Blocked Sewer Sydney
Main sewer line cleared and inspected before it backs up into the house.
When more than one fixture backs up, or sewage is coming out of the overflow gully, the blockage is in the main sewer line. We jet the line to get it flowing, then run the camera to find the cause, usually tree roots or a broken section of clay pipe. You get a written report with repair options if needed, and we'll tell you if the fault is on Sydney Water's side of the boundary, in which case it's their job, not yours.
Best for: Everything backing up at once, or sewage at the overflow gully
Fixed price, includes call-out
$549
Typical Sydney quote: $300–$800 · compare
- Equipment4,000 PSI Hydro-Jet + 1080p CCTV
- Inspection depthUp to 80m of main
- Avg. on-site time90–150 min
- Diagnostic reportIncluded
90–150 minutes
One fixed price
the same at 2am as at 2pm, locked when you book
$0 call-out
travel, labour and equipment included
Free return within 30 days
from the same plumber, if the drain re-blocks and the report found no damage
Nothing extra without your OK
any extra work is quoted in writing and approved by you first
Quick answer
Blocked Sewer in Sydney is $549 fixed, including the call-out. Main sewer line cleared and inspected before it backs up into the house. Typical Sydney quotes are $300–$800. Same price nights and weekends, by a licensed local plumber.
Not sure this is the problem?
If you're not certain, scan it first. A photo of the drain, gully or overflow is usually enough for us to tell you what's actually going on, which service fixes it, and what that costs fixed.
Signs you need this
- Toilet, shower and sink all slow or backing up
- Sewage or grey water at the overflow gully outside
- Wet patches or lush grass over the sewer line
- Strong sewer smell around the house
What the plumber does on site
- 1Confirm the blockage is on your side of the boundary
- 2Full hydro-jet of the sewer main from the gully or inspection shaft
- 3CCTV inspection of the whole run, with the sonde marking any defect's location and depth
- 4Flow-test every fixture
- 5Written report with footage and a fixed repair quote if the pipe is damaged
Not included: Work on the Sydney Water side of the boundary (call them on 13 20 90), excavation or relining.
Common causes in Sydney
- Tree roots in clay or terracotta mains
- Collapsed or cracked pipe from ground movement
- Grease and wipes compacted over time
- A fault on Sydney Water's side of the boundary trap
Questions
- What if the sewer is collapsed?
- We restore flow first, then the CCTV report sets out the exact location and a fixed quote for the repair.
- Is the sewer my responsibility or Sydney Water's?
- You're responsible for pipes up to the boundary connection point. Our CCTV locates the fault so you know before anyone digs.
How a blocked drain is cleared
Clearing the blockage is only half the job. Every drain clear includes a camera inspection, because a drain that blocks once will block again unless you know why. This is what happens on a standard visit.
- 1
Find the access point
Usually the overflow relief gully (the grated outlet near an outside wall) or an inspection opening. This avoids pulling fixtures apart inside the house.
- 2
Work out where the blockage is
Which fixtures are affected tells the plumber whether it's a single branch (sink, shower) or the main sewer line (everything backing up).
- 3
Clear it with the right tool
A hand or powered auger for fixture traps and toilets. A high-pressure water jetter for the main line: it cuts through tree roots and scours grease and silt off the pipe wall instead of punching a hole through it.
- 4
Camera the line
A CCTV camera goes through the cleared pipe. It shows what caused the blockage and whether the pipe itself is sound: roots at joints, cracks, a collapsed section, or a belly holding water.
- 5
Flow-test and report
Every affected fixture is run to confirm flow. You get a short written report with stills from the camera and, if there's damage, a fixed quote to repair or reline.
Auger / drain machine
A rotating cable that breaks up or pulls out the obstruction. Right for toilets, sinks and showers. Punches through roots but doesn't remove them.
Hydro jetter
Water at around 4,000 PSI through a nozzle that pulls itself along the pipe. Cuts roots, strips grease and flushes silt. The standard for main lines and stormwater.
CCTV camera + sonde
Shows the inside of the pipe on a monitor. The sonde lets the plumber mark the exact spot and depth of any defect on the surface, so a repair is a small hole, not a trench.
How Block Drains works
We're a marketplace for plumbers and drainers, not a plumbing company. We connect you with a licensed, insured drain plumber who covers your suburb, at one fixed price per job. We take the booking and handle the payment; the plumber does the work, is responsible for it, and is paid per job through us, so there's no incentive to pad the bill and nothing to negotiate at the door.
- 1
Tell us what's wrong
Pick the symptoms (toilet overflowing, sink slow, sewage outside) and your postcode. The site works out the right service and shows the fixed price before you give us a single detail.
- 2
Pick a two-hour window
Choose 'as soon as possible' or a window from 7am to 10pm, seven days. Availability is live: it's based on the plumbers who actually cover your suburb.
- 3
We assign a licensed local plumber
The job goes to the nearest available NSW-licensed drain plumber in our network. You get their name, licence number and ETA by text and email, plus a link to reschedule or cancel.
- 4
The job's done and reported
They clear the drain, put a camera through the line, flow-test everything and leave a short written report. Anything beyond the fixed price is quoted in writing first.
- 5
Your card is charged only when it's done
You save a card when you book; nothing is charged until the plumber marks the job complete. Any extra work is quoted in writing and only charged if you approve it online. Block Drains handles the payment and pays the plumber, so there's never a bill to settle at the door.
- 6
Come back for less
10% off every future job, $50 credit for every friend you refer, a discounted annual Drain Care clean, and a free return from the same plumber within 30 days if the drain re-blocks with no damage found.