Handld.org

Drain Cleaning near you in Australia

Known locally as blocked drain plumber. Compare researched prices and get free quotes from pros wherever you are in Australia.

Typical price: A$150–A$1,300

Get quotes from drain cleaning pros — free, no obligation

Free, no obligation. Sign in with Google to send your request.

What drain cleaning costs in Australia

Researched national ranges in AUD. City prices vary by cost tier.
Job size Low Typical High
Single blocked fixture Sink, shower or toilet cleared with eel A$150 A$250 A$400
Blocked sewer + CCTV Main line jetted with camera report A$350 A$550 A$900
Root treatment package Root cutting, jet and survey with reline quote A$500 A$800 A$1,300

Full drain cleaning price guide for Australia

Browse Australia by region

How to hire a drain cleaning pro in Australia

  1. Use a licensed plumber — drainage work requires a plumbing licence in every Australian state
  2. Get a fixed price for the clearance plus the CCTV survey cost
  3. Ask if they carry both an electric eel and a jetter on the truck — saves a second callout
  4. For recurring blocks, get a CCTV report; tree roots in clay pipes are Australia's number-one cause
  5. Check the water utility's responsibility map for shared sewer blockages before paying
  6. Ask about pipe relining quotes if roots or cracks are found — widely available in AU metros

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between snaking and hydro jetting?

A drain snake (electric eel/auger) bores a hole through the blockage — fast and cheap, but debris and grease remain on pipe walls. Hydro jetting scours the full pipe diameter with high-pressure water, clearing grease, scale and roots properly. Jetting costs more but lasts longer for recurring blocks.

Can chemical drain cleaners fix a blocked drain?

Caustic supermarket products sometimes clear light soap/hair partial blocks, but they don't touch grease plugs or roots, they damage older pipes and seals, and they make the drain hazardous for the plumber who eventually opens it. For a fully blocked drain, go mechanical.

What is pipe relining and when is it cheaper than digging?

Relining inserts a resin-saturated liner into the damaged pipe and cures it in place — a new pipe inside the old one, with no excavation. It usually beats dig-and-replace where the pipe runs under driveways, slabs or landscaping, and most liners carry multi-decade warranties.

When is a CCTV drain survey worth paying for?

After a second blockage in the same line, before buying a house, or when you suspect root intrusion or a collapsed pipe. The camera shows exactly what and where the problem is, so you fix the cause instead of paying for repeat clearances.

Who is responsible for a blocked drain — homeowner, neighbour, or utility?

Generally you own the pipes within your property boundary, while shared or public sewers are the utility's (or body corporate's) problem. If sewage backs up from a shared line, report it to the utility before paying a private contractor — it may be cleared free.

How is drain cleaning priced?

Simple blockages are usually a fixed price per drain (mechanical snake/auger). Stubborn or recurring blockages step up to high-pressure water jetting, and diagnosis of repeat problems adds a CCTV camera survey. Out-of-hours callouts carry a premium.

Why do tree roots block so many Australian drains?

Older suburbs run earthenware (clay) sewer pipes whose joints let roots in, and thirsty natives like figs seek them out. Jetting plus root-cutting clears them temporarily; relining or replacing the affected section is the permanent fix.

Related services

Planning a budget?

See the full drain cleaning cost guide or browse all Australia price guides.

Compare drain cleaning quotes — free

Free, no obligation. Sign in with Google to send your request.