Drain Repairs Melbourne:
Cracked or Collapsed Drain?

Call 0413 522 220 · BPC licensed, 40+ years

Water pooling, a sewage smell, ground sinking or a pipe that keeps blocking?

Yes, a cracked or collapsed drain in Melbourne can be repaired. A camera finds the damage, and the pipe is relined from the inside where possible, or the damaged section is replaced.

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

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White PVC drain pipe joint exposed in a dug trench ready for repair

Excavated trench with an old drain pipe exposed for repair

Deep repair pit with new white drain pipe fittings in place

Trench cut through a concrete floor to reach the drain pipe for repair, Drain Solutions Melbourne

Fresh concrete patch reinstated over a drain repair trench beside a garden bed, Melbourne

Drain repair case studies

See the photos above. Each job below says which photo it relates to.

Toorak block of flats (Photo 1 and 2)

We removed a broken 150mm clay drain that had tree root intrusions. After the drain repairs, we installed relining patches in the drain.

Hawthorn block of flats (Photos 3 and 4)

A badly broken clay drain was replaced with new 100mm PVC drain. The trench was backfilled with crushed rock and new concrete was installed, leaving the site clean.

What are the signs a drain needs repairing?

Signs a drain needs repairing include blockages that keep coming back, sewage smells, soggy or sinking ground over the pipe, water stains near walls, and pests around drains.

The same drain blocks again soon after being cleared
Sewage smells outside or under the house
Soggy patches, sinkholes or lush green grass over the drain line
Cracks or damp near foundations and walls
Rats or cockroaches coming from drains
Water backing up in several fixtures at once

In most cases tree roots can be cleared with high pressure water jetting. But if larger roots get in and start breaking the sewer pipe, it is time for relining or replacement. Sometimes one section needs repairing; sometimes the entire drainage system does.

How does Drain Solutions repair a drain?

Drain Solutions clears the pipe, finds the exact damage on camera, then relines it from the inside or replaces only the damaged section, and checks the finished repair on camera.

Step 1: Clear and inspect

The pipe is cleared with high pressure jetting, then a CCTV camera shows the type, size and location of the damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint it on the surface

The camera's built-in transmitter marks the exact spot and depth on the ground, so if digging is needed it is one small, targeted hole. Other underground services are located first; Drain Solutions is a CertLoc Certified Locating Organisation and BYDA registered. Current BYDA plans must be on site before any earthworks begin.

Step 3: Choose the repair

Cracks, root entry and leaking joints are usually relined. Collapsed, crushed or misshapen sections are replaced with new PVC pipe and fittings. Some jobs use both.

Step 4: Repair, test and certify

After the repair, the camera confirms the result. Regulated work is covered by a BPC plumbing compliance certificate and six-year statutory warranty insurance.

Should a broken drain be relined or replaced?

A broken drain should be relined if it still holds its shape and can be reached from an access point, and replaced if it has collapsed, been crushed or lost its alignment.

Problem	Usual repair	Why
Cracks and root entry	Patch or full reline	No digging; seals out roots
Leaking or displaced joints	Reline	New joint-free pipe inside
Collapsed or crushed section	Targeted replacement	Liner needs a pipe to line
Pipe sagging or out of line	Replacement	Water and debris pool in the dip
Damage at several points	Full reline, or reline plus replacement	Fewest holes overall

Drain Solutions does both, so the advice is not biased toward one method.

How much do drain repairs cost in Melbourne?

Drain repair cost depends on the type of damage, the pipe depth and length, what sits above it (garden, paving, concrete) and whether relining or replacement is needed. Drain Solutions gives a written quote after the camera inspection.

Relining or excavation and replacement
Depth of the pipe and length of the damaged section
Surface to remove and reinstate
Access for equipment
Number of damaged points

Which Melbourne suburbs does Drain Solutions cover for drain repairs?

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

Older clay and cast iron drains under mature trees make cracked and root-damaged pipes common in these suburbs. We are based in Kew East. Call 0413 522 220.

Why choose Drain Solutions for drain repairs?

Drain Solutions finds the exact damage on camera before any digging, offers both relining and replacement, and does every stage in-house with a BPC compliance certificate.

Camera inspection before and after every repair.
Damage pinpointed on the surface, so digging is minimal.
Relining and replacement both in-house: honest advice on which suits your pipe.
CertLoc Certified Locating Organisation: other services located before any excavation.
BPC compliance certificate and six-year statutory warranty insurance on regulated work.
40+ years of drainage experience. BPC Licence No. 21741.
Written quote before any repair work starts.

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

Need a drain repaired in Melbourne? Call 0413 522 220

Find the damage on camera, fix only what is needed, and get a written quote before any repair work starts. Drain Solutions, Kew East, for homes and businesses.

CALL 0413 522 220 BOOK ONLINE NOW

Drain Repairs Melbourne: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you find where a drain is broken?

A CCTV camera goes into the pipe and shows the type and location of the damage. Its built-in transmitter is traced from the surface, so we can mark the exact spot and depth on the ground.

Do you have to dig up my yard to fix a drain?

Often no. Cracked and root-damaged pipes can usually be relined from the inside. If a section has collapsed, we dig only at the spot the camera found, not along the whole pipe.

Is relining or replacing a drain better?

Relining is usually quicker and less disruptive if the pipe still holds its shape. Replacement is needed for collapsed, crushed or sagging sections. Drain Solutions does both and recommends what suits your pipe.

What causes drains to break?

In Melbourne's inner east the main causes are tree roots, ground movement in reactive clay soil, the age of old clay and cast iron pipes, and heavy loads over shallow pipes.

Who is responsible for a broken sewer pipe?

Generally the property owner is responsible for the private drain up to the connection point, and the water authority for the main beyond it. The camera shows where the damage is so you know who is responsible.

Can you repair a drain under a slab or driveway?

Yes. Relining usually repairs it without breaking the concrete. If replacement is needed, the camera pinpoints the spot so only a small section is cut out.

Do you locate other services before digging?

Yes. Drain Solutions is a CertLoc Certified Locating Organisation and BYDA registered, so gas, power, water and telecommunications services are located before any excavation.

Will I get a compliance certificate for the repair?

Yes. In Victoria a plumbing compliance certificate is required for regulated plumbing work over $750, and Drain Solutions issues a BPC compliance certificate for regulated drain repairs, backed by six-year statutory warranty insurance.

Can tree roots be cleared without a repair?

Often, yes. In most cases high pressure water jetting clears the roots. But if larger roots have started breaking the pipe, it needs relining or replacement, and the camera shows which.

What pipe do you use for replacements?

Replaced sections are installed in new PVC pipe and fittings to current plumbing standards.

How long does a drain repair take?

Many relining repairs are done in a single visit. Excavation and replacement jobs depend on depth, length and surface, and we give you a time estimate with the written quote.

How much does a drain repair cost?

It depends on the damage, pipe depth and length, the surface above and whether relining or replacement is needed. You get a written quote after the camera inspection.

What suburbs do you cover for drain repairs?

Kew, Kew East, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn, Glen Iris, Toorak, South Yarra, Richmond, Fitzroy, Carlton, East Melbourne, St Kilda, Brighton and surrounding suburbs. Call 0413 522 220.