocked drains in Melbourne's inner suburbs?

Tree roots are the most common cause of blocked drains in Melbourne's inner east, followed by grease, wet wipes and other flushed items, cracked or collapsed pipes, and stormwater debris.

Homes in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Fitzroy and Richmond were mostly built between the 1880s and the 1930s. Many still have their original clay or cast iron drains: old, brittle and sitting under the large established trees these suburbs are known for. Roots follow moisture, find hairline cracks in clay pipes and grow inside, forming a dense mat that catches everything passing through.

Grease and fat: poured down the kitchen sink as liquid, it sets as it cools and narrows the pipe over months and years.
Flushed items: wet wipes, paper towel and sanitary products do not break down and catch on rough spots inside the pipe.
Cracked or collapsed pipes: ground movement, root pressure and age crack old clay pipes, which then fill with soil.
Stormwater debris: leaves, silt and garden debris wash into pits and pipes after heavy rain, especially at properties with large established gardens.

Why are tree roots the biggest cause of blocked drains in Melbourne's inner east?

Tree roots block more drains in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and Toorak than anything else, because the old clay sewer pipes under these suburbs crack with age and roots grow in through the cracks and joints.

Once inside, roots spread into a dense mat like the one in this photo. Grease, wet wipes and silt catch on it until water can no longer get past, and the blockage shows up as slow drains, gurgling pipes or sewage backing up inside.

Drain Solutions cuts the roots out with a high pressure water jetter and root-cutting head, or a hydraulic root saw. Once the drain is clear, a CCTV drain camera finds the root entry point and checks the pipe. Roots grow back through the same crack, so relining that section is the permanent fix. Call 0413 522 220.

What else blocks drains in Melbourne homes?

After tree roots, the most common causes of blocked drains in Melbourne homes are kitchen grease, flushed wet wipes, cracked or collapsed pipes and stormwater debris.

Grease and fat. Grease runs down the kitchen sink as a liquid, then sets solid as it cools. It coats the inside of the pipe and narrows it until the drain blocks.

Wet wipes and flushed items. Wet wipes, paper towel and sanitary products do not break down like toilet paper. They catch on rough surfaces inside the pipe and build into a blockage.

Cracked or collapsed pipes. Ground movement, tree root pressure and age crack drain pipes, and a cracked pipe can fill with soil or collapse.

Stormwater debris. Heavy rain washes leaves, silt and garden debris into stormwater pits and pipes and blocks them.

Whatever the cause, Drain Solutions clears it with high pressure water jetting, then uses a CCTV drain camera once the drain is clear to find the cause. Call 0413 522 220.

How does Drain Solutions clear a blocked drain?

Unblocking and a camera inspection are two different services. Drain Solutions clears the blockage with a high pressure water jetter. A CCTV drain camera inspection can be added once the drain is clear, at extra cost, to see the cause and check the condition of the pipe.

Step 1: Find where the problem is

We arrive with a fully equipped van, ask where the problem is showing up and check the drain pits, inspection openings and downpipes around the property.

Step 2: Clear the blockage

Our high pressure water jetter cuts through tree roots, flushes out grease, silt and debris, and descales cast iron pipes, leaving the pipe clean. It handles pipes from 40mm up to 600mm in diameter. For heavy roots we also use a hydraulic root saw, and a spinning chain flail for cast iron.

Some drains cannot be fully cleared because they are badly broken, collapsed or heavily filled with tree roots. If that happens, we tell you on the day and note it in our findings with our recommendation.

Step 3: Add a camera inspection if you want one

Once the drain is clear, a CCTV drain camera can go down the pipe. It shows what caused the blockage and what condition the pipe is in. You can watch on the screen, and footage is supplied only if you want it, on USB or a shared link.

Step 4: Check the pipe is clear

If a camera inspection is added, the camera confirms the pipe is clear and checks for cracks, root entry points or displaced joints.

Step 5: Quote any repair before we leave

If the camera finds a crack, a root entry point, a displaced joint or a section that will keep blocking, we talk you through the options before we leave. Often the pipe can be relined without digging; otherwise the damaged section is repaired or replaced. You get a confirmed diagnosis and a written quote before you commit to anything. Drain Solutions carries out drain relining and drain repairs in-house. If the camera finds it, we can fix it, with no need to call another company. We clean up.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Direct Debit, and Cash on completion.

How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain in Melbourne?

The cost of clearing a blocked drain in Melbourne depends mainly on what is causing the blockage, where it is, and how easy the pipe is to reach. Drain Solutions explains its rates before starting, and any repair is quoted in writing first.

Clearing a standard blocked drain in Melbourne with Drain Solutions starts from $200.00

Things that affect the price:

The cause: a simple blockage clears faster than a heavy tree root mass.
Access: whether there is an easy inspection opening or the drain has to be reached another way.
Whether a CCTV camera inspection is needed to find the cause.
Pipe size and length, and how far along the pipe the blockage is.
After-hours call-outs outside business hours.
Any damage found that needs relining or repair (quoted separately, in writing).
Parking: if we cannot park next to the drain, parking fees and the extra time to carry equipment are added.
Anything outside a standard clear: removing fixtures, cutting new access openings, traffic management or permits.
A written report, or buying the sewer plan from the water authority, if you need one.

What is the difference between a blocked sewer and a blocked stormwater drain?

A blocked sewer backs wastewater up into toilets, showers and floor drains inside the property, while a blocked stormwater drain makes rainwater pool outside around pits, downpipes and paving after rain.

Your sewer carries wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers and the laundry. When it blocks, the lowest fixtures in the house usually show it first: a floor drain, a shower or a toilet that will not flush. In serious cases sewage overflows inside, so a blocked sewer needs attention quickly.

Your stormwater system carries rainwater away through gutters, downpipes, surface drains and pits. When it blocks, water pools outside after rain and, if left, can get into the building or damage the foundations.

Drain Solutions clears both, every day, with the same CCTV camera and jetting equipment. If you are not sure which system is affected, call 0413 522 220 and we will work it out on site.

What happens if the drain pipe is damaged?

If the camera shows a cracked, broken or root-damaged pipe, Drain Solutions can usually fix it with drain relining, a no-dig method that forms a new pipe inside the old one.

A structural liner goes into the damaged pipe through an existing access point and is cured in place from the inside. No excavation, so your garden, driveway and floors stay intact. No mess. Where relining is not suitable, we carry out a targeted drain repair or pipe replacement instead.

Once a pipe is relined, high pressure water jetting is the only safe way to clear it if it ever blocks again. An electric drain machine with cutters can damage the liner, so always tell your plumber the pipe has been relined.

All regulated drainage work by Drain Solutions is done under a plumbing compliance certificate from the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC). The certificate confirms the work meets Victorian plumbing regulations and is backed by six-year statutory warranty insurance.

How can I stop my drains blocking again?

For drains that keep blocking from tree roots or grease, a high pressure jetting clean every one to two years keeps the pipe clear before it blocks, and relining the damaged section is the permanent fix.

Drain Solutions sets up maintenance schedules for homes and businesses with recurring problems, so the drain is cleaned before it blocks rather than after. Jetting removes the roots inside the pipe, but not the roots in the joints or the ground around it, so roots grow back over time until the cracked section is relined or replaced. Simple habits help too:

Put fat and oil in the bin, not down the sink.
Only flush toilet paper. Wet wipes labelled "flushable" still block drains.
Keep outdoor drain grates and pits clear of leaves and soil.
Have the drain checked with a camera if it blocks more than once a year.

Terracotta drain pipe end packed with soil and tree roots, a cause of blocked drains in Melbourne

Tree roots and debris inside a drain pipe exposed in the ground, causing a blocked drain in Melbourne

Drain Solutions jetting truck parked at night beside a street drain

Tree roots and debris pulled out of a blocked drain and lying beside a red cable on a garden bed

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What do we usually find when a drain is blocked in Melbourne?

Drain Solutions clears blocked drains across Melbourne, and tree roots are the most common cause we find, especially in Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and Toorak, where old clay sewer pipes crack with age and roots grow in through the joints. In kitchen drains it is usually grease, and in sewer lines it is wet wipes and other flushed items. Stormwater drains block with debris, and some blockages turn out to be a cracked or collapsed pipe. High pressure jetting clears it, and a CCTV drain camera inspection added once the drain is clear can show which one it is. If the camera finds damage, you get a written quote before any repair starts. Call 0413 522 220.

Which Melbourne suburbs does Drain Solutions cover for blocked drains?

Drain Solutions clears blocked drains across Melbourne's inner and middle east, including Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn, Toorak, South Yarra, Richmond, Fitzroy, Carlton, Glen Iris, St Kilda and Brighton.

We are based in Kew East and work in these suburbs every day:

Kew and Kew East: our home suburbs. Federation and Victorian homes with older clay sewer lines and big gardens. Tree roots are the most common call.
Hawthorn: heritage homes, older pipe networks and mature plane and elm trees. Root intrusion and cracked clay pipes come up regularly.
Toorak: established properties where tree roots and ageing pipes sit under some of Melbourne's largest gardens.
Camberwell: Federation-era homes on large blocks with mature trees. One of the busiest areas for root-related sewer blockages.
Richmond: Victorian terraces and commercial properties on heritage drains under high-density use. Grease in commercial drains and roots in residential ones.
Fitzroy: terrace homes with narrow terrace-style drainage and limited access. Roots and grease build-up are common.
Carlton: heritage apartment blocks and older homes on Victorian-era drains carrying far more than they were built for.
South Yarra: apartments and heritage homes on older stormwater pipes with high-density use. Frequent stormwater blockages.
East Melbourne: commercial, institutional and residential buildings on older drainage near the CBD.
Glen Iris: family homes with large gardens and regular root intrusion in older sewers.
Balwyn: large blocks, mature trees and cast iron drains under many homes.
St Kilda: coastal apartments and older buildings on heritage plumbing, with grease blockages common in commercial drains.
Brighton: upmarket bayside homes with older drainage under large properties.

Not on the list? Call 0413 522 220 to check if we cover your suburb.

Why choose Drain Solutions for a blocked drain?

Drain Solutions only does drainage, carries a CCTV camera and jetter, quotes any repair in writing before starting, and has cleared blocked drains across Melbourne for over 40 years.

Drainage specialists. We do not fit bathrooms or replace hot water systems. Drainage is all we do.
The right equipment: a high pressure water jetter, plus a CCTV drain camera when an inspection is wanted. Jetting handles pipes 40mm to 600mm.
Camera inspection can be added after clearing, at extra cost, so you can see the cause and the condition of the pipe.
Rates explained before we start, and a written quote before any repair. No surprises.
BPC licensed plumbers, Licence No. 21741. BPC compliance certificates on all regulated work.
Relining and repairs done in-house if the pipe is damaged.
Clean, careful work. We treat every property as if it were our own and leave the site tidy.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Direct Debit, and Cash on completion.

FAQs

Blocked Drains Melbourne: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get a blocked drain cleared in Melbourne?

Call Drain Solutions on 0413 522 220. We cover Melbourne's inner and middle east from our base in Kew East and get to urgent blocked drains as fast as we can. Have the address ready and tell us if sewage is backing up inside, because that tells us how urgent the job is.

How do you find out what is causing a blocked drain?

We clear the blockage first. If you want to see the cause, a CCTV drain camera inspection can be added once the drain is clear, at extra cost. It shows what caused the blockage, whether that is tree roots, grease, a collapsed pipe or something that was flushed. You can watch on the screen, and footage is supplied only if you want it, on USB or a shared link.

Will you dig up my garden to clear a blocked drain?

No. Blockages are cleared with high pressure water jetting, with no digging. If the pipe turns out to be damaged, drain relining can usually fix it without excavation, and you get a written quote before any repair work.

How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain in Melbourne?

It depends on what is causing the blockage, where it is and how easy the pipe is to reach. Drain Solutions explains its rates when you book, and any repair is quoted in writing before work starts. Want to know what affects the price before you call? Check out our Blocked Drain Pricing page for a clear breakdown of what goes into the cost of clearing a blocked drain.

Can I clear a blocked drain myself?

A slow sink can sometimes be cleared with a plunger, but tree roots, grease build-up and blocked sewers need professional jetting. Store-bought products rarely shift roots. If a drain blocks more than once, have it checked with a camera.

Do tree roots really cause blocked drains?

Yes. Tree roots are the most common cause of blocked drains in Melbourne's inner east. Old clay pipes under homes built before the 1950s have hairline cracks that roots find and grow into, and once inside they grow quickly until the pipe is blocked.

How do I know if it is my sewer or my stormwater that is blocked?

If water is backing up into a toilet, shower or floor drain inside, it is usually the sewer. If water is pooling outside around pits, downpipes or paving after rain, it is usually the stormwater. Drain Solutions clears both and can confirm which one on site.

What is the difference between a blocked drain and a blocked sewer?

A blocked drain usually means one fixture or branch pipe is blocked, such as a sink, shower or floor waste. A blocked sewer means the main pipe that takes all the wastewater from the house to the street is blocked, so several fixtures back up at once, usually starting with the lowest one.

What happens after you clear the drain?

Many blocked drains only need to be cleared. If you want to check the pipe, a CCTV camera inspection can be added, at extra cost, to confirm the pipe is clear and check its condition. If a crack, broken section or root entry point is found, you get a written quote for the repair before we leave. We can also set up a maintenance schedule if roots keep coming back.

Do you clear blocked drains for commercial properties?

Yes. Drain Solutions works on homes, schools, commercial buildings and industrial sites, with equipment that handles pipes from 40mm up to 600mm in diameter. Call 0413 522 220 to discuss your site.

Do you handle blocked drain emergencies on weekends?

Yes. Our regular hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 12pm. Outside those hours, call 0413 522 220. A sewer backing up inside the house is treated as an emergency.

Are your plumbers licensed in Victoria?

Yes. All Drain Solutions drainage work is carried out by BPC licensed plumbers under Licence No. 21741. We issue BPC plumbing compliance certificates for all regulated plumbing work.

What is a BPC plumbing compliance certificate and do I need one?

A BPC plumbing compliance certificate is issued by a licensed plumber to confirm regulated plumbing work meets Victorian regulations. Drain Solutions issues one for drain relining and other regulated work as standard, and it means the work is backed by six-year statutory warranty insurance.

Got a blocked drain in Melbourne? Call 0413 522 220

Drain Solutions is based in Kew East and clears blocked drains across Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs. BPC licensed, written quote before any repair work, and over 40 years of drainage experience.

CALL 0413 522 220 BOOK ONLINE NOW